From rainmaking queens to dogged isolationists, the lives and reigns of Africa’s feminine rulers have lengthy been shrouded in thriller, misunderstanding and misogyny. Over the centuries and all through the continent, these people navigated the inflexible traditions of their very own cultures to wield energy – even to the detriment of their topics. Talking to Danny Fowl, Paula Akpan traces the lives of 12 influential African girls, difficult prevailing narratives to disclose a continent formed by matriarchy and contested reminiscences.
Paula Akpan is the writer of When We Dominated: The Rise and Fall of Twelve African Queens and Warriors (Trapeze, 2025).
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