Nzingha: Warrior Queen of Matamba, Angola, Africa, 1595

The Royal Diaries

by Patricia C. McKissack

In 1595, Nzingha is the strong, intelligent daughter of the Ngola (leader) of the Mbundu people of Ndongo (in modern-day Angola), loyal to her people and willing to fight for them. Unfortunately, because she is a girl, her brother is the favored child, in training to become the next Ngola, even though he is whiny, stupid, and slow (according to Nzingha). But Ajala, a respected seer, believes that Nzingha is destined to be the leader of Ndongo, and begins preparing her for this future. Nzingha's father fights to keep the Portuguese from taking over their homeland, yet it is Nzingha, ultimately, who acts as the go-between for her people and the Portuguese, negotiating acceptable relations in order to keep peace and power for the Mbundu.

Based on true historical events, places, people, and customs, this novel portrays the fascinating details of a remarkable young woman's strength and courage in defending her world against subterfuge, spies, and the onslaught of the Portuguese. Historical notes, photos, illustrations, maps, the Ngola family tree, and a glossary and pronunciation guide are included for a comprehensive understanding of a complex era. Patricia McKissack is the well-respected and award-winning author of over 100 children's books and historical novels, including the Newbery Honor book The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural and Color Me Dark: The Diary of Nellie Lee Love (from the Dear America series). (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Africa, Historical, Middle Grade, Childrens

144 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2003

About the author

Patricia C. McKissack was the Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Award-winning author of The Dark-Thirty and Porch Lies an ALA Notable Book. She collaborated with Jerry Pinkney on Goin' Someplace Special (Coretta Scott King Award winner) and Mirandy and Brother Wind (Coretta Scott King Award winner and Caldecott Honor Book).

Reviews

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much, I read it very fast like for couple of hours only or so, but I am sure I will keep it in my bookshelf, in case I'll have children I want them to know about the life of this remarkable woman.

I am not Angolan but curently I live in Luanda, and the busiest street here is named Gingha (or, Nzingha). I took me sometime to understand that Nzingha was an Angolan queen, who fought for her kingdom against colonialist (portuguese) and slavery. I was amazed to hear that story from somebody. Amazed to imagine in this patriarchy society, she was the warrior and the leader in this country. And on top of that, at that time slavery was so normal -as her mother was also an ex-slave captured during war between the kingdoms, aparently- yet she knew the recent type of slavery brought by her enemy is something else. She said, "This way, the baby of a slave will be born a slave. It is not correct".

Like the previous review mentioned, reading this book I'm stunned by her persistence yet saddened at the same time, knowing that her fight against colonialism was not successful. Although, she still never gave in until end of her time.

Outside Angola -except it says in the book, in Brazil- she is not too popular, but her story is definitely one to be passed on for generations.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this book since it's not common to find YA historical books set in Africa.

The book started off well enough, but it was far too short for the story it wanted to tell. Like, ridiculously short. Stories can be told in few pages, and well, but this didn't work at all. I enjoyed reading more about the actual history about Nzingha than the made up history in the diary.

Also, the whole "Njali is a traitor!" reveal was pretty cool, and then IMMEDIATELY erased in like a paragraph in the next page. Like... we didn't even get to see that conversation with Nzingha's father, explaining about his work as a spy. Just "Oh btw Njali isn't a traitor I will trust my heart not my eyes teehee!" (which, btw, is terrible leadership sense in my opinion and it's clear from history that Nzingha was a talented ruler).

Also, even though it was historical, it bothered me that Nzingha was hailed as an anti-slavery advocate when... she really wasn't. It could have been fascinating to see the historical difference in her cultural slavery vs. European, but even in the historical notes it was all 'She was fiercely against slavery'. It's unclear from the historical notes if the historical figure was against her own people's ownership of slaves (it wasn't chattel slavery, but it was still slavery). It felt dishonest.

I really liked the author's book "A Picture of Freedom" about a slave girl in the American South, so I was quite disappointed.

