Queen Judith & Sarki Muhammad Kanta
29. Queen Judith of Ethiopia (ruled c. 940-c.980 AD)Falasha conqueror of Ethiopia and destroyer of Christianity In 940 AD, though some authorities give slightly earlier dates, Judith, a Falasha conqueror, seized the throne of the Ethiopian city of Axum and proclaimed herself Queen. Inspiring dread in many Christian minds, she destroyed the churches, killing thousands […]
Pharaoh Khashekemui & Pharaoh Khufu
31. Pharaoh Khashekemui of Egypt (ruled 5094-5046 BC)First of the great Egyptian builders Pharaoh Khasekhemui, the last king of the Negro Second Egyptian Dynasty, presided over a brilliant 48 years of political and religious stability. Stone sculpture developed greatly during his time. Private individuals as well as royalty had portrait sculptures carved. Khasekhemui built the […]
Mutapa Matope & Pharaoh Mena
33. Mutapa Matope of Munuhumutapa (fourteenth century AD)Powerful ruler of Southern Africa The early southern African towns and villages lacked any central authority until discipline was imposed, first by the 12th or 13th century AD ruler Mutapa (i.e. Emperor) Mutota and then by a descendant, Mutapa Matope. Matope was the greatest conqueror of the early […]
Pharaoh Mer-Meith & King Micipsa
35. Pharaoh Mer-Meith of Ancient Egypt (ruled 5524-c.5507 BC) First Female Pharaoh of Egypt Pharaoh Mer-Neith (5524-c.5507 BC), of the Negro First Egyptian Dynasty, succeeded to the throne and ruled as its first female pharaoh. Her name means ‘beloved of Neith’, named after the same goddess that the Greeks would, at a much later date, […]
Askia Mohammed I & Mansa Musa
37. Askia Mohammed I of Songhai (ruled 1493-1529, died in 1538 AD) Emperor of the Songhai Empire of West Africa Sonni Baru Dao, ruler of the Songhai Empire, was also a follower of a traditional African religion and rejected all attempts to convert him to Islam by Muslims in his empire. After several weeks of […]
Pharaoh Natakamani and Queen Amanitore & Ngola Ann Nzinga
39. Pharaoh Natakamani and Queen Amanitore of Kush (ruled 1-20 AD)Sudanese husband and wife team who were the last of the great pharaonic builders Pharaoh Natakamani and Queen Amanitore were the last great builders in Kush. They lived somewhere around 1 AD to 20 AD. Their buildings were raised in Keraba, an area between the […]
Queen Oluwo & St Perpetua
41. Queen Oluwo of Ife (c.1000 AD)Yoruba Queen who paved the southern Nigeria city of Ife Professor Ekpo Eyo, a former head of the Nigerian museums system, narrates a curious oral tradition concerning Oni Oluwo, a distinguished Yoruba ruler. Apparently she was walking around the capital city of Ife when her regalia got splashed with […]
Sarki Muhammad Rumfa & Emperor Semamun
43. Sarki Muhammad Rumfa of Kano (ruled 1463-1499 AD)Most celebrated ruler in the northern Nigeria region Muhammad Rumfa became ruler of the Hausa city-state of Kano in 1463. He greatly extended the walls of the city and built an imposing new palace, the Gidan Rumfa, with courtly attendants adopting fashions from the nearby empire of […]
Queen of Sheba & King Sundiata
45. Queen of Sheba, ruler of Ethiopia and Yemen (ruled 1005-955 BC)One of the greatest women in world history In and around Axum, the old Ethiopian capital, there are over 50 obelisks, many of them undecorated. Some are believed to be very old, but firm dates have not been established. Near to some of these […]
Pharaoh Taharqo & Yusuf ibn Tashifin
47. Pharaoh Taharqo of Kush (ruled 690-664 BC)The most powerful African in history known as the Emperor of the World Taharqo (also called Taharka) ruled Kush and Egypt from 690 until 664 BC. He inherited a huge empire from Qebh-Hor in Asia to the lands south of the Sudanese city of Napata. In addition, Erathosthenes […]
