East Africa

Chief Mkwavinyika Munyigumba Mwamuyinga

Tanzania Chief Mkwavinyika Munyigumba Mwamuyinga (1855 – 19 July 1898), more commonly known as Chief Mkwawa or Sultan Mkwawa, was a Hehe tribal leader in German East Africa, based in Kalenga, Iringa region, who opposed the German colonization. The name “Mkwawa” is derived from Mukwava, itself a shortened form of Mukwavinyika, meaning “conqueror of many …

East Africa

Koitalel Arap Samoei

Kenya Koitaleel Arap Samoei (c.1870 – 19 October 1905) was an Orkoiyot who led the Nandi people from 1890 until his death in 1905. The Orkoiyot occupied a sacred and special role within the Nandi and Kipsigis people of Kenya. He held the dual roles of chief spiritual and military leader, and had the authority …

Southern Africa

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.

Southern Africa

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.

East Africa

Muhumusa

Uganda and Rwanda Muhumusa (also spelled Muhumuza, Muhumsa, and Nyiragahumusa) was a feared leader of the east African Nyabingi spiritual practice, which was influential in Rwanda and Uganda from 1850 to 1950. Muhumusa is said to have been a medium of the spirit of a legendary African woman, known as Nyabinghi (also spelled Nyabingi and …

East Africa

Dedan Kimathi Waciuri

Kenya Dedan Kimathi Waciuri (31 October 1920 – 18 February 1957), born Kimathi wa Waciuri in what was then British Kenya, was the senior military and spiritual leader of the Mau Mau Uprising.

Central Africa

Ngunza Simon Kimbangu

Congo Simon Kimbangu, (born c. September 12, 1887, Nkamba, near Thysville, Congo Free State [now Mbanza-Ngungu, Democratic Republic of the Congo]—died October 10, 1951, Élisabethville, Belgian Congo [now Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo]), Congolese religious leader who founded a separatist church known as the Kimbanguist church. Brought up in a British Baptist Missionary Society …

East Africa

Mekatilili Wa Menza

Kenya Mnyazi wa Menza, also known as Mekatilili Wa Menza or Mekatilili (1860s-1924) was a Kenyan independence activist who led the Giriama people against the colonial administration of Kenya between 1912 and 1915.