I want to share what was passed on to me.

POV: the african woman as heroine
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http://www.cwo.com/~lucumi/women.html
THE GLOBAL AFRICAN COMMUNITY
L E C T U R E N O T E S
THE AFRICAN WOMAN AS HEROINE
GREAT BLACK WOMEN IN HISTORY
By RUNOKO RASHIDI

DEDICATED TO AFRICAN WOMEN AROUND THE PLANET!

INTRODUCTION: THE GLORY AND MAJESTY OF AFRICAN WOMEN

For many thousands of years the African woman has been
worshipped, revered and idolized by individuals,
families and nations--not only in Africa but around
the world. Ancient records show her as queen, goddess,
scholar, diplomat, scientist, icon, prophet and
freedom fighting warrior exalted with and sometimes
above her father, husband and brothers. The African
woman has administered great and mighty nations, led
determined and capable armies into battle and founded
splendid and enduring royal dynasties. Indeed, no
other human of any racial or ethnic type has been so
widely venerated as has the African woman. This brief
essay, therefore, is intended as a secure African
man's historical recognition, tribute and salute to
the prominence, grandeur and majesty of African women.

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KMT: BLACK LAND OF ANCIENT AFRICA

Of all the countries of ancient times it is Kmt
(Ancient Egypt) that stands out above all others. Kmt
was indeed the heart and soul of early Africa. When we

examine Kemetic civilization we note what is perhaps
the proudest achievement in the whole of human annals.
It is therefore proper that we look first at the role
and stature of African women in Kmt in the Valley of
Nile.

First things first--Kmt was African; not only her
origins, but from the very beginning and through the
great part of the pharaonic period African people
endowed with dark complexions, full lips, broad noses
and tightly curled hair were overwhelmingly dominant
in both the general population and the ruling elite.
Ancient Kmt was Africa par excellence.

It has been noted that the most significant single
fact to keep in mind when discussing the topic of
women and leadership in ancient Kmt is that there was
basic equality between men and women. Women of the
ancient Kemetic royal families enjoyed considerable
influence and freedom of movement, and occupied
positions of great power and authority. There is not a
single recorded incident of sexual assault or domestic
abuse against an African woman in the entire history
of Kmt. Kemetic women inherited and willed fortunes,
wrote love poems, introduced legislation at the courts
of law and commanded the respect of king and commoner
alike.

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YOUR MAJESTY: GREAT QUEENS OF KMT (ANCIENT EGYPT)

Queen Ahmose-Nefertari, participated actively in the
expulsion from Kmt of the Hyksos--Kmt's first invaders
and occupiers. Ahmose-Nefertari was born royal heiress
and became one of Africa's most brilliant queens.
After the twenty-five year reign of Ahmose I,
Nefertari governed jointly with her son Amenhotep I.
The veneration of Ahmose-Nefertari continued for more
than six-hundred years after her death. To her memory
was attached a special priesthood, who recited in her
honor a prayer only used in addressing the gods.

Ahmose-Nefertari was given considerable authority in
the cult of the King of the Gods when she was made
"God's Wife of Amen," a position that held a chief
role as a priestess in the national religious center,
and was provided with goods and property legally
documented and published for all to see on a
monumental stela set up in the Temple of Amen at
Karnak. Her royal titles included the exceptional
"Female Chieftain of Upper and Lower Kmt."

Makare Hatshepsut's twenty-one year reign occurred
near the zenith of Kmt's second golden age. This was
an era marked by great internal stability and
international prestige. One of the Hatshepsut's
proudest achievements was a highly successful
expedition to the African land of Punt--regarded by
the Kamites as "God's land." Hatshepsut's royal titles
included: "King of the North and South, Son of the
Sun, The Heru of Gold, Bestower of Years, Goddess of
Risings, Conqueror of all Lands, Lady of both Lands,
Vivifier of Years, Chief Spouse of Amen, the Mighty
One."

