Queen Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba is one of the most formidable rulers in African history, and in this episode of Queens Podcast, Katy and Nathan dive into her extraordinary life.

In this episode, we explore Nzinga’s early life, her tense relationship with her brother, and the political chaos that followed his rule. We also get into her legendary 1622 meeting with the Portuguese governor, where she turned a calculated insult into one of the most iconic power moves in royal history. From there, Nzinga built alliances, commanded armies, and spent decades resisting Portuguese control.

We also discuss the more complicated parts of her legacy, including religion, diplomacy, warfare, and the ways European writers tried to shape her story for their own purposes.

If you love stories about powerful queens, African history, women rulers, and anti-colonial resistance, this episode is for you.

Time stamps:

00:00 Intro

00:53 Meet Queen Nzinga

01:29 Cocktail and Shoutouts

02:32 Tarot Vibe Check

03:51 Nzinga Early Life

10:20 Brother Takes Throne

15:09 Luanda Power Move

23:46 Civil War Begins

25:10 Mercenaries Introduced

31:18 Taking Matamba Power

33:38 Dutch Alliance

39:52 Catholicism as Strategy

46:28 Peace Deal and Dark Compromises

49:35 Prosperity and Final Years

52:04 After Death Legacy

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