STORIES ABOUT GREAT AFRICAN QUEENS

Leopard and African moon- by Jamie Thom 

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AFRICAN QUEEN TALES BY MOONLIGHT

What is in a name? In Africa names are not given to children only because they sound beautiful or exotic. When a name is bestowed upon an African child it is the responsibility of that child, its parents, and its entire community to help the child live up to the expectations of his or her name. Names in Africa either, short or long are given because they have sacred meanings, and special stories behind them. My Igbo-Nigerian name "Ogechukwu" (abbrev. Ogechi or Oge) means "God's time is the best", my second Igbo-Nigerian  name "Nkiru" means "My Future is bright", and my English name "Kimberly" means "Ruler". I have always tried (with the help of my wonderful family and friends) to live up to the expectations of my name. I am a shameless perfectionist and  leader in everything I do but I always make my plans and decisions at God's appointed time. 

Do you know the meaning and the story behind your name? Were you named after someone great or special? Have you lived up to the expectations of your name?

I have decided to do my storybook project on five  African Queens whose exploits are rarely heard about in myth- folklore today. My storybook will focus on the lives of 
Queen Amina of Zaria, Queen Nandi of Zulu land, Tiye the Nubian Queen of Egypt,  Queen Nzingha of Angola, and Yaa Asentawa-Queen mother of Ghana. My love for African myth-folklore drove me to pick this topic. Apart from this, many women around the world irrespective of skin color, or nationality bear the same names as some of  these queens, and I believe my storybook will be a wonderful avenue to show these women through the courageous acts of these queens the importance of their names. Hopefully, the stories in my story book will help shed some light on the lives of these African queens, and also spark some kind of interest in each of us to embrace the stories behind our names.  Now for all the guys out there, I know my project is female-oriented but I have to let you guys know in the true spirit of African  storytelling there is a lesson to be learned by everyone in any type of story.

So, let us join our five young guides on this  moonlit African night as the tell us the stories about these seven African queens...

On this beautiful weekend evening the moon is shining bright, the wind is blowing calmly, the insects and animals have all settled down, and the people have just finished their evening meals- it is a perfect night for a story. In this town called "story land", it is a tradition  for families and friends to listen to great tales together every weekend evening under the moonlit sky. I wonder what tonight's story will be about?

Tonight,  five  modern day young women who bear the same names as the five  African queens  have decided to take the people of this town  on a magnificent journey with the stories about the exploits of the great queens who bore their names before them.

So gather around men, women, boys, and girls it is story time, and the people just can't wait to hear this weekend's story, and I really can't wait either........

        

WEB SOURCES:

Website: Great African Queens
Weblink:  This website gives a brief history, and physical description of some of the great African queens.

Website: Ancient African black kingdoms
Weblink: This website gives a brief timeline of the great nubian kingdom.

Website: The Pride and Journey
Weblink: This website tells brief stories about great African and African-American Icons.

Website: The Afro-centric experience: Great African Queens
Weblink: This website has great stories about great African queens.

Website: The great kings and queens of Africa
Weblink: This website gives a brief description of  African kings, queens, and culture.

Ogè Kimberly Okoye - (E-mail)-(Home)