By Princess Eugene Majuru, Princess of Harare
Watching The Woman King movie is not merely a cinematic experience; it is an awakening. It is a mirror held up to African history, courage, betrayal, pain, and unbreakable spirit. The film powerfully showcases women who refuse to be intimidated, weakened, silenced, or used—by men, by empire, or by history itself. These are women who stand firm in their identity, their sisterhood, and their duty to their people.
At the heart of the story is a radical truth many still struggle to accept today: women can lead, protect, and rule with wisdom and courage. The Woman King is not portrayed as an exception or anomaly, but as a natural leader—one whose authority is earned through sacrifice, vision, and love for her people. When the King ultimately hands over the reins of power to a woman, the film reminds us that in African societies, leadership was never exclusively male. Some men believed in women, trusted women, and honoured their strength—long before colonial narratives rewrote our history.
Sisterhood Bound by Blood and Purpose
One of the most moving themes in the film is sisterhood. These women live for one another. They fight for one another. Their bond is not symbolic—it is literal, spiritual, and political. When the young girl refuses to be taken to England, declaring that her sisters have arrived and she must help them, we witness the power of an African mind that has not been colonised. She understands that survival without identity is another form of enslavement. Her choice is a declaration: I belong here. My people need me.
Exposing the Evil of the Slave Trade
The Woman King does not shy away from exposing the wickedness of the transatlantic slave trade and the racism that sustained it. England is openly named as one of the powers seeking to profit from the trade—reducing Black lives to commodities for cheap labour. The refusal by African leaders in the film to sell their own people is a moral stand that history has often ignored or deliberately erased.
Yet the film also confronts an uncomfortable truth: some Africans collaborated with colonisers. Then, as now, betrayal did not always come from outside. In exchange for money, weapons, or power, some turned against their own people. In the past, collaborators were rewarded with chieftainships they did not deserve, while true royals were sidelined and reduced to subjects. This distortion of leadership structures is one of the deepest wounds of colonialism—and one that continues to haunt Africa today.
Colonial Damage That Still Lingers
The consequences of colonialism did not end with flags coming down. The damage was institutional, cultural, and psychological. Africa is still grappling with imposed leadership, stolen heritage, fractured identities, and systems designed to benefit others at our expense. The decolonisation process remains unfinished.
The Woman King is therefore not just about the past—it is about the present. It asks us hard questions: Who truly leads us today? Whose interests are being served? And have we fully reclaimed our minds, our histories, and our sovereignty?
A Royal Reflection and a Call to Action
As an African royal, as a descendant of the Harare royal family, and as Princess of Harare, this film carries profound meaning for me. It affirms what our ancestors always knew: that dignity, leadership, and courage are not imported—they are inherited. Our people must never forget who they are or where they come from.
I encourage those who have not yet watched The Woman King to do so—not as entertainment alone, but as education, remembrance, and inspiration. Let it remind Africans everywhere that our history did not begin with colonisation, that our women were never weak, and that our freedom requires constant vigilance.
Africa must conclude the decolonisation process—not only politically, but mentally, culturally, and spiritually. Only then can Africans be truly free and independent.
Bloodline, Destiny, and the Unbreakable Spirit of Leadership
One of the most profound revelations in The Woman King is the truth that General Nanisca and Nawi are mother and daughter. This is not a simple plot twist—it is a declaration about bloodlines, destiny, and inheritance. Blood is never just blood. It carries memory, spirit, courage, and calling. The connection between Nanisca and Nawi could never be broken, no matter how long they were separated. It runs in their DNA.
Like mother, like daughter.
Both women share the same fighting spirit, the same fearlessness, the same sharp intelligence, discipline, and unwavering determination. Leadership flows through them naturally. They rise above the rest not because of privilege, but because they were born to lead. No matter how much others may try to suppress, silence, or diminish such women, they can never succeed. Destiny cannot be erased.
Their reunion was not accidental—it was inevitable. There was a delay, yes, but it had to happen the right way and at the right time. That is how destiny works. When the moment is correct, truth reveals itself. Mother and daughter were always meant to find each other again, not in weakness, but in strength, honour, and purpose.
Nanisca: The Woman Who Became King
Nanisca stands as a true African woman warrior—the kind who intimidates weak men who look down on women because they fear what they cannot control. Her leadership built a strong, disciplined, principled army that could stand against male armies without hesitation. These women fought without doubting themselves, without shrinking, without apologising for being women.
Under Nanisca’s command, victory was achieved. She rose from General to King not by force, but by merit, sacrifice, and vision. Her authority was unquestionable because it was earned. She proved that strength is not defined by gender, but by courage, wisdom, and commitment to one’s people.
Nawi, even at a young age, is portrayed as exceptional—a wonder. Her ability, fearlessness, and willingness to ask questions, challenge authority, and speak her mind are not learned traits; they are inherited. She was born with them. She was born to do this work. She was chosen.
A Story Rooted in African History
While The Woman King is a dramatized film, it is based on real historical foundations—the Agojie warriors of the Kingdom of Dahomey, an elite all-female military unit that existed in West Africa. These women were real. Their courage was real. Their resistance to slavery and foreign domination was real. The film therefore serves not as fantasy, but as a reminder of truths long buried by colonial storytelling.
For African kingdoms and traditional leadership structures today—especially after the disruption of colonisation—this film offers powerful lessons. It is time to wake up. Time to re-examine distorted hierarchies, stolen authority, and imposed systems. Time to remember that African governance once included women at the highest levels of power.
Those who are still sleeping must awaken.
The Woman King reminds us that leadership is inherited through blood, spirit, and destiny. Colonisation may have delayed our reunions with truth, but it could never destroy them. The call now is to reclaim, restore, and rise.
We are not commodities. We are royalty. And our story is not over. #womanking
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