[Andrea Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great glimpse at African culture during the late 1500s. The idea of a warrior princess/queen is fascinating, and I think the author handled the telling of Nzingha’s story quite well. I especially appreciated the in-depth historical note that followed the fictionalized story. It got me even more interested in learning more about this Matamban warrior queen.

Rating: 4 stars
Reasons: African culture/rituals that include spiritual readings and sacrifices to ancestors (sacrificing spoken of but not in great detail nor seen)

I was not compensated for my honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading and was instantly lost. So I took a small break and did some googling to figure out who this Queen was and what she did. If I'm not familiar with a historical figure that's what I have to do to understand better. I fell down a rabbit hole for a few hours reading on more of the history and her family. Eventually I came back to the book and I have to say the author did a really good job on writing about this historical figure. It was informative and you got a good look into the younger years of Nzingha.

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to read about such a fascinating woman. Nzingha is a strong, intelligent leader. This particular story also offers insight into the history of the invading Portuguese and the slave trade they ran from Africa to Brazil. Chilling to read about that.

The brief history of Nzingha portrayed here is interesting—she was an amazing leader who lived into her 80’s leading her armies to battle with her life-long loyal sisters and denouncing the slave trade—but I wanted more about her later life. I also wanted more information about Portugal and Angola’s relations today and how they got that way. How did Portugal get out of the slave trade and what did that do to their relation with Angola? What are they like today? Is there still distrust? There’s no mention of how the peoples today feel toward each other.

I also wanted more detail about what Angola itself is like today, besides a “war torn” country. (Wars among whom?) In other words, I wanted to know more about what happened after this story, how the actions of the Mbundi people durning the mid-1500’s to late 1600’s affected their country today. Also, a better, more detailed map would have been helpful to identify the mentioned areas.

I understand some information is hard to come by, but this story is too short and left me wanting to know more about Nzingha’s reign, her people, and her country both then and now. Fascinating warrior queen worthy to join the ranks of the other Royal Diaries in the series, but, unfortunately, not the most complete story, and Nzingha’s story has and deserves more.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book introduces the reader to Queen Nzingha, but ends after her early life. I was expecting the diary entries to cover more of her later life which was the period when this queen accomplished most in her conflict with the Portuguese. Still, it is a useful introduction.

[Toughlove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nzingha, Warrior Queen of Matamba, by Patrick Mckissasck, is just one of the many book series, in The Royal Diaries. Nzingha is a princess, who lives in Angola; Africa in 1595, her only wish is to hunt with her father, before she marries. She is only thirteen, but is very mature for her age. This book was written based on a true person, some of the characters names are false, but their existence is true. The book is mostly her life and written as a journal of what is going on in her life. It is very exciting, funny, and would make you think what would happen if you said the things that you read in this book. She expresses her opinions with little remorse, until she is proven wrong, and knows what she wants. The story takes place when the Portuguese, were trying to invade her village. The only thing that she wants is to be noticed by her father and the court, so she can be treated like her younger half brother. She fells more than capable to lead her village when it is time, and that her brother isn’t. This book or journal, is about a girl wanting to be seen as a grown up in peoples eyes.

Patrick Mckissasck wrote this book so that all the children who read it could see that they are not the only ones who feel like they aren’t important in their fathers, or anyone’s lives. He wrote it so the readers could see that you should never give up on your dreams and always stand up for what you believe in, and that is what Nzingha stood for. She was a symbol of inspiration to her people when she ruled, and was when she died too. Everyone who reads this book can relate to it, because we all want something in life and there are always people trying to get in your way, or people that are plotting against you. I would recommend this book to everyone, and to teenagers that are thinking on giving up their dreams, so that they could see how this one girl kept on believing even when their was only a little piece of hope.

