Mbuya Nehanda

Zimbabwe Nehanda Charwe Nyakasikana also known as Mbuya Nehanda (c. 1840–1898) was a svikiro, or spirit medium of the Zezuru Shona people. She was a medium of Nehanda, a female Shona mhondoro (a powerful and respected ancestral spirit). As one of the spiritual leaders of the Shona, she was one of the leaders of a revolt, the Chimurenga, against the British South Africa Company’s colonisation of what is now Zimbabwe led by Cecil …

Sekuru Kaguvi

Zimbabwe Sekuru Kaguvi (Kagubi, Kakubi), was a svikiro (medium), a traditionalist leader in pre-colonial Zimbabwe, and a leader in the Shona rebellion of 1896-1897 against European rule, known as the First Chimurenga. The sobriquet “Kaguvi” was a designation given at times those who were said to speak for the traditional Shona supreme deity Mwari. Resources …

Bhambatha kaMancinza

South Africa The Bambatha Rebellion (or the Zulu Rebellion) of 1906 was led by Bambatha kaMancinza (c. 1860–1906?), leader of the Zondi clan of the Zulu people, who lived in the Mpanza Valley (now a district near Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal) against British rule and taxation in the Colony of Natal, South Africa. Bambatha had occasionally been …

Chief Morosi

Lesotho Morosi (or Moorosi; died 20 November 1879) was a Baphuthi chief in the wild southern part of Basutoland. He led a revolt against the Cape Colony government in 1879, in defence of his independence south of the Orange River. The British refused to help the Cape Government.

Kaipkire

Namibia Kaipkire was a female warrior of the Herero people of Southern Africa in the 18th century. Kaipkire led resistance forces against British slave traders, and is celebrated among the Herero people. She is known in Namibia as a “legendary woman of resistance against the slave trade. It is said Queen Kaipkire also led the …

Chief Hendrik Witbooi of the Nama

Namibia Hendrik Witbooi (c. 1830 – 29 October 1905) was a chief of the ǀKhowesin people, a sub-tribe of the Khoikhoi. He led the Nama people during their revolts against German colonial rule in present-day Namibia, in connection with the events surrounding the Herero and Namaqua Genocide.

Paramount Chief Samuel Maharero

Namibia Samuel Maharero (1856 – 14 March 1923) was a Paramount Chief of the Herero people in German South West Africa (today Namibia) during their revolts and in connection with the events surrounding the Herero genocide. Today he is considered a national hero in Namibia.