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When We Ruled: The Rise and Fall of Twelve African Queens and Warriors
Njinga Mbande. Nana Yaa Asantewaa. Makobo Modjadji VI. Ranavalona the First.
These queens and warriors ruled vast swathes of the African continent, where they led, loved, and fought for their kingdoms and people. Their impact can still be felt today, and yet, beyond the lands they called home, so few of us have ever heard their names.
In When We Ruled, historian Paula Akpan takes us into the worlds of these powerful figures, following their stories and how they came to rule and influence the futures of their people. Through deep research and discovery, Akpan will uncover new truths and grapple with uncomfortable realities, allowing us to be immersed in countless moments of bravery, intrigue, and, for some, the unravelling of their rule.
With reigns spanning from pre-colonial Nigeria to the rich lands of Rwanda, and from Ancient Egypt to apartheid South Africa, these rulers shed a new light on gender politics in these regions, showing how women were celebrated and revered before colonizing powers took hold, and continue to be long after.
In this game-changing narrative of twelve lives, Akpan takes us on a spellbinding, enrapturing, and immersive history that is nothing short of revelatory.
These queens and warriors ruled vast swathes of the African continent, where they led, loved, and fought for their kingdoms and people. Their impact can still be felt today, and yet, beyond the lands they called home, so few of us have ever heard their names.
In When We Ruled, historian Paula Akpan takes us into the worlds of these powerful figures, following their stories and how they came to rule and influence the futures of their people. Through deep research and discovery, Akpan will uncover new truths and grapple with uncomfortable realities, allowing us to be immersed in countless moments of bravery, intrigue, and, for some, the unravelling of their rule.
With reigns spanning from pre-colonial Nigeria to the rich lands of Rwanda, and from Ancient Egypt to apartheid South Africa, these rulers shed a new light on gender politics in these regions, showing how women were celebrated and revered before colonizing powers took hold, and continue to be long after.
In this game-changing narrative of twelve lives, Akpan takes us on a spellbinding, enrapturing, and immersive history that is nothing short of revelatory.
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First published May 8, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 10, 2025
Paula Akpan totally called me out in the conclusion of her excellent When We Ruled. Okay, not me specifically, but people like me. She says that she hopes those who were looking for a "straight-forward" history (me! That's me!) realized that such a thing for the characters her book was impossible. I agree with her, and even better, it did not diminish my enjoyment.
Akpan looks at various queens and warriors from across the continent of Africa. I have never been so helpless trying to pronounce names in my life but luckily I will not be asked to say them out loud. Akpan does her best to fill in the historical record, but as she says in the conclusion, there is only so much that can be done on that front.
Akpan instead fills in what we do know while also filling out some of the narrative with personal interviews she did with various experts. Normally, I am not a fan of the author inserting themselves. It often feels like they are trying to be the story. Akpan makes herself another set of eyes for the reader, however. I also found these diversions as a great way to recenter the reader. So much of the history she presents is foreign to someone like me who is steeped in American/European tradition that it felt like a quick chance to reset your brain while still learning something.
Another superlative part of the book was Akpan's willingness to engage with questions I would have if I chatted with her. Specifically, she discusses the good and bad of the recent movie The Woman King. It was another chance to help even a novice on African history (me, I mean me again) to connect even more strongly with the material.
My singular nitpick is unfortunately out of Akpan's hands. The chapters can be hit or miss on truly connecting with the main subject. Akpan can't make up history, but it did feel like there is so much missing from the historical record for some rulers that I was left wanting more. As I said, a minor nitpick and not a reason for anyone to shy away from this book. It's a heck of a read.
Just please don't ever ask me to tell you how to pronounce anything.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by the publisher.)
Akpan looks at various queens and warriors from across the continent of Africa. I have never been so helpless trying to pronounce names in my life but luckily I will not be asked to say them out loud. Akpan does her best to fill in the historical record, but as she says in the conclusion, there is only so much that can be done on that front.
Akpan instead fills in what we do know while also filling out some of the narrative with personal interviews she did with various experts. Normally, I am not a fan of the author inserting themselves. It often feels like they are trying to be the story. Akpan makes herself another set of eyes for the reader, however. I also found these diversions as a great way to recenter the reader. So much of the history she presents is foreign to someone like me who is steeped in American/European tradition that it felt like a quick chance to reset your brain while still learning something.
