Before colonialism, Slavery, during and after many African societies were led by powerful women rulers who played significant roles in politics, diplomacy, military strategy, and cultural leadership, women still play a significant role in contributions to global world peace, security, Activism, governance and leadership.  Dr Susan Tatah, think very little History and education has been done to create awareness about Africa’s women, their role in leadership and contributions to development. 

Dr Susan Tatah in her research about Africa’s women as leaders in the past, came accross these famous names and more are still to be featured. 

1. Queen Nzinga (1583–1663)

• Kingdom: Ndongo and Matamba (modern-day Angola)
• Legacy: Known for her military prowess and diplomatic skills, Nzinga resisted Portuguese colonial forces and worked to protect her people and territory. She formed alliances, led armies into battle, and negotiated peace when necessary.

2. Makeda (Queen of Sheba)

• Kingdom: Aksum (modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea)
• Legacy: According to Ethiopian tradition and the Bible, Makeda was a wise and wealthy queen who visited King Solomon in Jerusalem. She is celebrated in Ethiopian history as a key figure in the Solomonic dynasty.

3. Amina of Zazzau (16th Century)

• Kingdom: Zaria (modern-day Nigeria)
• Legacy: Queen Amina expanded her kingdom through warfare and trade. She is credited with introducing fortified city walls and enhancing Zazzau’s economic and political influence.

4. Yaa Asantewaa (1840–1921)

• Kingdom: Ashanti Empire (modern-day Ghana)
• Legacy: A leader and military strategist, Yaa Asantewaa led the Ashanti in the War of the Golden Stool against British colonial forces. She remains a symbol of resistance and female empowerment.

5. Kandake (Candace) Queens of Kush (300 BCE–AD 300)

• Kingdom: Kush (modern-day Sudan)
• Legacy: These queens ruled the Kingdom of Kush with authority and often led their armies into battle. One of the most famous, Queen Amanirenas, resisted Roman expansion and defended her kingdom fiercely.

6. Queen Nandi (1760–1827)

• Kingdom: Zulu (modern-day South Africa)
• Legacy: As the mother of Shaka Zulu, Queen Nandi played a crucial role in shaping the future Zulu Empire. She was a stabilizing force and a leader in her own right.

7. Dahomey Amazons (17th–19th Century)

• Kingdom: Dahomey (modern-day Benin)
• Legacy: While not a single ruler, the Amazons were an all-female military regiment serving the kingdom. They were highly trained and fiercely loyal, influencing the rule and expansion of Dahomey.

8. Manthatisi (1781–1836)

• Kingdom: Batlokwa (modern-day South Africa)
• Legacy: Manthatisi led the Batlokwa people during a tumultuous time known as the Mfecane. Her leadership ensured the survival and migration of her people.

Harriet Tubman (1822–1913) was an African-American abolitionist, humanitarian, and activist who played a pivotal role in the fight against slavery in the United States. Her courage and determination made her an iconic figure in American history. Here’s an overview of her life and legacy:

Early Life

• Birth Name: Araminta Ross (later changed to Harriet after her mother).
• Birthplace: Dorchester County, Maryland, USA.
• Background: Born into slavery, Harriet endured a harsh childhood marked by physical abuse and forced labor. A severe head injury at age 12 caused lifelong health challenges but also gave her vivid visions, which she interpreted as divine guidance.

Escape from Slavery

• Year: 1849.
• Harriet escaped to freedom in Pennsylvania using the Underground Railroad, a secret network of routes and safe houses assisting enslaved people in escaping to free states and Canada.

The Underground Railroad

• After gaining her freedom, Harriet returned to the South multiple times, risking her life to guide enslaved individuals to freedom.
• Nickname: “Moses,” because she led her people to liberation.
• Impact: She is credited with personally guiding about 70 people to freedom and providing instructions that helped dozens more.

Civil War Contributions

• Role: Harriet served as a nurse, cook, scout, and spy for the Union Army during the American Civil War.
• Notable Achievement: She led an armed expedition at the Combahee River Raid in 1863, which freed over 700 enslaved people. This made her the first woman to lead a military operation in U.S. history.

Advocacy and Later Life

• After the war, Harriet continued to advocate for African-American rights and women’s suffrage.
• She founded the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged in Auburn, New York, to care for elderly African-Americans.
• Despite her immense contributions, she faced financial difficulties in her later years, relying on donations and a small military pension.

