Nzingha was born in 1582, to her father Ndabi Kiluanji and mother Kanjela. Kiluanji’s mother did not approve of this so he married somebody more suitable first and then married Kanjela.

Before Nzingha was born they had a son Nbadi in 1579, the boy was useless, fat, and lazy. In 1582 Nzingha was born she was more promising, athletic, smart; the only problem is that she was a girl. Then Kiluanji had two other daughters: one in 1584 named Mukambu, and one in 1587 named Kifunji.

Nzingha was good at hunting, archery, diplomacy, and trade. Nzingha hated her half-brother Mbadi. She picked fights with him all the time. She had a different relationship with her sisters they got along very well. Her sisters went with her when she went hunting. Mbadi got training but all he did was complain, eat, and whine.

Nzingha married a prince named Azeze they had a child. Unfortunately Azeze died in a war a few years later. Her sisters also lost their husbands in a battle. In 1617, Kiluanji died and the pathetic Mbadi was left to rule Ndongo**. Mbadi ordered the death of all who opposed him.

Nzingha’s mother and son were killed, Mbadi would have killed Nzingha but an outcry would arise. Nzingha had promised her father that she would keep the Portuguese out. There were many Portuguese traders and their job was to capture and sell Mbundu people. Thousands of Ndongo people were captured. When Nzingha was invited to the Portuguese city of Luanda she refused a seat and her male servant made a human bench.

Nzingha also made a peace agreement and also got baptized and took the name Ana de Sousa in honor of the governor Joao Carreida de Sousa. There was a rumor that the only reason that she got baptized was to earn respect from the Portuguese.

Nzingha returned to Kabasa and found Mbadi dead, supposedly Nzingha had him killed. Now that there was no leader, the Portuguese burned Kabasa to the ground. Nzingha took her people and fled to the mountains for a few years. Nzingha arranged for an army to fight back.

For the next forty years, Nzingha was fighting against the Portuguese. Her two sisters were captured in the war; but they both returned safely. Unfortunately Kifunji died from battle wounds.

Nzingha lead many battles and signed many peace treaties, some with the Portuguese and some with the Dutch. Everyone called her Queen of Matamba because she ruled the Matamba Mountains. Nzingha died in 1663 at the age of 82. Her sister took the seat of power as head of Mbada. Nzingha was buried in her leopard skin and bow and arrow.

And this is the life of Queen Nzingha.

**The kingdom of Ndogo was located in present-day Angola. Angola is located in the southern part of Africa's west coast.