Art, obsession, and identity
Shaka kaSenzangakhona has gone down in history as one of the most successful, although ruthless, military leaders of all time. Born around 1787 to the leader of the small Zulu Nation, Shaka would rise to power and turn the Zulu Nation into an empire that covered 80,000 square miles (210,000 square kilometers).
Although ultimately defeated, Shaka and his army of around 50,000 highly-trained warriors successfully fought off colonial forces in southern Africa for years. But while Shaka is remembered as an effective military leader and diplomat, his rule was also a very bloody one; the penalty for most acts of insubordination under Shaka was death.
One of Egypt's most famous queens, Nefertiti's legacy has stayed vibrantly alive for millennia since her lifetime in the 14th century BCE. Alongside her husband, King Akhenaton, Nefertiti led a spiritual revolution in ancient Egypt.
Egypt is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, and has seen its fair share of extraordinary leaders. One of the very first recorded rules of Egypt is King Scorpion II, who ruled sometime in the 32nd century BCE and was the progenitor of the unified Egyptian kingdom.
Béhanzin Bowelle, born around 1845, was the last true ruler of the Kingdom of Dahomey. For years, he and his armies fought valiantly against the invading French colonial forces.
Very little is known about King Scorpion II, but it is thought that during his rule he worked toward unifying the states of Upper and Lower Egypt, a task that was completed by his son, Narmer (pictured), the first king of Egypt.
Alongside her husband, Nefertiti successfully shifted the religious standards of Egypt from polytheism to one of monotheism, where only Aten, the sun god, was worshipped as a true god.
Mansa Musa was, without a doubt, the most successful king of the Mali Empire that thrived during the Middle Ages. The empire reached its greatest size during Mansa Musa's reign, which lasted from 1312 to 1337.
Makeda of Ethiopia, better known as the Queen of Sheba, is an ancient figure shrouded in mystery. Although she has made appearances in the Hebrew Bible, the Quran, and the Christian Old Testament, historians are still unable to agree upon whether or not she really existed.
A skilled negotiator and strong military leader, Nzinga successfully maintained the integrity of her kingdoms for all of the nearly four decades of her reign, despite Portugal's colonial ambitions.
So successful was Mansa Musa's imperialism that some historians believe he may have been one of the richest people in history. During his time he was well known for his wealth, opulence, and generosity.
During his reign, which lasted from 1889 until 1913, Menelik II established the permanent Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, and successfully protected the borders of Ethiopia from Italian colonial ambitions.
Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba, known as Ana Nzinga in the West, ruled over the kingdoms of Ndongo and Matamba, which would later become modern-day Angola, during a period of intense colonial pressure from Portugal during the 17th century.
One of the most famous rulers in history, Cleopatra VII ruled over Ptolemaic Egypt from 51 to 30 BCE. Her involvement in the politics of the Roman Empire made an indelible mark on the history of both Africa and the West.
Said to have ruled over the kingdom of Saba around the 10th century BCE, in modern-day Ethiopia and Yemen, Makeda is described as an immensely intelligent, wealthy, and just ruler.
Béhanzin led an army of 15,000 soldiers and another 5,000 of the feared and specialized "Minon" (known as "Amazon" in the West) warriors that have become so famous in popular culture. Even once Béhanzin was eventually bested and sent into exile, he never officially surrendered his territory or his people.
The kingdom created by Oba Ewuare would stay strong and resilient well into the age of colonization. Centuries later, Oba Ovonramwen (pictured) would successfully retain buying and selling power over Benin's natural resources from British invaders until 1897.
Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia was almost singlehandedly responsible for kickstarting the process of modernization in Ethiopia.
Reigning as the first king of Benin from 1440 until his death in 1473, Oba Ewuare revolutionized the inner workings of the kingdom's political structure, invested in culture, and turned the Kingdom of Benin into a serious player on the continental stage.
Cetshwayo valued peace over everything else, but held firm against the British attempts to encroach on his nation's sovereignty. Even once the British armies of Cape Colony declared war, Cetshwayo continued to try and negotiate for peace, gaining him international support from the West.
Sources: (Ebony) (History) (HistoryVille)
Cetshwayo, the half-nephew of legendary Zulu King Shaka, was one of the final leaders of Zululand during the 19th century.
During that time, Hatshepsut reestablished trade routes with neighboring kingdoms that had been broken by previous rulers, and invested in massive and successful building projects that would lay the groundwork for the dynasties to come after her.
Hatshepsut, the second-earliest confirmed woman to hold the office of Pharaoh in ancient Egypt, reigned for around two decades during the 15th century BCE.
During her reign, Cleopatra controlled Rome's access to and influence on the rest of the African continent. Following the world-famous events of her affair with Mark Antony, Cleopatra's forces were bested by those of Roman Emperor Octavian, and following her death Egypt officially fell into the hands of the Roman Empire.
Empress Zewditu competently ruled Ethiopia through a civil war, and named as her heir Tafari Makonnen, who would name himself Emperor Haile Selassie, the legendary figure thought to be the second coming of Christ by followers of Rastafarianism.
Empress Zewditu I made history in the early 20th century when she became not only the first empress of Ethiopia, but the first female head of state of any independent, internationally recognized African country after the height of colonialism.
In most Western history books, the history of Africa before the bloody and gruesome age of colonialism is barely touched on, if at all. The tales of the great and powerful Zulu Nation, the Dahomey Kingdom, and many others are all overshadowed by the events of the nations of Europe and North America. But for us to gain a full understanding of the world, it's important that we look at all of history from all continents. Indeed, the fascinating yet often-ignored stories of African kingdoms and empires are essential to anyone's grasp on history.
Intrigued? Read on to learn about some of Africa's most influential rulers.
The great kings and queens of African history
The forgotten stories of Africa's greatest rulers
LIFESTYLE Rulers
In most Western history books, the history of Africa before the bloody and gruesome age of colonialism is barely touched on, if at all. The tales of the great and powerful Zulu Nation, the Dahomey Kingdom, and many others are all overshadowed by the events of the nations of Europe and North America. But for us to gain a full understanding of the world, it's important that we look at all of history from all continents. Indeed, the fascinating yet often-ignored stories of African kingdoms and empires are essential to anyone's grasp on history.
Intrigued? Read on to learn about some of Africa's most influential rulers.