[Lily Rause · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un très bon jeunesse
Un livre qui montre une autre vision de l'esclavage
Super bonne découverte pour ado et adultes

[Jocelyne Jam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on true events, Nzingha,Warrior Queen of Matamba, tells the story of the arrival of the Portuguese to Angola in 1595, through the diary of thirteen year old princess Nzingha. As the oldest daughter of the Ngola of Mbundu Kingdom, Nzingha dreams of a day when she can lead her people in spite of her lazy step-brother, the heir apparent. We follow this journey through her numerous diary entries; from her struggle to be a warrior, to her encounter with the Portuguese slave traders both on the coast of Luanda and from the Rocky slopes of Matamba. We see her learn that not everyone you consider an enemy is indeed an enemy, and that a friend can spring out of a foe.
This is a beautifully written book where history is interwoven with fiction to create the perfect blend of education and pleasure. It paints a realistic picture of the era; the ruthless slave traders using every trick in the book to get slaves and the wars that followed in this quest for human cattle. As I read through this book, I realized what slavery really looked like between Angolan tribes, the difference between being sold as slave to another tribe and being sold as a slave to white man. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Angolan/African history.

[Kaylabee · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, like, not to make everything about race or whatever but....why the black princesses’ book gotta be so short????

I was so psyched to read this book and learn about Nzingha but the story part of the book is only like 90 pages! I get it that we don’t have a ton of information and resources to pull from to build an accurate account of history, but, HELLO, it’s historical FICTION. Why didn’t they play up the romance? Or describe her toiling away under Mbandi’s rule?? There was a ton of potential for a great story here but I feel like the writer just did. Not. CARE.

Honestly, it felt a bit insulting to African culture. Why would you offer such a weak and flippant story to such an important historical figure? Nzingha lived at such an important time; right as the slave trade was opening up in earnest in America and Brazil. She fought against slavery and led an army and yet you only deem her worthy of 90 pages of a plot-less ramshackle half-butt story???? What gives??? I am so disappointed!

[Virginia Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had this book for a really long time and only read it once before but after recently reading Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba I felt like revisiting this one just for fun.

The Dear America series will always hold a special place in my heart. I grew up devouring these and for the longest time I would ONLY read these and the spin offs, Royal Diaries and My Name is America. I think my favorite parts were the pictures, recipes, maps and more in the back of the books. They really brought the stories to life.

This particular book was never one of my absolute favorites but reading it again after so many years I appreciated the twists and the 'who can I trust'? moments.

Overall, not a bad read. I wish it had been a bit longer tho. I enjoyed it and if you like the series or have an interest in Africa and it's famous queen, you might like this too.

[Forever Young Adult]

Graded By: Maria
Cover Story: Anogla's Next Top Model
BFF Charm: Eventually
Swoonworthy Scale: 1
Talky Talk: Brevity is the Soul of Wit
Bonus Factor: Sub-Saharan, Pre-Colonial African History
Anti-Bonus Factor: Smallville Syndrome
Relationship Status: Comrades-in-Arms

Read the full book report here.

[Anna Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good info in here about Nzingha and her life in the 1590s in Africa. It was interesting to read about her culture and how African "royalty" is formed under the chief, the Ngola. However, it didn't bother me so much that I didn't like this book overall, because it's so extremely short. It also reveals a twist that is then taken back almost immediately. This one's good for the cultural and historical info, but lacking for a compelling story in the fiction department.

[Violet Perry (Just a Bookish Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good historical fiction novel, although it's really see short.

[Alexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another pre-read for J's 8th grade year. This one is a quick, light read focusing on the early teenage years of Nzingha. It does a decent job of introducing the young woman and evoking the world she lived in. I did find myself wanting more of the story - she only becomes queen in the epilogue.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nzingha was an incredible Mbundu princess who became a leader of her people and Queen of Matamba. For decades her and her army fought the Portuguese slavers in what in now Angola, Africa.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this might have been the first children's book I ever read that had a non-white protagonist? Certainly the first one I remember. My childhood reading was sadly limited for a while there. But this was a hell of a book to start with.

Nzingha is the daughter of the Ngola of the Mbundu people, and she really wants to be the next Ngola, especially since her brother (being groomed for the position) is, uh, not good at it. Nzingha is, though, and she even serves as an ambassador of sorts from the Mbundu to the Portuguese. I'm sure you know that white people do not have the best history of being reasonable people to black people, but Nzingha holds her own (and the epilogue talks about a famous seat incident that occured later in her life). She's really great and I loved reading about her, both then and now.