Legacy

• Harriet Tubman is celebrated as a symbol of courage, freedom, and determination.
• Her life inspired countless people and remains a cornerstone of African-American and women’s history.
• In 2016, plans were announced to feature her on the $20 bill, further cementing her place in history.

Harriet Tubman’s unwavering commitment to justice and equality continues to inspire movements for freedom and human rights worldwide.

Rosa Parks (1913–2005) was an African-American civil rights activist known as the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement.” Her courageous act of defiance became a symbol of the fight against racial segregation and helped ignite the modern civil rights movement in the United States.

Early Life

• Full Name: Rosa Louise McCauley Parks.
• Birthplace: Tuskegee, Alabama, USA.
• Childhood: Rosa grew up in Pine Level, Alabama, where she witnessed the harsh realities of racial segregation.
• Education: She attended the Industrial School for Girls and later enrolled at Alabama State Teachers College for Negroes but left to care for her grandmother and mother.

The Bus Incident

• Date: December 1, 1955.
• Location: Montgomery, Alabama.
• Event: Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in the “colored section” of a bus to a white passenger, as required by Montgomery’s segregation laws. Her arrest sparked outrage in the African-American community.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott

• Duration: December 5, 1955 – December 20, 1956 (381 days).
• Organizers: Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and other local leaders.
• Outcome: The boycott, which involved 40,000 African-American bus riders, resulted in the Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional.

Civil Rights Activism

• Parks became a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement, working alongside leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and others.
• She moved to Detroit in 1957, where she continued her activism by working for Congressman John Conyers and participating in numerous civil rights initiatives.

Later Life and Recognition

• Rosa Parks received numerous awards for her contributions, including:
  • Presidential Medal of Freedom (1996).
  • Congressional Gold Medal (1999).
• Her autobiography, “Rosa Parks: My Story” (1992), shares her experiences in the struggle for justice.
• She passed away on October 24, 2005, at the age of 92. Her body lay in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, a rare tribute.

Legacy

• Rosa Parks’ defiance and courage inspired a generation to challenge racial discrimination and fight for equal rights.
• She is remembered as a symbol of dignity, determination, and the power of peaceful resistance.

Rosa Parks’ story demonstrates how a single act of courage can change the course of history, making her a beacon of hope for those striving for justice worldwide.

Empress Félicité of Haiti (1776–1858) was the first Empress of Haiti and a significant figure in the history of the Haitian Revolution and its aftermath. Born Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité, she rose from humble beginnings to become a symbol of compassion, resilience, and leadership in Haiti’s early years of independence.

Early Life

• Full Name: Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité Bonheur.
• Birthplace: Léogâne, Saint-Domingue (modern-day Haiti).
• Background: Born into modest circumstances, she worked as a seamstress and a healer before her rise to prominence during the Haitian Revolution.

Marriage to Jean-Jacques Dessalines

• Husband: Jean-Jacques Dessalines, a leader of the Haitian Revolution and the first Emperor of Haiti.
• Marriage: The couple married in 1801, and Félicité supported her husband during his military campaigns, offering humanitarian aid to those affected by the conflict.

Role as Empress

• Coronation: Félicité became Empress of Haiti in 1804 when Dessalines declared himself Emperor Jacques I after Haiti’s independence.
• Humanitarian Efforts: As Empress, she was known for her compassion and advocacy for the poor and disenfranchised, often providing food and medical care.
• Symbolism: Félicité was a symbol of hope and unity in a nation rebuilding itself after the horrors of slavery and war.

Challenges and Tragedy

• Assassination of Dessalines: In 1806, Dessalines was assassinated in a coup, ending his reign and leaving Félicité widowed.
• Aftermath: Following her husband’s death, Félicité faced persecution and financial hardship. She lived a quiet life away from the political turmoil that ensued.

Later Years and Legacy

• Félicité dedicated her later years to charitable work, maintaining her reputation as a compassionate and devout individual.
• She passed away in 1858, leaving a legacy as a symbol of resilience and humanity during a tumultuous period in Haiti’s history.

Legacy

• Empress Félicité remains a revered figure in Haiti, celebrated for her kindness, strength, and role as a stabilizing force during the early years of Haitian independence.
• Her life reflects the struggles and triumphs of a nation that emerged as the first independent Black republic in the world.

Africa’s  women demonstrated leadership, resilience, and strategic insight, significantly influencing the history of their regions and preserving their legacies as powerful rulers in pre-colonial Africa and during the periods of Slavery and Colonialism and Now