Another superlative part of the book was Akpan's willingness to engage with questions I would have if I chatted with her. Specifically, she discusses the good and bad of the recent movie The Woman King. It was another chance to help even a novice on African history (me, I mean me again) to connect even more strongly with the material.
My singular nitpick is unfortunately out of Akpan's hands. The chapters can be hit or miss on truly connecting with the main subject. Akpan can't make up history, but it did feel like there is so much missing from the historical record for some rulers that I was left wanting more. As I said, a minor nitpick and not a reason for anyone to shy away from this book. It's a heck of a read.
Just please don't ever ask me to tell you how to pronounce anything.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by the publisher.)
June 27, 2025
Here you will find warrior queens, dynastic queens, martyr queens. Queens who live in seclusion, and queens who were sought out, far and wide, for their wise counsel. Queens who fought for their sons to rule. Queens who consolidated power in their own names. Here are queens whose lands were eaten away by colonial incursion and queens who played competing colonial powers against each other to ensure their own survival. A Queen who threw missionaries off a tower when they refused to leave her island.
What links all these queens is how Akpan has had to tease their stories from the margins of traditional, Western history. As she explains in her concluding notes, WHEN WE RULED is not a straightforward biography of twelve African queens because such a book cannot be written. Some of these women exist only in the folktales they have left behind, nation founding traditions that elide the Western lines between history and legend. Some of them can only be seen in the stories of their sons and husbands, or reflected back in colonial letters that refer to them as stubborn and troublesome. For some their story is well known but filtered through the biases and assumptions of those who ruled after. Akpan is honest that her interpretation of these women may not be anymore accurate in its assumptions. She encourages readers to think critically and deconstruct WHEN WE RULED as we would any other academic source.
Akpan traveled to the modern day African countries where these queens had their seats of power, examining not just the physical artifacts dating to their reigns but also speaking firsthand to indigenous scholars, collecting common knowledge from the everyday people she runs into, and in some cases, tracking down descendants of the monarchs! The travelogue elements of WHEN WE RULED interested me the most. Akpan does an admirable job sketching the architecture, historic and modern, of the places she visits, and recording her feelings as she is confronted with the good and bad she uncovers. She's a great interviewer. She draws people out, giving them space to share. Some of the most interesting information is found in the discussions she had with others.
All in all, I highly recommend this for anyone interested in African history. I believe it is an accessible read even for complete beginners to to the topic, but it doesn't hold your hand. WHEN WE RULED expects you to pay attention to what is being said.
What links all these queens is how Akpan has had to tease their stories from the margins of traditional, Western history. As she explains in her concluding notes, WHEN WE RULED is not a straightforward biography of twelve African queens because such a book cannot be written. Some of these women exist only in the folktales they have left behind, nation founding traditions that elide the Western lines between history and legend. Some of them can only be seen in the stories of their sons and husbands, or reflected back in colonial letters that refer to them as stubborn and troublesome. For some their story is well known but filtered through the biases and assumptions of those who ruled after. Akpan is honest that her interpretation of these women may not be anymore accurate in its assumptions. She encourages readers to think critically and deconstruct WHEN WE RULED as we would any other academic source.
Akpan traveled to the modern day African countries where these queens had their seats of power, examining not just the physical artifacts dating to their reigns but also speaking firsthand to indigenous scholars, collecting common knowledge from the everyday people she runs into, and in some cases, tracking down descendants of the monarchs! The travelogue elements of WHEN WE RULED interested me the most. Akpan does an admirable job sketching the architecture, historic and modern, of the places she visits, and recording her feelings as she is confronted with the good and bad she uncovers. She's a great interviewer. She draws people out, giving them space to share. Some of the most interesting information is found in the discussions she had with others.
All in all, I highly recommend this for anyone interested in African history. I believe it is an accessible read even for complete beginners to to the topic, but it doesn't hold your hand. WHEN WE RULED expects you to pay attention to what is being said.
May 9, 2025
This is the kind of history I love learning, and reading about. Beautifully researched, it takes the stories of 12 queens and placing them in their context to give larger insights into womanhood, sexuality and colonialism. I was in awe of the depth and detail this book holds, and the way that Paula seamlessly writes.