I do wish the book was longer. I don't feel like I got to spend enough time with Nzingha, her family, or her culture. But what was there I really enjoyed.

[Ele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very cool and feminist. I usually try to give a better description, but this is the truth. My main qualm is how short it is, as it is the shortest in the entire series. I don't know much about African culture, and while I did enjoy what I saw here, I still found that it could have been longer.

Nzinga managed to save her entire nation from the slave-abducting Portuguese. We need to have more of a focus on her role in history, and just stop ignoring her right now.

The Royal Diaries was a non-euro-centric series of fictional diaries on the lives of various real princesses throughout history. Only half of these are set in Europe, and 4 of the non-European diaries are on Native North and South Americans. They always have a historical note at the end which is almost always very informative.

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I borrowed this from the library becuase of fond memories of reading other books from this series a number of yours ago as a tween. This book lvied up to those memories and was a fun ascape back into those years, and I recommend it to anyone just arriving at them. The only thing I'd say, is that the book and it's epilogue made a focus of Nzingha being against slavery, when in fact, she was merely against slavery as practised by europeans, not that of her own people. And as commendable as her life seems to have been, I felt there was a distinct effort to whitewash her in this area, and to insinuate that she was something that she does not appear to have been, namely a principalled anti-slavery campainger.
Let's leave that for William Wilberforce.

[Kelsey Hanson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nzingha is an incredibly intriguing leader. She is best known for the account where she was insulted by the Protugese by not being provided a chair. She didn't let that stop her. She just had a servant bend over as a chair so she could look the governor in the eye and get the respect she deserved. Her story is just COOL! She was pretty bad ass! She was a great leader and warrior, the people loved her and she was able to resist the Portugese slave drive. The one big disappointment was how short this book was. It seemed like things were just starting to get good and BAM done. It left me with a "really? Is that all? But I was having fun!" feeling. Apart from that, I really enjoyed this book.

[Nea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I'd been given the opportunity to learn about Angola's Queen Nzingha when I was a young girl doing my world history studies in school. Of course, American education never includes such teachings; but this book is one of many that parents can use to teach their young children at home. It's an easy, informative read about a courageous female warrior who resisted the slave trade and made her mark in this world.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this series and this book was one of the better ones in the series. A very interesting look into life in pre-colonial Africa. I enjoyed the description of customs and traditions and really felt a sense of time and place. I would highly recommend this book.

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my least favorite Royal Diaries book so far. The story ended so abruptly; it seemed like the author just got tired of writing the book so she stopped.

[Montana Crossman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good series for middle-school aged students. historical Fiction which is not entirely accurate, but could be a gateway to a fascination with a person or time period.

[Randy Astle · Rating 5 out of 5]

When my kids were young they got very into the American Girl books—the dolls as well, but I worked hard to ensure that their primary focus was on the books that came with them. The historical fiction angle was what impressed me most about the series as I read half a dozen or so books myself, and I tried to supplement it with books like this. The Royal Diaries is a kids-to-YA series (I'd guess this is written for roughly eight- to eleven-year-olds) from Scholastic which was either an answer or a precursor to American Girl. And judging from this book, it's fantastic.

The story, as all the reviews here note, is a fictionalized account of a historical woman who led her people against Portuguese colonizers/slave traders in the early 1600s. This book concentrates on roughly a year in her life at around age thirteen, encouraging aspirational reading through a protagonist slightly older than the intended reader, a common technique in youth TV and literature. In fact, quite a few reviews here complain about the book's brevity and the fact it doesn't deal with her adult life, leadership of her people, and military struggle against the Portuguese; my supposition is that this is because it's a book meant for young girls to read and the Royal Diaries series in general always deals with its protagonists around this age. If any reader's interest is piqued, they can search more historical material themselves; the purpose of this book is to give an introduction and provide inspiration for young girls. So while much of her biography is missing, that's just because that's not what this book is meant to do.

