Queen Njinga in a South-Atlantic Dialogue: Gender, Race and Identity

Abstract

This article proposes a rereading of the representations of Queen Njinga of Angola (1582-1663) in the light of African and Latin American feminist studies. The Queen’s image created in the chronicles of the 17th century (especially Cavazzi) and the historiographical debate about the legitimacy of her throne and her gender identity are confronted with feminist studies, which intend to delegitimize the Western categories of gender and race in the African context. Finally, two historical novels written from the Brazilian perspective are analyzed, O trono da Rainha Jinga (1999) by Alberto Mussa, and A Rainha Ginga. E de como os africanos inventaram o mundo (2014) by José Eduardo Agualusa, questioning whether they offer innovative readings for the categories of gender and race.