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Women who ruled over Africa

Paula Akpan charts the rise and fall of 12 African women rulers and warriors, spanning more than 1,000 years of history

• Danny Bird

Published: May 12, 2025 at 7:00 AM

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From rainmaking queens to dogged isolationists, the lives and reigns of Africa’s female rulers have long been shrouded in mystery, misunderstanding and misogyny. Over the centuries and throughout the continent, these individuals navigated the rigid traditions of their own cultures to wield power – even to the detriment of their subjects. Speaking to Danny Bird, Paula Akpan traces the lives of 12 influential African women, challenging prevailing narratives to reveal a continent shaped by matriarchy and contested memories.

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Paula Akpan is the author of When We Ruled: The Rise and Fall of Twelve African Queens and Warriors (Trapeze, 2025).

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Authors

Danny BirdContent producer

Danny Bird is a content producer at HistoryExtra

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