At any rate, this is a coming of age story, beginning with Nzingha as a princess but one who is ignored by her father the Ngola—the chief or king—because of her gender. It deals with her own maturation and how she finds respect with not just her father but all the men of her people, and how she becomes a trusted aide and leader in her own right. So that in itself is an intriguing narrative, but the themes—primarily about prejudice and slavery—are quite heavy, and McKissack, a veteran author for young people, handles them deftly, and all in a superb voice of a young person struggling to understand these issues herself.

Because it's Scholastic, the final quarter of the book is filled with exceptional nonfiction educational material that would make great reading for an individual child or for a group lesson plan in the classroom. , including many photos, a summary of Nzingha's adult life, a wonderful glossary, and even an engaging account about the author—for those budding young writers who would tear through a book like this and be fascinated about how it was written and by whom.

This is a great quick read for young readers or even adults interested in Angola's history. Any girl—or even boy—would delight in reading Nzingha's story.

[Tyler Zamora · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a pleasure it has been revisiting my Royal Diaries series! I owned a ton of these as a kid. Recently, as an adult, I decided to finish my collection so I could pass these books down to my future son or daughter and have the complete set. One of the first I purchased that I never owned before was this book about Nzingha. It always stuck out to me because it was one of the few books that featured a woman of color on the cover. I also had the Cleopatra one and loved it, so I figured another Royal from Africa must be just as interesting. (Although, I have not read any Royal Diaries books better than Cleopatra’s so far, because that is definitely my favorite, Nzingha took a solid second place.) My only complaint is that the book is so short, but I understand that there is very little information about her.

With that being said, I still thought the book did a great job (like all Royal Diaries and Dear America books do) of showing us the humanity that exists inside all of us, regardless of time, space, societal settings, etc. I found Nzingha such an inspiration, especially for young black women. I mean this woman was a warrior. Not only did she lead her people, she fought right along side them. I have serious respect for her. It’s very rare to see a leader fight with their people, usually they just sit safely in their office while they make decisions which will end the lives of their soldiers. I thought it very commendable that Nzingha put her own life on the line with her people. That shows heart, loyalty, and fearlessness. I can’t think of any other female leader in history who has done this. I’m sure they exist, but it definitely gave Nzingha badass status in my opinion. I also loved how vehemently against slavery she was. She understood at a very young age that every person should be in charge of their own destiny. She kept that sentiment throughout her entire life.

Another reason I knew I loved this book was the fact that I had to find out more info on Nzingha after reading. I found that she may have possibly poisoned her brother, which is questionable, so I’m sure that’s why it was omitted from this book. She also ruled with her two sisters as her advisors, which is very cool during a time when society did not even recognize her as a true leader. I love that she demanded respect, even if that meant using unconventional means, like using a servant as a chair so she was at eye level with Portuguese negotiators. What an icon! Her story reminded me of the agency we must all take in our own lives, despite what society tells us we can and can’t do. If you’re good, you’re good, and Nzingha was great!

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very surprised to find how short this book is; the diary portion only takes up 86 pages! That being said, it was a fast read (obviously) and had a few moments of humor to break up the serious topics addressed.

I’d never heard of Nzingha before picking up this book, but I’d like to learn more about her. Her personality was very bold and had consequences at times, but it never deterred her from doing what was right. She’s only thirteen and she’s a skilled hunter, and later in life she became a queen and a general of her own army. She opposed slave trade and fought the Portuguese her entire life. While she was diplomatic, she also didn’t put up with nonsense, especially from her half-brother. I loved her character and it’s easy to see why she’s still celebrated today.

Patricia C. McKissack did have to fabricate quite a bit for this story, but she did a great job portraying Nzingha’s relationships with her family. I especially loved her younger sisters; Kifunji was a little sass master and had me laughing with her little quips. Her future husband, Azeze, was respectful and saw her as an equal, and their flirting was very sweet and left me wanting more on that front (which is a good thing!). Her relationship with her father was complicated, and I felt like it developed a little too fast given how short the book was. I liked that she struggled at first to win Papa Kiluanji’s attention, but the tension with that was weak when two pages later he was inviting her to hunt with his warriors.

