{"id":2536,"date":"2019-11-17T14:16:23","date_gmt":"2019-11-17T12:16:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rocketpad.co.za\/matoyana\/?p=2536"},"modified":"2019-11-17T14:59:12","modified_gmt":"2019-11-17T12:59:12","slug":"rise-warrior-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rocketpad.co.za\/matoyana\/rise-warrior-women\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rise of the Warrior Women"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new documentary<\/a> with Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong\u2019o takes us on a fascinating journey as it charts the history of a fierce – but seldom heard of \u2013 all female African army. In the 17th and 19th centuries in the Kingdom of Dahomey (modern-day Benin) there was a tribe of warrior women known as the \u201cAgoji\u201d\u2013<\/a> or as Europeans called them, the \u201cAmazons\u201d. The Agoji fought in armies of up to 4000 women and confronted threats from both Africa and Europe. The documentary reveals the true story of the warrior women of Africa is more intriguing and complicated than Marvel\u2019s warriors of Wakanda.<\/p>\n

\u201cLupita Nyong\u2019o\u2019s investigation into the real story of the all-female army is thrilling, haunting and emotional. It\u2019s amazing the true story of these kick-ass female fighters isn\u2019t more widely known \u2013 and in telling it, the film challenges dominant narratives about race, women and power. With some surprises along the way.\u201d\u00a0 Shaminder Nahal , Commissioning Editor of Warrior Women with Lupita Nyong\u2019o<\/em><\/p>\n

The Agoji are not by no means the only warrior women in African history. Closer to home in 1583 in present-day Angola, a baby called Nzinga Mbande<\/a> was born. \u00a0By 1624 Ms Mbande had fought her way to becoming Queen Nzinga of Ndongo. Hers is also a story of passion, violence and plot twists. Towards the end of her life she ensured her people avoided European colonialism and she remains honoured as a warrior woman of note throughout Africa.<\/p>\n

In South Africa, in more recent history, the legendary Princess Magogo<\/a> was born in 1900. She was the daughter of the Zulu King, Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo (1868 \u2013 1913) and Queen Silomo. From an early age Princess Magogo was a gifted musician and learned how to play the ugubhu<\/em>, (a stringed bow and a calabash) and the isithontolo<\/em> (similar to a bow with a string down the middle). Although she married in 1926, she broke with Zulu tradition and continued composing classical music, singing and writing poetry as a married woman.<\/p>\n

Princess Magogo died in 1984 and was posthumously awarded the South African National Order of Ikhamanga in Gold for a life of \u201cprolific musical composition, and an outstanding contribution to the preservation and development of traditional music in South Africa.\u201d Her warrior woman spirit lives on through her music and through the people she taught, passing on her knowledge of the intricacies of Zulu music, tradition and history.<\/p>\n

Tapping into Your Inner Warrior<\/strong><\/p>\n

These warrior women of African history have inspired us at Matoyana Media to celebrate our own modern day warrior women. This year has been pivotal for so many of us \u2013 the not-always-easy times showing the need for more warrior women to step up and take command of their circumstances. The rise of the divine feminine energy is also palpable<\/a> as we become aware of the many things which are broken within our society.<\/p>\n

With this in mind Matoyana Media is excited to reveal we have a new interview series, following up from our 2018 season of Fearless Women<\/a> features.\u00a0 Our modern-day warrior women interviews share the voices of diverse African women who are fearless and are who are warriors in how they choose to live their lives, grow in their careers and businesses.<\/p>\n

The content will be hosted online \u2013 on YouTube<\/a> and on our Podcast<\/a> and please keep an eye on our Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> pages. We are featuring activists, professionals, businesswomen and entrepreneurs from across the African content.<\/p>\n

Our Warrior Women project aims to:<\/p>\n