Charting the lives of 12 powerful rules across Africa, this pioneering work shows how multifaceted their lives were. It highlights both the good and bad, and how complex hierarchical structures are.
This isn’t a standard biography of 12 people; it’s an investigation into the complex narratives around imperialism, and its lasting impact. It’s about the lack of notice women have received in history, and the way there’s still obscured now. It challenges how we write and read histories by showing the inherent bias we hold as scholars.
Thank you to the publisher for my copy. All thoughts are my own.
Charting the lives of 12 powerful rules across Africa, this pioneering work shows how multifaceted their lives were. It highlights both the good and bad, and how complex hierarchical structures are.
This isn’t a standard biography of 12 people; it’s an investigation into the complex narratives around imperialism, and its lasting impact. It’s about the lack of notice women have received in history, and the way there’s still obscured now. It challenges how we write and read histories by showing the inherent bias we hold as scholars.
Thank you to the publisher for my copy. All thoughts are my own.
December 19, 2025
A history of 12 powerful African women spanning a number of centuries. Be they Queens, be they warriors, they all had a determination to fight for their land and people, although the motives of some were more altruistic than others.
On the plus side this book is undoubtedly worthy of high praise as the research undertaken by the author has been extensive.
There are many interesting nuggets of information in the book about both culture and day-to-day life in the countries inhabited by the selected women, both in the past and in the current day.
The stories of the individual women would have been fascinating, but from a layman’s point of view (and I fall firmly into that category), they could have been presented in a more accessible way. Despite that, I learnt quite a lot:- there is an anti-colonial theme running through many of the biographies, entirely reasonable given the circumstances and it made me start to think about colonialism in an entirely new way, a process which I hope continues. It was also brought home to me that history “changes” depending on who is telling the story. People brought up in Western cultures interpret “facts” through their own narrow lens of understanding and it usually distorts the picture of the world they are describing. This is not because they necessarily intend to deceive but because their culture is so far removed from that which they are describing that misunderstandings are inevitable.
Unfortunately I have quite a few negative comments about this book, many of which can be illustrated using the example of our book club. We were given copies of this book by the publisher to read and review. We are just an average group of people who enjoy a good read. I was the only person who managed to finish the book, and that was only because I read a chapter in between each other book that I read (so it took me a long time). Only one of the other people got past the first chapter before giving up. In addition, four friends of mine (who are not part of the book group) saw the book and thought it would be really interesting so asked if they could borrow a copy. I duly obliged but every single person gave me the book back, having not made it past the first chapter – one of those people is married to a guy from Kenya and has lived in Africa for the last 12 years so had a particular interest in the subject in a general way. And therein lies the problem. I am not entirely sure who the target audience is but the book does not seem to be aimed at people who have a passing interest in strong African women, it reads more like a PhD thesis or a text book. It will only be fully accessible to a very niche group, those with a deep (and intellectual/academic) interest in the subject and those people are probably few and far between. I think this is a shame as I was full of optimism when I started the book and had high hopes for an inspiring and uplifting read. Some of the women’s stories would indeed have been interesting had they been presented in a more conversational, thought-provoking and stimulating way. What I felt that I was actually given was akin to wading through mud – a really difficult read which was beyond my intellectual capability.
In a similar vein, the order of the stories is also problematic. The first “biography” is by far the most difficult and inaccessible – not a good way to start a book if you want to keep your readers engaged. They did get marginally easier as the book progressed. , but only marginally
Secondly, the language itself was an issue. Many of the words used to describe spiritual beings and concepts in local folklore were totally unfamiliar to me because they were naturally words from the indigenous language of the people themselves. And that’s before you even start on the names of people and place names. This is as it should be but it is does mean that it is difficult for a person who knows nothing of those languages to recognise the words again when they appear elsewhere in the narrative, purely because they are so alien to people who do not speak that language. This makes it very difficult to follow the drift of the story or the argument because there are constant distractions involving frantic scrabbles back through the text to try and find out what the word means or whom/where it is describing. This is not made any easier by the fact that many of the words used are very similar – for example in the first “biography”, based in Nigeria, most of the indigenous words used (and there were a lot of them) began with the letter “o”.
