Queens of Africa and the heroines of the African Diaspora

Queens of Africa and the heroines of the African Diaspora

• Sandrine Joseph
• septembre 14, 2011
• black european history, black women, empowerment, Gustavus Vassa, leardership, Olaudah Equiano, Reines d'Afrique, Sylvia Serbin, Venus Hottentote, Venus Noire

A few weeks ago, I’ve received a message from a reader of Essence Magazine telling me how is it difficult to find black role models for young people nowdays. This conversation was an invitation to deepen the subject of lost in memories successful Black Women in ages. Did they exist? Who were they? Are condamned to be victims as the youngest ladies seemed to think about? Or is there a chance for us to succeed? The answer is hidden in our ancestor memories, the answer in hidden inside us, and the answer is : Yes We Can !

I was raising as a child in a matriarcal environment : Women are leaders. They are the pillars of the family, they are Potomitan.

On spring 2011, I went to the cinema with a friend to watch Back Venus – La Venus Noire (the story of the Venus Hottentote) of Abdellatif Kechiche – staring Yahima Torrès. I didn’t heard of La Venus Hottentote tragic destiny, from South Africa before. I was shocked.

VENUS NOIRE : EXTRAIT 3

I wanted to know more about the other black women who where queens, military strategists, visionary business women. Not only sucessful women as Oprah Winfrey, but also women we forgot the names, the histories, we’ve never heard of their stories. Googlizing « queens of africa » I discovered a book wrote by a French woman : Sylvia Serbin. But no copies were available, even in seoncd hand.  After a trial, opposing Serbin to an European editor, no more copies were printed. Sebin was dismissed. Neverless,  it seems that a 4th edition was on way : a basic search in amazon and bingo! I was able to buy a brand new copy.

I’ve received a copy yesterday and enjoy my reading … in French. Queens of Africa is a thesaurus gathering 22 beautiful the histories based on scientifc approach and true facts.

Ladies, it’s time to start to learn French ! For those who want to read a good book on black european history in english, don’t hesitate to read the narrative life story of Olauda Equiano / Gustavus Vassa borned free, made slave, died rich and famous in England, where he contributed to the economic and philosophic debate as an intellectual.