The Queen Who Refused to Kneel

After the Portuguese arrive on the Kwanza River with muskets and looking for slaves, Nzinga Mbande, heir to Ndongo’s throne, learns that power must be seized.

As she ascends to the throne, Portugal’s empire closes in, devouring Central Africa to sustain Brazil’s plantations. Outgunned yet undeterred, Nzinga wields her intellect like a blade—bargaining, outwitting, and commanding armies in a merciless struggle where survival depends on equal parts cunning and cruelty.

As kingdoms crumble around her, she must decide what sacrifices she's ready to make for her people’s survival.

John Broughton's THE QUEEN WHO REFUSED TO KNEEL reimagines the extraordinary life of Queen Nzinga, who defied an empire and left an enduring legacy.