Ancient African Warrior Queens: 14 Real Life Stories of Africa's Brave Warrior Queens

Queen Moremi Ajasoro
A Queen with a torch in her hand sacrificed her happiness to safe her people from the terrors of the Ugbos. Queen Moremi was the Queen of Ile Ife who hailed from Offa (city in Kwara State), she was married to the successor of Ile Ife, Oranmiyan. During that time, the Kingdom of Ile Ife was constantly being raided by a Kingdom that the people of Ile Ife considered spirits, the raiders would raid the people and after raiding would disappear deep into the forest without being seen until the day of their next raiding. This continued until Queen Moremi decided to take actions and stop the raiders from enslaving and raiding her people.

Queen Abla Pokou
A sacrifice must be offered to the river spirits before she and her people can cross the river, but what is she willing to offer and bear the consequences? Queen Abla Pokou was an Akan princess who originated from Kumasi in modern day Ghana. She was born into royalty as her mother was the sister to the famous co-founder and Asantehene, Osei Kofi Tutu I, after the death of Osei Kofi Tutu, Dakon who was the second brother to Queen Abla Pokou and successor to the Ashanti throne was assassinated by Opoku Ware I, he began a succession war and began assassinating anyone who seemed to be a threat to his rule.Knowing that Opoku Ware would eventually come after her and her son, in the night; she gathered her loyal supporters along with her priest and journeyed to the forest where she is faced with problems and challenges.

Seh-Dong-Hong-Beh
Seh-Dong-Hong-Beh was the leader of the Minos of Benin, at the early age of ten years, she began exhibiting the ability of a warrior, during a contest, she got selected to join the Minos and train as a warrior. Before she became fifteen years old, she was made the leader of the Minos where was given a special room to retire at night, Seh-Dong-Hong-Beh became known in and outside the kingdom as she would go on a quest to conquer neighboring Kingdom.

This are just examples of great African warrior women, the ancient African women led most of the successful resistance against their rival Kingdoms and Colonists, they led a strategic military forces to preserve the honor and resources of their territory.

Many centuries ago, these warriors played significant roles in the development of their Kingom's Political, Spiritual, Military and Economy, women like Queen Nzinga, Queen Nyabinghi, Sarraounia and many more were believed to possess spiritual powers as some were priestesses, seers, advisors and even oracles.

These Queens ruled and reigned as spiritual leaders, for an instance, in Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania, Queen Nyabinghi is a prominent figure in the religious aspects of their beliefs, after her assassination by her cruel husband, some months later, her husband began bedridden and was faced with severe sickness, but her people believed that it was the late Queen who tormented her husband and others who tried to take her territories. Soon a cult began in her name which the worshippers honors her daily. Although her cult was practiced in some African Kingdoms, she was still popular and during mid 18th century, the Colonists declared the worship of Non-Orthodox practices forbidden but many still worshipped her and by late 18th century, her cult had expanded and reached Jamaica where a cult was created with another name but in respect to Nyabinghi.

Political & Military Roles
During ancient African times, women were voluntarily selected to learn about politics while some were trained in military combats. Examples of great women were; Queen Amina and Queen Nanny of the Maroons played significant roles in ensuring the security of their territories and people.