Gender and Sexuality 13

I cannot imagine submitting. I would rather die. But can I ask people to sacrifice themselves? Because these wild animals have already destroyed larger empires.

Moustapha M. Diallo (2014, in German): Visionäre Afrikas. Wuppertal: Peter Hammer, p. 64.

The sentence is ascribed to Sarrouina Mangou, who was queen of Niger at the end of the 19th century and is said to have fought against French colonial troops. The year is approximate.

"Sarraounia" means "queen" or "boss" in the Hausa language. During various anti-colonial struggles in Niger, this title was used mainly for female leaders. Most history books ignore queens, priestesses and female leaders, which furthers the lack of knowledge about non-white women and struggles.

*Abdoulaye Mamani (1980): Sarraounia. Movie. *Stanley B. Alpern (2011): Amazons of Black Sparta. The Women Warriors of Dahomey. New York: New York University Press.

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