A RAINHA GINGA

In A rainha Ginga, José Eduardo Agualusa tells the story of Ana de Sousa, known as Ginga, a powerful ruler who lived on the western coast of Africa. This novel portrays the extraordinary African queen N’Zinga M’Bandi, who lived in the region that is now Angola. Lady of the kingdoms of Dongo and Matamba, Ginga wielded her power in an area historically plagued by wars and conflicts. She was recognized for her intelligence, courage, and skilled, strategic leadership in political and diplomatic relations. She forged alliances with the Dutch while commanding her armies against other African sovereigns and Luso-Brazilian troops. This historical novel, one of the most acclaimed works by the Angolan author, takes readers deep into the complex relationships between Angola, Brazil, and Portugal, full of both affinities and irreparable conflicts. The narrator, a priest from Pernambuco, not only brings Ginga and other historical characters to life but also highlights the culturally significant role of this intense and powerful woman.