History Extra Podcast: Women Who Ruled Over Africa
Release Date: May 11, 2025

Introduction

In the episode titled "Women Who Ruled Over Africa," hosted by Dani Bird, the History Extra Podcast delves into the intriguing and often overlooked stories of Africa's female rulers. The conversation centers around Paula Akpan's groundbreaking book, When We Ruled: The Rise and Fall of 12 African Queens and Warriors, which challenges traditional narratives and sheds light on the complex legacies of these powerful women.

Exploring African Female Rulers

Time Stamp: [02:36]

Dani Bird opens the discussion by highlighting the prominence of powerful African women in history, setting the stage for an in-depth exploration of their lives and reigns. She asks Paula Akpan to introduce some of these remarkable figures and outline the historical scope of her book.

Paula Akpan: "My book spans about the last 1000 years, beginning with the 12th-century Princess Moremi of Ifa, who ruled in Ileife in present-day Nigeria, and extends to the 17th century with Njinga, the ruler of Matamba and Ndongo in present-day Angola" ([02:52]).

Diverse and Complex Legacies

Time Stamp: [03:15] - [05:08]

Paula Akpan discusses the varied legacies of the women featured in her book. These rulers are remembered in multifaceted ways—some celebrated as anti-colonial heroes, while others are viewed as villains due to their resistance against European imperialism, which had devastating effects on their populations.

Paula Akpan: "Ranavaluna of Madagascar is remembered as quite a huge villain, including among her people, due to her anti-Christian and anti-European imperialism that led to the halving of her population during her reign" ([03:24]).

Conversely, figures like Nana Asantwa from present-day Ghana are lauded for their resistance against British colonization, particularly their defense of sacred artifacts like the golden stool.

Research and Community-Centered Approach

Time Stamp: [05:08] - [09:45]

Dani Bird inquires about Paula's inspiration for selecting these 12 African queens and warriors. Paula reveals that the idea originated from her publisher, but her deep passion for community-centered research drove her to authentically represent these historical figures.

Paula Akpan: "It's always been very important for me that my history work is community-centered in some way, involving the people whose lives and experiences I'm chronicling" ([07:10]).

She emphasizes the importance of engaging with local historians, storytellers, and communities to avoid Western-centric biases and to uncover nuanced perspectives on these rulers.

Enduring Legacies and Modern Resonance

Time Stamp: [09:45] - [12:44]

The conversation shifts to why the legacies of these female rulers continue to resonate today. Paula explains that their stories are intertwined with the broader history of colonization and the enduring impacts of Western and Ottoman imperialism on African societies.

Paula Akpan: "The legacies are far-reaching because it's not just about these individual rulers. It's also a history of colonization, Western and Ottoman, and Africans are still reckoning with the consequences of these historical forces" ([09:57]).

She highlights how colonial legacies have fostered ethnic divisions and violence, exemplified by the Hutu-Tutsi conflict in Rwanda and Burundi, tracing these tensions back to colonial-era policies.

Dominance of Certain Regions in Historical Narratives

Time Stamp: [20:28] - [24:53]

Paula addresses the dominance of specific African regions in historical narratives, attributing it to factors such as colonial influence and the Eurocentric focus on civilizations like Ancient Egypt.

Paula Akpan: "There is so much made of the pyramids of Egyptian legacies that over time, they've been positioned as the peak African civilization" ([21:35]).

She discusses how colonial chroniclers amplified certain regions and rulers, often embellishing their accounts to fit preconceived notions of African societies, thereby marginalizing other regions and their histories.

Critical Fabulation and Reimagining History

Time Stamp: [25:58] - [29:03]

Dani Bird introduces the concept of critical fabulation, prompting Paula to explain how this method was utilized in her research to challenge and expand upon existing historical narratives.

Paula Akpan: "Critical fabulation is a way of offering a counter-history through similar source materials, pushing against the archive to imagine otherwise" ([26:03]).

Drawing from Saidiya Hartman's work, Paula uses critical fabulation to address the gaps and biases in colonial archives, striving to present a more comprehensive and authentic portrayal of African female rulers.

Personal Connections and Identity in Historical Analysis

Time Stamp: [33:05] - [35:30]

Paula discusses how her identity as a black African lesbian woman influences her approach to historical research, allowing her to uncover aspects of these rulers' lives—such as their sexualities and gender expressions—that may be overlooked by traditional historians.

Paula Akpan: "My lens means that I'm able to pull out certain things that might potentially be overlooked by other historians" ([33:40]).

She highlights the importance of recognizing the plurality and complexity of these rulers, moving beyond monolithic or one-dimensional portrayals.

Intended Audience and Impact

Time Stamp: [36:38] - [38:42]

When asked about her target audience, Paula emphasizes that her primary focus is on Africans, both on the continent and in the diaspora, aiming to provide a resource that resonates deeply with their experiences and histories.

Paula Akpan: "I was really writing for Africans on the continent, but also in the diaspora... I hope it sparks like a thirst, but also a critical analysis" ([36:46]).

She aspires for her book to contribute to a growing canon on African legacies, encouraging readers to engage critically with history and seek out more information on these extraordinary women.

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with Dani Bird thanking Paula Akpan for her insightful contributions. Paula's work not only brings to light the powerful roles African women have played in history but also challenges listeners to reconsider established narratives and appreciate the complexity of their legacies.

Podcast Host: "That was Paula Akpan, journalist, historian and public speaker, whose book When We Ruled: The Rise and Fall of 12 African Queens and Warriors is out now. Thanks for listening. This podcast was produced by Jack Bateman."

Notable Quotes

• Paula Akpan:
  "Ranavaluna of Madagascar is remembered as quite a huge villain, including among her people, due to her anti-Christian and anti-European imperialism that led to the halving of her population during her reign." ([03:24])

• Paula Akpan:
  "It's always been very important for me that my history work is community-centered in some way, involving the people whose lives and experiences I'm chronicling." ([07:10])

• Paula Akpan:
  "Critical fabulation is a way of offering a counter-history through similar source materials, pushing against the archive to imagine otherwise." ([26:03])

• Paula Akpan:
  "I was really writing for Africans on the continent, but also in the diaspora... I hope it sparks like a thirst, but also a critical analysis." ([36:46])

Further Engagement

To delve deeper into the lives of these extraordinary African women and understand their impact on history, listen to the full episode of the History Extra Podcast and explore Paula Akpan's When We Ruled: The Rise and Fall of 12 African Queens and Warriors.

For more information and to subscribe to the History Extra Podcast, visit HistoryExtra.com.