Queen Nzinga

Nzinga (1580 - 1663), Queen of Ngola (Angola) and Matamba, has been called "Africa's greatest daughter." An aggressive Portuguese slavery program and efforts to depopulate and conquer Angola created a formidable adversary. Queen Nzinga became a great warrior, strategist and abolitionist.

In 1624, Nzinga proclaimed all territory under her jurisdiction to be "Free Country." Any African slave or freeman reaching her borders would be forever free.

For four decades the Queen fought and defeated the Portuguese armies and protected her people and land. After forty years of fighting, reconstructing a new economy and fostering the resettlement of ex-slaves, Queen Nzinga died in battle at the age of eighty-three, leaving her country to heart-torn national mourning.