I’m still not sure how to feel about Father Giovanni, the captive Portuguese priest. I realize for the story he needed to be portrayed in a positive light, and maybe he wasn’t a bad person per say, but something always felt a little off with him. Njali being a double agent was also something that bothered me. He was revealed to be in league with the Portuguese, but then it turned out he was just spying on them to help halt the slave trade. Again, I feel like if the book was longer, this subplot could have worked better instead of it being a five-page conflict that felt too easily wrapped up.

It’s a shame this book is so short, but there’s quite a bit of historical information in the back, as well as a pronunciation guide and glossary, which is very useful. I’m excited to read more of McKissack’s Dear America books in the future.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, I’ve read Nzingha: Warrior Queen of Matamba, Angola, Africa, 1595 (The Royal Diaries) by Patricia C. McKissack more than once, and I must say, I find it quite fascinating, as well as highly well-written, too.

For one thing, the main character, Nzingha, sure is amazing, as well as highly awesome and pretty cool, too, along with her family.

If I had to pick one or more than one favorite part of this book that I would re-read sometimes, I would pick these:

When I was just able to walk, my mother took me to Ajala for a reading. Ajala touched my head and told my mother I was destined to be the leader of Ndongo.
“But no Mbundu woman can be Ngola,” Mother Kenjela said.
“Long, long ago, women were leaders among the Mbundu,” Ajala answered. “It is the will of men, not the ancestors, that keeps women from becoming Ngolas. But I hear the voices of the old ones, and they say that Ndongo, the land of the Mbundu, will be ruled by a woman again.”
My mother kept the words in her heart. When I was older, she sent me to Ajala for a second reading. It was the same. Since that day, Ajala has been teaching me — and now my sisters, too — about plants and herbs and the names of the ancestors. She tells us the sacred stories that are used to teach our leaders. “Your title may be lost, and your land and your servants, and even your friends will betray you, but zai...,” Ajala told me, pausing to touch her head, “zai — knowledge — is yours forever.”
That’s why, when Mother Kenjela made arrangements for the priest to instruct us, I almost protested. What could I learn from the enemy? Then I remembered Ajala’s words: Zai is forever. (p. 8-9)

So here I am in the garden, writing words in a language that belongs to our worst enemy. And I do so willingly. For if these words have magic, then I will use them to plot and plan a way to drive the Portuguese from our land. And maybe one day my pages will tell others that I, Nzingha, First Daughter of Kiluanji, was a Mbundu, one of a powerful people who are free and unafraid to fight for our beloved homeland of Ndongo in the Kwanza River Valley.

Later the Same Evening
My sisters have found me. Kifunji cannot resist teasing. She gives a big laugh. “Writing is good for you, sister. To see you sitting quietly is such a rare pleasure. Isn’t it better than hurling a spear, or wrestling some boy to the ground?”
But Mukambu, my second sister, stands with me. She always does. “Nzingha’s steps are longer than ours,” she says, reminding little sister that I am the oldest.
We are all Mother Kenjela’s daughters, but we are different. Happy Kifunji loves to play, and is always busy with her hands. Quiet Mukambu is the thinker. I am accused of being independent. It is true, I suppose, for I would rather be kept in an open basket than a lukata — a box. (p. 11-12)

Second Month of Mbangala: The Season When the Grass Is Burned [August 1595]
I am learning to write words on paper. But we Mbundu can send messages much faster and farther with our drums. The talking drums that pass words from drummer to drummer, village to village, tell us that Papa Kiluanji and his warriors are four sunsets out from the capital. They are camping on the Kwanza River. The Ngola is returning with a victory and many captives. The drums also say that the Portuguese have been pushed back once again. Back into the sea, I hope. As long as I have been alive, there has been war in Ndongo. I would be happy if we could have peace just for a while.

