Nzinga was the warrior queen who held back Portuguese colonization in her African kingdoms of Ndongo and Matamba, kept many of her people from being captured and traded, offered refuge to anyone who needed it, and used every move at her disposal (including shifting alliances, religions and some pretty gruesome tactics) to rule for almost 40 years of the 17th century. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices