Fiction

Hippolyta and the Curse of the Amazons by Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris. (HarperCollins, 2002)
Hippolyta, a 13-year-old Amazon princess and a fierce warrior, needs more than her physical strength and skills to save her nation.

Mansa Musa by Khephra Burns. (Harcourt, 2001)
The imagined childhood of Kankan Musa, who grew up to become the greatest king (mansa) of Mali, West Africa.

Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales by Nelson Mandela. (Norton, 2002)
This anthology gathers 32 tales from different countries and regions of Africa, each illustrated by a different artist.

Nzingha, Warrior Queen of Matamba by Patricia McKissack. (Scholastic, 2000)
The Royal Diaries series. The fictionalized diary of factual events in Nzingha's 13th year, which may have inspired her lifelong opposition to slavery.

Sister Light, Sister Dark by Jane Yolen. (Tor, 1988)
In this first novel in the Great Alta saga, Jenna must fulfill her destiny as a great warrior-queen.

Nonfiction

African Beginnings by James Haskins and Kathleen Benson. (Lothrop, 1998)
The magnificent ancient civilizations of Africa are introduced, with paintings that reveal the sophisticated architecture and great wealth of these kingdoms.

African Princess by Joyce Hansen. (Hyperion, 2004)
The lives of six African princesses (including Njinga of Matamba) are described in lively writing and regal portraits.

Angola, 1880 to the Present: Slavery, Exploitation, and Revolt by Bruce and Becky Durost Fish. (Chelsea House, 2002)
Describes the nation of Angola (once ruled by Queen Nzinga) and its evolution from a Portuguese colony to an independent country.

Lives of Extraordinary Women, Rulers, Rebels (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull. (Harcourt, 2000)
Short biographical profiles highlight the dramatic and surprising events in the lives of twenty strong and powerful women (including Nzinga).

Ten Queens: Portraits of Women of Power by Milton Meltzer. (Dutton, 1998)
Ten women who ruled by virtue of their own power are profiled along with the decisions they had to make and the challenges they faced.

Poetry

Voices: Poetry and Art from Around the World selected by Barbara Brenner. (National Geographic Society, 2000)
Poetry and art from six continents demonstrate the unique characteristics of each place even as the selections show how alike people all over the world are. Some of the pieces included are from Angola, once ruled by Nzinga.