Thirdly, there appears to be a hidden agenda - either that or I have misunderstood the whole premise of the book. I thought it contained biographies of twelve powerful African women and twelve women are indeed selected and their stories told. Using the first “biography” as an example to illustrate my point (although it is by no means the only time it occurs), Merami uses her female wiles to seduce the male leader of the enemy camp and therefore find out their secrets before returning home to prepare her own folk for the ensuing battle. As a result she is, quite reasonably, held up as a hero who “saved the day”. However, towards the end of Merami’s story, a complete non-sequitur is introduced – that of lesbianism and how their faith/religion/beliefs intrinsically uphold the concept of it and how colonialism and christian influence did its level best to destroy it. Whilst I have no doubt that this is true, I fail to see what it has to do with Merami’s life story. It felt as though LBGBT themes were being shoehorned into the narrative for no obvious reason whatsoever. I should also say that LGBGT themes were mentioned at other points in the book where their relevance seemed much more in keeping with the story.
I have given this book 2 stars because it is a very worthy book and the author has put a lot of work into researching the histories of the 12 African women she is showcasing. However, I can’t honestly recommend it widely as it is more like an academic tome which will be of great interest to specialists in this subject area but less so to the general populace.
On the plus side this book is undoubtedly worthy of high praise as the research undertaken by the author has been extensive.
There are many interesting nuggets of information in the book about both culture and day-to-day life in the countries inhabited by the selected women, both in the past and in the current day.
The stories of the individual women would have been fascinating, but from a layman’s point of view (and I fall firmly into that category), they could have been presented in a more accessible way. Despite that, I learnt quite a lot:- there is an anti-colonial theme running through many of the biographies, entirely reasonable given the circumstances and it made me start to think about colonialism in an entirely new way, a process which I hope continues. It was also brought home to me that history “changes” depending on who is telling the story. People brought up in Western cultures interpret “facts” through their own narrow lens of understanding and it usually distorts the picture of the world they are describing. This is not because they necessarily intend to deceive but because their culture is so far removed from that which they are describing that misunderstandings are inevitable.
Unfortunately I have quite a few negative comments about this book, many of which can be illustrated using the example of our book club. We were given copies of this book by the publisher to read and review. We are just an average group of people who enjoy a good read. I was the only person who managed to finish the book, and that was only because I read a chapter in between each other book that I read (so it took me a long time). Only one of the other people got past the first chapter before giving up. In addition, four friends of mine (who are not part of the book group) saw the book and thought it would be really interesting so asked if they could borrow a copy. I duly obliged but every single person gave me the book back, having not made it past the first chapter – one of those people is married to a guy from Kenya and has lived in Africa for the last 12 years so had a particular interest in the subject in a general way. And therein lies the problem. I am not entirely sure who the target audience is but the book does not seem to be aimed at people who have a passing interest in strong African women, it reads more like a PhD thesis or a text book. It will only be fully accessible to a very niche group, those with a deep (and intellectual/academic) interest in the subject and those people are probably few and far between. I think this is a shame as I was full of optimism when I started the book and had high hopes for an inspiring and uplifting read. Some of the women’s stories would indeed have been interesting had they been presented in a more conversational, thought-provoking and stimulating way. What I felt that I was actually given was akin to wading through mud – a really difficult read which was beyond my intellectual capability.
In a similar vein, the order of the stories is also problematic. The first “biography” is by far the most difficult and inaccessible – not a good way to start a book if you want to keep your readers engaged. They did get marginally easier as the book progressed. , but only marginally
Secondly, the language itself was an issue. Many of the words used to describe spiritual beings and concepts in local folklore were totally unfamiliar to me because they were naturally words from the indigenous language of the people themselves. And that’s before you even start on the names of people and place names. This is as it should be but it is does mean that it is difficult for a person who knows nothing of those languages to recognise the words again when they appear elsewhere in the narrative, purely because they are so alien to people who do not speak that language. This makes it very difficult to follow the drift of the story or the argument because there are constant distractions involving frantic scrabbles back through the text to try and find out what the word means or whom/where it is describing. This is not made any easier by the fact that many of the words used are very similar – for example in the first “biography”, based in Nigeria, most of the indigenous words used (and there were a lot of them) began with the letter “o”.
Thirdly, there appears to be a hidden agenda - either that or I have misunderstood the whole premise of the book. I thought it contained biographies of twelve powerful African women and twelve women are indeed selected and their stories told. Using the first “biography” as an example to illustrate my point (although it is by no means the only time it occurs), Merami uses her female wiles to seduce the male leader of the enemy camp and therefore find out their secrets before returning home to prepare her own folk for the ensuing battle. As a result she is, quite reasonably, held up as a hero who “saved the day”. However, towards the end of Merami’s story, a complete non-sequitur is introduced – that of lesbianism and how their faith/religion/beliefs intrinsically uphold the concept of it and how colonialism and christian influence did its level best to destroy it. Whilst I have no doubt that this is true, I fail to see what it has to do with Merami’s life story. It felt as though LBGBT themes were being shoehorned into the narrative for no obvious reason whatsoever. I should also say that LGBGT themes were mentioned at other points in the book where their relevance seemed much more in keeping with the story.
I have given this book 2 stars because it is a very worthy book and the author has put a lot of work into researching the histories of the 12 African women she is showcasing. However, I can’t honestly recommend it widely as it is more like an academic tome which will be of great interest to specialists in this subject area but less so to the general populace.
August 12, 2025
When We Ruled: The Rise and Fall of Twelve African Queens and Warriors by Paula Akpan arrives with an exciting and vital premise: to tell the stories of twelve powerful African queens and warriors. Through deep research, Akpan sheds light on the lives of figures spanning Nigeria, Rwanda, Egypt, and South Africa, exploring their political influence, military prowess, and the gender dynamics of their time.
The book excels in its commitment to nuance. These aren't simply puff pieces; the author grapples with uncomfortable realities, balancing the subjects' bravery and intrigue with their brutality. Many of these characters are not heroes. The stories provide a fascinating glimpse into the power and influence of women in Africa before colonization, a perspective often missing from mainstream historical narratives.
Despite the fascinating subject matter, I struggled to stay fully engaged throughout the book. While there is a wealth of new and valuable information, the chapters can be hit-or-miss and I struggled to see overarching themes.
The book excels in its commitment to nuance. These aren't simply puff pieces; the author grapples with uncomfortable realities, balancing the subjects' bravery and intrigue with their brutality. Many of these characters are not heroes. The stories provide a fascinating glimpse into the power and influence of women in Africa before colonization, a perspective often missing from mainstream historical narratives.
Despite the fascinating subject matter, I struggled to stay fully engaged throughout the book. While there is a wealth of new and valuable information, the chapters can be hit-or-miss and I struggled to see overarching themes.
March 21, 2026
When we Ruled tells the stories of 12 African queens throughout history. Or, to be more accurate, it is a brief history of 12 monarchies from different African nations, examining the history through an anti-colonial lens.
Sadly, this book was a difficult read. This was not really a pop history book - it was far more academic than I signed up for, with dense, information heavy paragraphs. Akpan clearly put a lot of effort into the research, but this is not an entry-level text. There was some light relief in the form of the authors travelogue of her research trip across Africa, which were fun annecdotes, but for me muddied the waters a little (i.e. was Akpan trying to write a pop history book after all?)
Had I not listened on audiobook, I would not have finished this book. I probably wouldn't have gotten past the first chapter, which would have been a shame as the first chapter is one of the weaker ones. On the flip side, I actually didn't like the audiobook at all, I thought the narrator was bad. I found her phrasing off, with pauses in weird places, which did not help with my understanding of the dense text. It was nice to not have to guess any of the pronunciations though.
Some chapters were much better than others - this was probably less to do with Akpan, and more to do with what is lost to time. Even now, after just finishing the book, some of the chapters have made little impression (my favourite chapters were 2, 7, 8 and 12). Overall though, whilst many (MANY) of the specifics were lost on me, I do feel like I learnt a lot reading this book.
Rated 3*s, mainly because I think the book itself is worthy of that, regardless of the fact I feel I ought to rate it a 2 for how much I actually enjoyed reading it.
Sadly, this book was a difficult read. This was not really a pop history book - it was far more academic than I signed up for, with dense, information heavy paragraphs. Akpan clearly put a lot of effort into the research, but this is not an entry-level text. There was some light relief in the form of the authors travelogue of her research trip across Africa, which were fun annecdotes, but for me muddied the waters a little (i.e. was Akpan trying to write a pop history book after all?)
Had I not listened on audiobook, I would not have finished this book. I probably wouldn't have gotten past the first chapter, which would have been a shame as the first chapter is one of the weaker ones. On the flip side, I actually didn't like the audiobook at all, I thought the narrator was bad. I found her phrasing off, with pauses in weird places, which did not help with my understanding of the dense text. It was nice to not have to guess any of the pronunciations though.
Some chapters were much better than others - this was probably less to do with Akpan, and more to do with what is lost to time. Even now, after just finishing the book, some of the chapters have made little impression (my favourite chapters were 2, 7, 8 and 12). Overall though, whilst many (MANY) of the specifics were lost on me, I do feel like I learnt a lot reading this book.
Rated 3*s, mainly because I think the book itself is worthy of that, regardless of the fact I feel I ought to rate it a 2 for how much I actually enjoyed reading it.
March 24, 2026
In a lot of ways, I really struggled with this book. The way it was written made it difficult for me to follow and I found my attention wandering more often than not. All the places and names ran together until I couldn't tell one from the next (I listened to the audiobook). BUT, this is such an important book. My knowledge of African history might as well be a giant black hole. It was delightful to hear about the continent's people, their traditions, their cultural beliefs, etc as I had never been exposed to them before. I feel like this book is so desperately important, and I want so many more people to read it. But I wish the writing was just a little more engaging in order to hold my horrible wandering mind.
I appreciated the author's dedication to shades of gray and not glossing over the atrocities committed by rulers throughout history. It made everything feel more complete and even handed. Grappling with these complexities is so vital to understanding history, and seeing the author dedicating herself to that complexity was a delight.
I am glad I read this book. I desperately wish I knew for a fact I could retain more of it. But it for sure is a good stepping stone to further research into the history of the African continent.
I appreciated the author's dedication to shades of gray and not glossing over the atrocities committed by rulers throughout history. It made everything feel more complete and even handed. Grappling with these complexities is so vital to understanding history, and seeing the author dedicating herself to that complexity was a delight.
I am glad I read this book. I desperately wish I knew for a fact I could retain more of it. But it for sure is a good stepping stone to further research into the history of the African continent.
August 8, 2025
Overall, I loved it and would recommend.
I love the perspective, the style, and the whole process that Akpan went through to collect data, both historical and modern-day. I really didn't expect to have the modern-day affiliations as part of the historical journey of these African women, which really enriched the narrative for me. I will say that ( I do not know why, honestly) I was expecting most, if not all of the women to be from ancient times, but although they were from 'newer' times, I still enjoyed it (although I didn't think I would). The only thing that kind of bothers me is that I felt that the historical data was quite limited, but AKpan still managed to tell their stories. Another thing I loved is that it is not just dry facts, but a point of view and a soft commentary.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC copy
I love the perspective, the style, and the whole process that Akpan went through to collect data, both historical and modern-day. I really didn't expect to have the modern-day affiliations as part of the historical journey of these African women, which really enriched the narrative for me. I will say that ( I do not know why, honestly) I was expecting most, if not all of the women to be from ancient times, but although they were from 'newer' times, I still enjoyed it (although I didn't think I would). The only thing that kind of bothers me is that I felt that the historical data was quite limited, but AKpan still managed to tell their stories. Another thing I loved is that it is not just dry facts, but a point of view and a soft commentary.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC copy
March 20, 2026
Not quite what I originally expected out of this read, it reads more of a textbook, but communicates clearly how the author put in time and passion into research about major women leaders in Africa. The introduction was a little bit drawing for me as they went over context from a colonial perspective, and we’re critical of how history is currently being taught or has been taught in the past. However, the read itself clearly outlined where colonialism and traditional values intertwined. When applicable, the effects of these women leaders had both during their reign and post reign and forgotten aspects of African history. I appreciate the variety of countries that were represented. What I found difficult about this Reed is that it read less as a story which sometimes made it hard to follow it more so read into research and then what that research revealed.
July 19, 2025
Personally, I found it a bit more academic and historical than I usually enjoy, and I struggled to stay fully engaged. However, I appreciated the effort Akpan puts into making these histories accessible, especially with modern reflections woven in. The book does a great job of highlighting African leaders, cultures, and achievements that often get overlooked.
