NJINGA

– RAINHA DE ANGOLA

Storyline

Njinga – Rainha de Angola is the story of a warrior queen who, for 40 years, fought for the independence of Ndongo and Matamba. After her son’s murder, Njinga focused her energy on the liberation of the mbundo peoples under the motto: “Those who stay fight to win”.

Synopsis

Seventeenth century, Ndongo and Matamba region (now Angola). A woman rises to power and fights for 40 years for the independence of her kingdom and her people’s freedom. This woman is Njinga, who would become known as Queen Njinga. 
The story begins in 1617, the year king Kilwanji, Njinga’s father, dies. A fierce fighter against the onslaughts of the Portuguese in Ndongo territory (whose main objective was the capture of slaves for the sugar cane plantations in Brazil), his death leaves the matter of his succession unresolved. The council of makotas, responsible for choosing the future king, is torn between three candidates: Nguri, still a child and the legitimate son of the king; and two children the king had with a slave, Mbandi and Njinga, the latter being the ruler’s favourite.

It is in this context that the ambitious Mbandi imposes his will and usurps power. After his enthronement, and by suggestion of his counsellor, his Manilungo, Kanjila (son of Njinga) and all his opponents are murdered, to ensure that the reign of Mbandi will not be threatened. Following this episode, Njinga retires to Quindonga islands, with her two sisters, Njali (her counsellor) and her court.

The following years marked the decline of Mbandi’s military power, and his submission to the Portuguese. Under the rule of the Portuguese governor in Luanda, Luis Mendes de Vasconcelos, the Mbaka stronghold/prison is rebuilt near Mbandi’s court, which accentuates the conflict between the two nations. The Battle of Mbaka (1618) results in a severe defeat for Mbandi, who is forced to escape to Quindonga islands. It is here that Mbandi asks Njinga to go to Luanda to negotiate a peace treaty with the Portuguese.

Njinga is sure that Mbandi ordered the death of her son Kanjila, but for the good of the people of Ndongo, she contains her rage for the death of her son and agrees to go to Luanda, where she is received, in 1622, by the Portuguese governor João Correia de Sousa. This is a historically famous episode, marked by formalism and good intentions from the two parties. Njinga stays in Luanda for a while, and is even baptized, in a purely political action devised to appease the Portuguese. When she returns to Ndongo, everything seems to move towards an understanding with the Portuguese, but Mbandi doesn’t comply with his end of the deal and once again declares war on the men of Muene Puto. In an unequal combat, the Ngola is defeated and ends up being poisoned.

With the death of Mbandi, Njinga rises with relative ease to the throne of Ndongo. Even without the agreement of the Portuguese, her legitimacy as queen is accepted by many sobas and by the people. Njinga falls in love with Jaga KasaCangola, a former military supporter of Mbandi and his son Kalu’s guardian. Njinga marries Jaga KasaCangola and sees her military and territorial power rise, but this ends in tragedy: Kalu (the natural heir to the throne) dies. KasaCangola blames Njinga for his death and moves away from her, causing additional grief to the heart of the warrior queen.

In 1624, Njinga tries a new approach to the Portuguese, now represented by Governor Fernão de Sousa. She tries to convince the new governor to withdraw his forces from the Mbaka stronghold/prison. In return, Fernão de Sousa demanded the return of the slaves who constantly fled to Njinga’s court in search of freedom, since she was known for treating them with respect. But once again, the two parties do not reach an agreement.

Without an understanding, Fernão de Sousa appoints a local soba, Ngola-a-Ari, king of Ndongo. He does this without the consent of Njinga or the other Ndongo sobas.

This is a period of constant and bloody battles, with Njinga being expelled from her land (by Captain Banha Cardoso). Increasingly “trapped” in Quindonga islands, the queen decides to try to negotiate with the Portuguese. She sends her Manilungo Njali to Mbaka to try to reach an agreement, but, in response, she receives the head of her chief adviser. Weakened and without resources, Njinga escapes the attack made by the Portuguese who kidnapped her sisters, taking them to Luanda. It is in this background that Njinga forms an alliance with one of the most terrible Jagas: Jaga Kassanje.

With the military assistance of Jaga Kassanje, Njinga begins to conquer the territory of Matamba, while her sisters are still held in Luanda, where they are baptized. Only in 1632-33, Kambo is released and reunited with Njinga. Kifunji remains a prisoner of the Portuguese, but becomes a spy to the queen, sending her letters with important information about the Portuguese territorial governance.

For nearly a decade, Njinga extends her rule over the territory, becoming Queen of Matamba and shunning Jaga Kassanje. The Portuguese, harassed by Njinga’s success, form an alliance with the Dutch invaders, who crave a piece of the slave trading business, to defeat the queen, but Njinga manages to escape. However, her sister Kambo is kidnapped once again and, what’s worst, Kifunji, who was still a prisoner, dies, thrown into the river by the Portuguese when they discover that she was a spy.

With the withdrawal of the Dutch from Luanda, in 1648, and the arrival of Governor Correia de Sá, the relations between the Portuguese and Njinga enter a more diplomatic phase. Although they are unable to reach an agreement, they enter a time of appeasement, with Njinga allowing the free passage of Capuchins within her territory, as well as establishing a trade route between Luanda and Matamba.

In 1655, now 73 years-old, Jinga sends a letter to the new governor, Luis Martins Chichorro, which will mark the beginning of the end of the war between the two nations. At that time, the Portuguese eventually release her sister Kambo, who is reunited with Njinga.

After nearly 40 years of struggle, queen Njinga can finally make peace with the Portuguese, who recognize her as the legitimate ruler of Matamba and Ndongo.  

>via: http://www.rainhanjinga.co.ao/en/#story