As the world eagerly anticipates the premiere of Netflix’s new documentary series “African Queens,” executive producer Jada Pinkett Smith and her team are bringing to life the stories of some of the most powerful and influential women in post-colonial Africa.
The series, set to premiere on February 15th, 2022, will begin with the legendary Angolan Queen Njinga, who ruled in the 17th century and fought off Portuguese settlers. With her strong leadership and undeniable influence on history, Queen Njinga’s story is the perfect way to kick off this series. However, there is some confusion around the correct spelling of the late queen’s name, as different historians refer to her as Njinga, her native name was Ngola Njinga, or her Christian name, Ana de Sousa.
The show was originally announced last summer, and Smith shared her excitement in a statement, saying, “As the mother of a young Black woman, it is immensely important to me that she learns the lessons of the African Queens who paved the way for our success and the success of generations of Black women. I am very passionate and excited about bringing the stories and lessons of these powerful women to light in order to showcase their strength, leadership, and undeniable influence on history.” The series has been picked up for two seasons, and it aims to blend dramatization with factual recounts from historians over four, 45-minute episodes.
The show is written by Kenyan-born storyteller Peres Owino and British diplomat NneNne Iwuji and comes via Smith’s Westbrook Studios and independent film studio Nutopia. With a team of writers from Africa and the UK, this series promises to bring fresh perspectives and a nuanced understanding of these powerful women.
As news of the series premiere broke, Smith shared the exciting news with her 11 million Instagram followers, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. As fans eagerly await the premiere, there is hope that this series will not disappoint, like most series or movies about Africa and African history created by Western media. This series promises to be a powerful and enlightening look at the lives of these African Queens, and the impact they had on history and the world.
It’s time for the world to know about these powerful women and their contributions to history. The series is expected to be a must-watch for anyone interested in the untold stories of Africa and its powerful women. Let’s hope that the series lives up to the hype and it will be a representation of the true history of Africa and it’s queens.