If you’re someone who enjoys non-fiction about history, culture, and identity, I think this book could be a very rewarding read. It’s well-researched and thoughtfully written, just not quite my usual style. I’d recommend it to anyone interested in broadening their knowledge of African history or looking for a fresh, decolonised perspective on the past.
If you’re someone who enjoys non-fiction about history, culture, and identity, I think this book could be a very rewarding read. It’s well-researched and thoughtfully written, just not quite my usual style. I’d recommend it to anyone interested in broadening their knowledge of African history or looking for a fresh, decolonised perspective on the past.
August 13, 2025
“I would like to thank the publishers for the advance copies of this book sent to our book club to read and review.”
When We Ruled brings important, overlooked histories to light, focusing on Black women and gender-expansive people across the globe. I really respect what Paula Akpan set out to do here. That said, the book reads more like a textbook than a flowing narrative. It’s dense, a bit disjointed, and definitely more academic in tone. Great for readers deeply into decolonial or feminist history, but not the most accessible if you’re looking for something more engaging or story-driven. Valuable content, but a tough read.
When We Ruled brings important, overlooked histories to light, focusing on Black women and gender-expansive people across the globe. I really respect what Paula Akpan set out to do here. That said, the book reads more like a textbook than a flowing narrative. It’s dense, a bit disjointed, and definitely more academic in tone. Great for readers deeply into decolonial or feminist history, but not the most accessible if you’re looking for something more engaging or story-driven. Valuable content, but a tough read.
November 15, 2025
The information was excellent, so much wonderful detail. The author made sure to include the side of the stories that one would perhaps rather not know; the hard truths. Which I appreciate and hurt from simultaneously.
My one complaint would be the narrator’s cadence in the audiobook, that made it rather difficult to grasp what was being said in real time. A lot of time was spent rewinding to make sense of the oddly placed pauses and the rather flat delivery of information.
My one complaint would be the narrator’s cadence in the audiobook, that made it rather difficult to grasp what was being said in real time. A lot of time was spent rewinding to make sense of the oddly placed pauses and the rather flat delivery of information.
March 9, 2026
Really loved learning about the stories of different powerful African women of the past.
It was challenging to read at times, only for the interruption of having to pause and then research/look up parts of what was being discussed.
I like the way it interweaved Akpan’s story of her travels/ research along with the stories she was told and had found out, giving a really interesting perspective of some less known female histories!
It was challenging to read at times, only for the interruption of having to pause and then research/look up parts of what was being discussed.
I like the way it interweaved Akpan’s story of her travels/ research along with the stories she was told and had found out, giving a really interesting perspective of some less known female histories!
March 18, 2026
4.5
My favorite thing about this book is the love and care that was put into it. It's so clear that Paula Akpan really cares about this subject.
I wish I read the physical book instead of the audiobook though. I'm terrible with names and wish I could physically see them instead of hearing them. That would've been easier for me to connect everything. But that's a me thing, not a book issue.
My favorite thing about this book is the love and care that was put into it. It's so clear that Paula Akpan really cares about this subject.
I wish I read the physical book instead of the audiobook though. I'm terrible with names and wish I could physically see them instead of hearing them. That would've been easier for me to connect everything. But that's a me thing, not a book issue.
March 22, 2026
Akpan does a phenomenal job taking the reader through a historical journey outside of the lenses it is traditionally told (if the stories are shared at all). Colonialism, gender, power, and culture are spun together in an interconnected web. Fantastically put in the conclusion, the history is in no way straightforward and was a truly impactful narrative.
July 15, 2025
Twelve African Women from across the continent - rulers, leaders, warriors and more. Some of these women I had already come across in the history books, and some were new to me. Paula Akpan does an excellent job of telling their stories.
November 1, 2025
I went to see Akpan speak on her book tour and was really captivated by her insights and the discussion about the book. Reading the book was not as engaging (obviously) and some of the chapters lost me. But it is clearly well-researched and I learned a lot.
March 14, 2026
This was a lot to digest, not just because of colonialism but it’s a lot of information so it needs time to be processed. I’m not into history but if you are, then this may be for you. Learned a lot too!
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August 22, 2025I particularly liked her conversations with taxi drivers and such.
