Ana Nzinga, Angolan Queen
Ana Nzinga (1583 - December 17, 1663), also known as Njinga Mbande or Ana de Sousa Nzinga Mbande, was a Queen (muchino a muhatu) of the Ndongo and Matamba Kingdoms of the Mbundu people in Angola. Born into the ruling family of Ndongo and Matamba, Nzinga demonstrated an aptitude for defusing political crises in her capacity as ambassador to the Portuguese, and later assumed power over the kingdoms when her brother, then king, committed suicide. Nzinga fought for the freedom and stature of her kingdoms against the Portuguese, who were colonizing the area at the time. After the wars with Portugal ended, she attempted to rebuild her nation, which had been seriously damaged by years of conflict and over-farming. She devoted her efforts to resettling former slaves and allowing women to bear children. Despite numerous efforts to dethrone her, she died a peaceful death at the age of 80 in1663. Today, she is remembered in Angola for her political and diplomatic acumen, as well as her brilliant military tactics. Accounts of her life are often romanticized, and she is considered a symbol of the fight against oppression. No artist credited, undated.
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