Nzinga Mbande was a 17th-century queen of the Ndongo and Matamba kingdoms in present-day Angola. She is known for her strong leadership and resistance against Portuguese colonization. Nzinga played a crucial role in negotiating alliances and leading her people in battles to protect their sovereignty. Her legacy is celebrated for her diplomatic skills and military strategies, which challenged European powers during her reign. Nzinga's efforts to maintain independence and her role as a female leader in a male-dominated society have made her an important figure in African history and a symbol of resistance against colonialism.