January 6, 2026
🏜️
Was really looking forward to this one but v disappointed.
Must also note I didn’t care for the audiobook narrator 🫠 you could hear her audibly swallow. Frequently. I can’t unhear it.
Was really looking forward to this one but v disappointed.
Must also note I didn’t care for the audiobook narrator 🫠 you could hear her audibly swallow. Frequently. I can’t unhear it.
March 17, 2026
An interesting book full of cool history that is not usually taught. I think it suffered from not being able to decide whether it should be popular history or academic history.
March 20, 2026
Interesting book if you like African history but did not really go the way I expected it to go.
The audiobook narrator was read by Lowena Waries.
The audiobook narrator was read by Lowena Waries.
June 7, 2025
An epic attempt to uplift and centre and understand the leading women and genderqueer rulers and warriors in African history.
The text is well-researched, either with sources or interviews, most of which required the author to travel to the places where these vibrant and often overlooked historical figures lived, ruled, and made history, no matter how marginalized.
Each chapter introduces necessary contextual details for the average reader. This makes the text feel decentred from the historical figures at its core. Yet, many of these histories are likely to be unknown to most, as they are not required reading or even well represented in English materials, so it was truly useful to have access to these columns.
Some figures we know little about. Some we have to rely on guesswork to understand. Some were pivotal even if not in leading positions. All are intriguing and complicated figures with legacies of which most of us are completely unaware.
I also appreciated the careful inclusion of likely genderqueer figures and the discussion about why and what we know and don't know.
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Pegasus Books | Simon & Schuster for the advance copy.
The text is well-researched, either with sources or interviews, most of which required the author to travel to the places where these vibrant and often overlooked historical figures lived, ruled, and made history, no matter how marginalized.
Each chapter introduces necessary contextual details for the average reader. This makes the text feel decentred from the historical figures at its core. Yet, many of these histories are likely to be unknown to most, as they are not required reading or even well represented in English materials, so it was truly useful to have access to these columns.
Some figures we know little about. Some we have to rely on guesswork to understand. Some were pivotal even if not in leading positions. All are intriguing and complicated figures with legacies of which most of us are completely unaware.
I also appreciated the careful inclusion of likely genderqueer figures and the discussion about why and what we know and don't know.
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Pegasus Books | Simon & Schuster for the advance copy.
September 26, 2025
This was a fascinating group of stories of strong female leaders in Africa.
Focused on family, tribe and community, the way Paula Akpan had written the book, it felt like you got to know these individuals, their fears and hopes, really well. I didn't know much about African history (apart from the stories of colonisation that I was taught at school), so I was really interested to learn more. I have a personal family history in Zimbabwe and South Africa so I always enjoy reading about those countries.
It was a fascinating book, and I'd recommend it for anyone who loves history, and female history in particular. The only thing that would have been useful for me was knowing more about where these territories fit into our current understanding of African geography. The ARC didn't include the maps that would have been included in the final edition, so I would have found these extremely helpful for context.
Thanks to Paula Akpan, NetGalley and publishers Trapeze for this ARC, in response for an honest review.
Focused on family, tribe and community, the way Paula Akpan had written the book, it felt like you got to know these individuals, their fears and hopes, really well. I didn't know much about African history (apart from the stories of colonisation that I was taught at school), so I was really interested to learn more. I have a personal family history in Zimbabwe and South Africa so I always enjoy reading about those countries.
It was a fascinating book, and I'd recommend it for anyone who loves history, and female history in particular. The only thing that would have been useful for me was knowing more about where these territories fit into our current understanding of African geography. The ARC didn't include the maps that would have been included in the final edition, so I would have found these extremely helpful for context.
Thanks to Paula Akpan, NetGalley and publishers Trapeze for this ARC, in response for an honest review.
February 28, 2026
In my education we barely touched on African history except for the Egyptians. I was eager to delve in to this and it did not ddisappoint. I don't know what I was expecting but this wasn't it. The author tells the stories of twelve powerful African women frome twelve different areas. The research is meticulous and the presentation of each person is outstanding. In our country at this time women were still considered chattel, second rate citizens whose opinions were worthless and unnecessary. In Africa they could be warriors, queens and rulers. I found this book facinating and very worthwile reading. It is a book worthy of required university course reading but also interesting enough to savour as a reader.
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