There is something very captivating about the chronicles of royalty. Maybe it’s their regal nature. Perhaps it stems from many a fairytale told about castles, banquet halls, luxurious accommodations and picturesque lifestyles. Be that as it may, the story of kings and queens is fascinating. Throughout the history of cinema, stories about the European monarchy have entertained viewers, such as the exploits of King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Catherine the Great, etc… However, movies rarely feature African royals, with the exception of the TV movie from 2001 Shaka Zulu: Citadel and a few others. Nevertheless, this is changing and Netflix’s current offerings African queens: Njinga, is an incremental marker of this shift. As a historic and memorable work, here’s what the piece has to offer and why viewers should check it out.
Of african queens, Netflix offers a different kind of series, a docu-series brought to Netflix by Smith’s Westbrook Studio and Nutopia. An essential part of this series is educating the world about authentic African royalty. As Netflix quotes Tudum Smith,
“We [viewers] have no easy access to historical women who were so powerful and were the backbone of African nations.
And the African queens series introduces us to the rarely seen royals of Africa through a dramatic and compelling story.
African queens: Njinga; Storyline
There is no doubt that the title is the most telling indication of the storyline. This series specializes in retelling the stories of lesser-known monarchs. Each season highlights a different regal figure and the project aims to educate and uplift by exploring each queen’s life, trials and kingdoms. And there’s good news for fans bored to tears by docuseries. This series is anything but dry. Instead, it is expertly executed and highly entertaining.
The first season is devoted to Queen Njinga and her rise to the rule of Ndongo, or what is now known as Angola. It is a multi-episodic look at the politics, lifestyle, cultural structure and events that shaped Njinga and aided her ascension. Peres Owino and NneNne Iwuj, two writers who worked closely with Pinkett Smith to frame this account, provide that multifaceted narrative. And although dramatized, it is a true-to-life account. While it’s normal to stretch a historical narrative, stories about African royalty don’t have that benefit, as Pinkett explained Netflix. “There is a lot of historical literature surrounding each Queen of England, so if you decide to tell their stories, the purity of their existence is within our grasp, unlike their counterpart in Africa.” So she [Jada] wanted to stay as close to the historical record as possible…”
African queens: Njinga The characters
The cast members may be unrecognizable to many moviegoers, but in this case it benefits the production. They are great actors with refined acting skills, but not weighed down by the shadow of expectations. Adesuwa Oni embodies the role of Queen Njinga. Phillip Nortey fills the shoes of Njinga’s father, the patriarch, and king, Mbande. And Njinga’s sisters are played by Chipo Kureya and Marilyin Nnadebe. While Nortey, Kurey, and Nnadebe are largely unrecognized, that may not be the case with Oni. This isn’t Oni’s first project, although the first time in a titular role. Oni has also appeared The witcher and the 2023 movie Operation Napoleon. However, it wasn’t Oni’s past work that landed her the role of Njinga. Instead, it was her audition that blew Smith away. According to Netflix for Smith,
“Oni had such formidable strength, but also a level of vulnerability that she loved.”
African Queens: Njinga Why Watch?
For those wondering why tune in? African queens is a historical story that feeds on the story of the western world. According to Time, “Njinga’s rise to power is inextricably linked to European colonization and the transatlantic slave trade, two forces she fought relentlessly against.” Those who know the history are well aware of the transatlantic slave trade and its impact on western civilization. In addition, it is a compelling portrait that depicts the life of a royal family in a setting that is rarely seen.
As a result, we get a portrait of a queen who, despite being born on African soil, is equal to all other queens whose stories have already been presented. Profoundly flawed, human and complex, Njinga’s political and military skills rivaled those of Elizabeth I and Catherine the Great,” Time notes. Those factors alone are worth looking at. But the main reason given comes from Oni per okay africa, “Stories such as Queen Njinga’s importance to society cannot be overemphasized as they have not yet been reliably told. The only way for the younger generation to learn about these stories is for them to be documented – and well documented.”
How to watch?
Netflix premiered the series on February 15, and season 2 is on its way. And according to Okayafrica, the second installment will feature Cleopatra, so stay tuned.