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HistoryExtra podcast

Women who ruled over Africa

HistoryExtra podcast

HistoryExtra

History

4.34.7K Ratings

🗓️ 11 May 2025

⏱️ 38 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

From rainmaking queens to dogged isolationists, the lives and reigns of Africa’s female rulers have long been shrouded in mystery, misunderstanding and misogyny. Over the centuries and throughout the continent, these individuals navigated the rigid traditions of their own cultures to wield power – even to the detriment of their subjects. Speaking to Danny Bird, Paula Akpan traces the lives of 12 influential African women, challenging prevailing narratives to reveal a continent shaped by matriarchy and contested memories. (Ad) Paula Akpan is the author of When We Ruled: The Rise and Fall of Twelve African Queens and Warriors (Trapeze, 2025). Buy it now from Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-We-Ruled-African-Warriors/dp/1398719897/?tag=bbchistory045-21&ascsubtag=historyextra-social-histboty. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

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Terms and conditions apply.

1:04.5

Welcome to the History Extra podcast, fascinating historical conversations from the makers of BBC History magazine.

1:13.9

From rain-making queens to dogged isolationists, the lives and reigns of Africa's female rulers

1:20.9

have long been shrouded in mystery, misunderstanding and misogyny.

1:25.9

Over the centuries and across the continent,

1:28.3

these individuals navigated the rigid traditions of their own cultures

1:31.7

to wield power even to the detriment of their subjects.

1:36.2

Paula Akpan's new book, When We Ruled,

...

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