Later
My sisters and I just returned from visiting Old Ajala. She told us a story. While we listened, our hands were busy. I strung Mother Kenjela a bracelet to wear for the Ngola’s homecoming. As I selected each precious seashell, I thought of how loving our mother is to us. The bracelet tells a story of her life — a chain of sad and happy occasions.
The first shell represents young Kenjela’s village in the northern hills, which was burned by the Portuguese. She was captured. The second shell reminds me that when she was being taken to Luanda to be sold as a slave, Papa Kiluanji attacked, and Mother Kenjela became a captive again.
The third shell is for the time back in Kabasa, when young Kenjela became the slave of the Ngola’s mother. She missed her own mother and father, but the Ngola’s mother was kind to her. The fourth shell represents Mother Kenjela as a smart and beautiful woman. When she danced she was like the wind in the tall trees. And she carried large baskets on her head with a grace that turned heads in the marketplace and caught the eye of warriors, craftsmen, and even a blacksmith. All would have been good husbands. But Papa Kiluanji is the fifth shell.
Kiluanji, the young prince of the Mbundu, wanted Kenjela as his wife. But there were many objections.
“You are the descendant of great leaders — men and women of Ndongo. As the Ngola you cannot take an outsider as your first wife,” his parents argued. For each unkind comment, I added a shell.
“Kenjela is not one of us,” said several of the elders.
“She is not linked to any of our ancestors,” said the royal counselors.
They called Kenjela a jaga, which means outsider. Kiluanji was determined to have her as his bride, so he asked Old Ajala for help. The shell I used for Ajala is large and rare. She spoke to the spirits and afterward blessed the marriage. “It is the will of the ancestors,” she said. Who would dare argue with that?
But to silence his parents and critics, Kiluanji married Kenjela and Kwumi at the same time. Kwumi is a Mbundu woman with all the right ancestry. Even though I think she has the heart of a pit snake, I added a shell for her and two more for Mbandi and me. Kenjela gave birth to me first, then Kwumi gave birth to Mbandi two weeks later. Although I am the oldest, Mbandi is the boy. Kwumi is First Wife. But everybody knows that Kenjela is the Ngola's beloved. I added two more shells: one for Mukambu, who was born later, and one for little Kifunji, who was last.
The bracelet is finished and so is the story. (p. 12-15)

Finally, I highly recommend this book to those who like the Dear America series and the Royal Diaries series. And I give it five stars (although ten stars would be even better). 😇📖👸🏼

[Rachel Jackson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The actual story of Nzingha in this Royal Diaries book was 86 pages long, and when I turned the page and realized the epilogue was about to happen, my sense of confusion and disappointment about this whole book got worse. This was one of my least favorite books in the Royal Diaries series, unfortunately, which I have been revisiting slowly because I used to read them when I was a kid. I don't remember having read this particular one years ago, but I picked it up at my local library, and I wish it was better, I wish I could rate it higher, I wish I was more interested in it, given the unique subject matter of a girl who becomes a badass warrior lady in her adulthood. But Patricia McKissack definitely is not one of the better writers in the series, because the book was boring and confusing and offered nothing to show much of Nzingha’s personality. All the relationships between the women of the community—Nzingha’s two sisters, and old Ajala—were the most interesting part of the book, and those were barely touched on at all. I'll look up the historical Nzingha and try to learn more about her, but it's not this book on its own that makes me want to learn more about her life and her place in history.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the author: “researching the life of Nzingha was a learning experience for me. I had never heard of this remarkable woman, but I am proud to know about Nzingha now. Her story is worth telling. … I’ve always loved history-especially African and -American history. Wanting to know more about my own culture and wanting to share that knowledge with others is the motivation that keeps me writing.”

An enjoyable, informative and quick read as an adult. I long for more detail and information about the topics brought up here and look forward to further reading in this area. I appreciate the Royal Diaries for using their platform to discuss challenging topics with young readers.

Summary: Nzingha is the first daughter of the ruler of the Mbundu peoples. She navigates power and prejudice in a power-patriarchal but culturally-matriarchal society. She earns the respect of many people despite her “outsider” standing and after the deaths of her father and half-brother, serves as warrior-queen in resistance to the Portuguese slave trade.