When We Ruled

'Poetic and fierce, this volume is a compelling modern-day journey into past histories of impressive African queens and leaders' Olivette Otele, author of African Europeans

'A rich, sumptuous and beautifully written tapestry of the past that makes my heart soar and ache all at once; this is the history we should have learned in schools' Candice Carty-Williams, author of Queenie

Njinga Mbande

Nana Yaa Asantewaa

Makobo Modjadji VI

Ranavalona the First

These queens and warriors ruled vast swathes of the African continent. They led, loved and fought for their kingdoms and people. They made decisions, good and bad, the impact of which can still be felt today. Yet, beyond the lands they called home, so few of us have ever heard their names.

In this sweeping history, Paula Akpan takes us into the worlds of these powerful figures, following their stories and how they came to rule and influence the futures of their people. With reigns spanning pre-colonial Nigeria to the farming villages of Rwanda, the hills of Madagascar to apartheid South Africa, these ruler's stories offer us fascinating insight into life in these regions. Akpan shows how societies thrived, expanded and fractured before colonial influence, while also exposing the deep scars colonisation left behind.

In this game-changing narrative of twelve lives, Akpan takes us on a spellbinding, enrapturing and immersive history that is nothing short of revelatory.