317: African Amazons

In this episode of "The Rest Is History," Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook are joined by Luke Pepera to discuss the theme of African Amazons, focusing on female warriors and rulers in African history. The conversation begins with the historical accuracy of the movie "The Woman King" and then explores examples such as the Dahomey warriors, the Ashanti Queen mothers, and Queen Nzinga of Ndongo, highlighting their military prowess, political influence, and cultural significance. The discussion also touches on the European fascination with these figures and the complexities of interpreting their stories from different perspectives, including the role of slavery and resistance to colonial powers.