Zeinab Badawi

When the young women of Sudan rose against Omar al-Bashir, you know, who'd ruled the country with an iron fist for 30 years, when he was brought down in 2019 and women were in the vanguard of those protests, they styled themselves as the Kandikas, that's what they called themselves, reaching back into their history with these strong female, you know, role models to assert themselves today on the domestic, you know, political, social, cultural agenda of Sudan.

When the young women of Sudan rose against Omar al-Bashir, you know, who'd ruled the country with an iron fist for 30 years, when he was brought down in 2019 and women were in the vanguard of those protests, they styled themselves as the Kandikas, that's what they called themselves, reaching back into their history with these strong female, you know, role models to assert themselves today on the domestic, you know, political, social, cultural agenda of Sudan.

When the young women of Sudan rose against Omar al-Bashir, you know, who'd ruled the country with an iron fist for 30 years, when he was brought down in 2019 and women were in the vanguard of those protests, they styled themselves as the Kandikas, that's what they called themselves, reaching back into their history with these strong female, you know, role models to assert themselves today on the domestic, you know, political, social, cultural agenda of Sudan.

So I think it is very, very important. And also ancient Egypt, women had property, enjoyed property rights at a time when women in Europe enjoyed those rights at a much, much later stage. Queen Hatshepsut, who ruled in the 14th 50s in BCE in ancient Egypt, was one of the most effective rulers of the New Kingdom. And, you know, she really swelled the royal coffers.

So I think it is very, very important. And also ancient Egypt, women had property, enjoyed property rights at a time when women in Europe enjoyed those rights at a much, much later stage. Queen Hatshepsut, who ruled in the 14th 50s in BCE in ancient Egypt, was one of the most effective rulers of the New Kingdom. And, you know, she really swelled the royal coffers.

So I think it is very, very important. And also ancient Egypt, women had property, enjoyed property rights at a time when women in Europe enjoyed those rights at a much, much later stage. Queen Hatshepsut, who ruled in the 14th 50s in BCE in ancient Egypt, was one of the most effective rulers of the New Kingdom. And, you know, she really swelled the royal coffers.

She embarked on a really prolific building program. And perhaps in deference to male iconographic traditions, she was often depicted in busts and statues sporting a beard and in a kind of male guise. But, you know, as a woman myself, it's wonderful to know that in history, as well as in the modern era, we do have these strong women leaders to reach back to.

She embarked on a really prolific building program. And perhaps in deference to male iconographic traditions, she was often depicted in busts and statues sporting a beard and in a kind of male guise. But, you know, as a woman myself, it's wonderful to know that in history, as well as in the modern era, we do have these strong women leaders to reach back to.

She embarked on a really prolific building program. And perhaps in deference to male iconographic traditions, she was often depicted in busts and statues sporting a beard and in a kind of male guise. But, you know, as a woman myself, it's wonderful to know that in history, as well as in the modern era, we do have these strong women leaders to reach back to.

But I will, if I may, and I don't know if you want to ask me about this, is perhaps to say that, you know, I focused in my book very much on characters because I think history is best understood if it's seared into the imagination. And that is best done by relating these great moments in Africa's history through the personalities.

But I will, if I may, and I don't know if you want to ask me about this, is perhaps to say that, you know, I focused in my book very much on characters because I think history is best understood if it's seared into the imagination. And that is best done by relating these great moments in Africa's history through the personalities.

But I will, if I may, and I don't know if you want to ask me about this, is perhaps to say that, you know, I focused in my book very much on characters because I think history is best understood if it's seared into the imagination. And that is best done by relating these great moments in Africa's history through the personalities.

It does mean that sometimes the actions of ordinary people can be overlooked. And I do try to include those where I can to tell how society is formed and how ordinary people lived by how they planted their crops, what they ate and so on. But it's just when you rely on oral tradition, it is inevitably the deeds and the actions of the great leaders which become extolled.

It does mean that sometimes the actions of ordinary people can be overlooked. And I do try to include those where I can to tell how society is formed and how ordinary people lived by how they planted their crops, what they ate and so on. But it's just when you rely on oral tradition, it is inevitably the deeds and the actions of the great leaders which become extolled.

It does mean that sometimes the actions of ordinary people can be overlooked. And I do try to include those where I can to tell how society is formed and how ordinary people lived by how they planted their crops, what they ate and so on. But it's just when you rely on oral tradition, it is inevitably the deeds and the actions of the great leaders which become extolled.

But I wanted to bust myths about Africa with this book, which is why every chapter is prefaced with something to do with the modern era. So if I talk about the transatlantic slave trade, I'll talk about the issue of reparations. If I talk about the Benin Kingdom in southern Nigeria, I'll talk about restitution, whether African artifacts should be returned or not.

But I wanted to bust myths about Africa with this book, which is why every chapter is prefaced with something to do with the modern era. So if I talk about the transatlantic slave trade, I'll talk about the issue of reparations. If I talk about the Benin Kingdom in southern Nigeria, I'll talk about restitution, whether African artifacts should be returned or not.

But I wanted to bust myths about Africa with this book, which is why every chapter is prefaced with something to do with the modern era. So if I talk about the transatlantic slave trade, I'll talk about the issue of reparations. If I talk about the Benin Kingdom in southern Nigeria, I'll talk about restitution, whether African artifacts should be returned or not.

to try and engage the reader to say, look, this is why this matters, you know, and to say, look, you know, this idea that there are those who make history and those who stand on the sidelines of history with the Africans very much being relegated to the sidelines is not supported by the evidence. You have to break down prejudice, not with fairy tales, but with facts. And

to try and engage the reader to say, look, this is why this matters, you know, and to say, look, you know, this idea that there are those who make history and those who stand on the sidelines of history with the Africans very much being relegated to the sidelines is not supported by the evidence. You have to break down prejudice, not with fairy tales, but with facts. And