Queen Tiye was the beloved wife of Nebmare Amenhotep
III, and the mother of Akhenaten and Tutankhamen. Tiye
is one of the most interesting figures in history.
Amenhotep and Tiye married while quite young and
shared one of the great love affairs of the ages. That
she was of great ability and powerful influence is
proved by association with her husband in all of his
ceremonial records. She was such an integral part of
Kamite affairs that on more than one occasion foreign
sovereigns appealed to her directly in matters of
international significance. The surviving portraits of
Tiye show her with distinct African features.

Queen Nefertari was "The Beautiful Companion" of
Ramses II. Her two major titles were "King's Great
Wife and "Mistress of the Two Lands." After her death,
Nefertari was worshipped as a divine Osirian, or a
soul which has become deified. Under the attributes of
Asr (Osiris), Kmt's lorder of the dead, she was adored
as a goddess. Queen Nefertari's body was housed in a
5,200 square foot tomb decorated with vivid wall
paintings--the most splendid in the Valley of the
Queens--"The Place of Beauty." Her tomb paintings and
inscriptions depict Nefertari as a woman of great
charm and exquisite taste, adorned with magnificent
jewelry and wearing fashionable gowns.

Queen Istnofret, another distinguished African woman,
was a contemporary of Nefertari, and was elevated to
the position of Great Royal Wife upon Nefertari's
death. Queen Istnofret was the mother of Prince Ramses
(Senior King's Son). Prince Khaemwaset (one of the
most brilliant men of the Ramesside era) and Prince
Merneptah--who eventually succeeded his father as
King. Queen Istnofret died in approximately year 24 of
Ramses II's reign.

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FREEDOM FIGHTERS AND RESISTANCE LEADERS

Although it was was extremely prominent, Kmt (Ancient
Egypt) was only one of many great African nations
where women held high positions. Makeda, for example,
the semi-legendary Queen of Sheba (Saba), is thought
to have lived during the tenth century B.C.E. This
woman had all the qualities of an exceptional monarch,
and appears to have ruled over a wealthy domain
encompassing parts of both Africa and Arabia. She is
called Makeda in the Ethiopian text known as the Kebra
Negast, Bilqis in the Koran, and the Queen of Sheba in
the Bible. The three of these documents provide a

relatively clear picture of a highly developed state
distinguished by the pronounced overall status of
women. Makeda was not an isolated phenomenon. Many
times, in fact, do we hear of important women in
African and Arabian history; the documents they are
mentioned in providing no commentary on husbands,
consorts or male relatives. Either their deeds or
inheritance, perhaps both, enabled them to stand out
quite singularly.

Dahia al-Kahina of Mauritania was especially active in
the North African resistance to the Arab invasions
that occurred at the end of the seventh century.
About 690 she assumed personal command of the African
forces, and under her aggressive leadership the Arabs
were briefly forced to retreat. The Arab invaders of
Africa were relentless, however, and as the African
plight deteriorated, the dauntless Kahina ordered a
scorched earth policy. The effects of the devastation
can still be seen in the North African countryside.
According to tradition, Kahina eventually took her own
life rather than admit defeat to the Arabs. With her
death ended a magnificent attempt to preserve Africa
for the Africans.

Queen Nzingha, also known as Ann Nzingha, was overlord
of portions of both Angola and Zaire. She has been
called the "greatest military strategist that ever
confronted the armed forces of Portugal." Nzingha's
military campaigns kept the Portuguese in Africa at
bay for more than four decades. Her objective was
nothing less than the complete and total destruction
of the African slave trade. Nzingha sent ambassadors
throughout West and Central Africa with the intent of
enlisting a huge coalition of African armies to eject
the Portuguese. Queen Nzingha died fighting for her
people in 1663 at the ripe old age of eighty-one.
Africa has known no greater patriot.

In summary, and in the words of Dr. John Henrik
Clarke, "The first accomplishment of the African
woman, in partnership with the man, was the creation
of a functioning family unit. This major step in
human development laid the foundations of the
organization of all subsequent societies and
institutions. In Africa the woman's `place' was not
only with her family. She often ruled nations with
unquestioned authority."