When We Ruled: The Rise and Fall of Twelve African Queens and Warriors

In conversation with Yinka Olusoga
Sat 17 October, 2026 at 3:00 pm

Discover the fascinating history of queens and warriors who ruled vast swathes of the African continent from pre-colonial Nigeria to the villages of Rwanda, the hills of Madagascar to apartheid South Africa.  However, beyond the lands they called home, few of us have heard their names. Historian Paula Akpan brings to life a world of royalty, ancient civilisations, conquest and colonisation in a revelatory new history where women take centre stage. 

Paula Akpan is a journalist, writer and historian.  She regularly writes for a variety of publications including Vogue, The Independent and Time Out London.

“An exciting and rich work for anyone who is curious about African history” – Paterson Joseph

Dr Yinka Olusoga is a Lecturer in Education at the University of Sheffield and co-author of Black History for Every Day of the Year.   

Paula Akpan