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The Kingdom of Mwene Mutapa, also known as Monomotapa, existed in southern Africa between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers for over one hundred years. Mwene Mutapa flourished under its kings through structured government systems and trade across the Indian Ocean. It is believed that the people of Mwene Mutapa discovered all the gold in present-day Zimbabwe and developed effective mining techniques. Mwene Mutapa began to fall for many reasons, including conflict caused by different groups claiming rights to the throne, intrusion from Portuguese traders, and threats from a new, growing state to the southwest of Mwene Mutapa. The history of Mutapa is important because it is an example of a wealthy and organized state in southern Africa that existed before the advent of European traders.

Joyce Banda spends her time fighting for women and girls in Malawi and Africa, making dreams possible. It is her life's ambition to help women and girls have the same opportunities in life as men and boys. In Joyce's early private roles as entrepreneur and founder of the Joyce Banda Foundation, she pushed for female empowerment through access to education, better nutrition, maternity healthcare, and economic independence. Then, at fifty years old, she recognized that lasting impact required public service. Joyce served as a government minister for five years, the first woman Vice President and President of Malawi for two years each, promoting the well-being of women and girls through the enactment of laws and implementation of policies. After leaving political office, Her Excellency Mrs. Joyce Banda continues to serve Malawi and beyond through the Joyce Banda Foundation and affiliations with many organizations, speaking on the challenges faced by women and girls and seeking solutions. Read about Joyce Banda's tireless dedication to changing the narrative on African women and girls, an inspiration to those who desire to make their world a better place.

Joyce Banda lives to fulfill her destiny, improving the lives of women and girls in Malawi and the rest of Africa. She created the National Association of Business Women to teach women how to earn an income. Through the Joyce Banda Foundation, she provides access to education and other programs that assist women, girls, and the youth. In public service roles as a government minister, the first woman Vice President, and President of Malawi, she continued her fight for women and girls to be treated equally as men and boys. Joyce's life experiences have influenced many of the issues that she has dedicated her life to: education for children, safe and healthy pregnancies and births for mothers, and enabling women's economic capacity for better life choices. Since leaving political office, Joyce has traveled the country and the world over, still drawing attention to women and girls and how their needs may be addressed. Joyce's life lessons fuel her purpose of helping women and girls reach their full potential.

Kandake Amanirenas was an African queen from Nubia who defeated the Roman Empire, winning several battles and capturing Roman cities. Even after she was blinded in one eye, when her wound healed, she returned to the war front to defend Kush. Her courage, bravery, and determination to maintain Kush's independence from Rome earned her a place in history. She is known as the "fierce and one-eyed queen Candace," who, rather than give in to the Romans after years of battle, negotiated a favorable peace treaty that endured long after her death.

Throughout Africa, communities respect the baobab tree as central to life. As a result, its giant trunk, unusual shape, and long life have given rise to folklore, such as an ability to "swallow up" maidens. Ghana's well-known proverb, Knowledge is like the trunk of a baobab tree; no one's arms are long enough to wrap around it, refers to the limitless boundaries of wisdom. Wisdom that, in this proverb, is likened to the African baobab's usefulness. The baobab serves people from birth to death, providing food, water, clothing, rope, shelter, feed for animals, and a tomb for burial. Read about the rich contribution of this majestic giant of the African bush to the life of the communities to which they belong.

Who was King John Aggery of the Gold Coast? He always caused good trouble, becoming the first traditional leader to fight against British authority. He set a precedent for sending petitioners to Britain as a form of protest. Aggery was deposed and exiled, but he established a critical foundation for bringing together different sections of society to work on common interests. Aggery believed in self-determination and lost his kingship and liberty in the pursuit of his ideals. Aggery's civil liberties activism serves as a reminder to all that no matter the challenging conditions, an individual's desire for change can make a difference across generations.

The life of Winsome Sears is one of courage and determination. She became the first woman and first woman of color elected to a state office in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States of America. Winsome Sears was born in Jamaica and arrived in New York when she was only six years old. She followed the exemplary path her immigrant father had laid for her, getting an education, joining the U.S. Marines, becoming active in her community and a business owner, as well as wife and mother. She overcame trials and tribulations because of her indomitable spirit to live the American dream. Her life story encourages children of African American parents and immigrants to take advantage of the opportunities for growth and development available in the United States.

Labotsibeni Mdluli began the journey for the Kingdom of Eswatini's (formerly Swaziland) independence when she became Ndlovukazi, or queen mother, in 1890. For thirty-two years, she fiercely fought for the rights of the Swati. Labotsibeni stood up against colonial oppression, restored dignity to the kingdom's monarchy, and established a western-style education system in her country. Some historians write that the Kingdom of Eswatini exists today because of Labotsibeni's courage and determination to protect her people. Labotsibeni truly lived up to the meaning of her middle name, indomitable or unshakeable.

Taytu Betul became the Empress of Ethiopia in 1889 and believed in putting the interests of her country above European expansion plans. As a result, she willingly went to war against Italy preserving Ethiopia's independence, leading her own contingent of soldiers. Empress Taytu prevented Ethiopia from being colonized. The Ethiopian victory over Italy was an important event in the Pan-African movement, inspiring other African countries to fight for independence in the 1900s.

Phillis Wheatley was about seven years old when kidnapped and sold to slave traders. She endured the horrifying journey to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1761. In her owners' home, she learned to read and write English and began to compose poetry. Due to racism in the North American colonies at the time, an English agent published her book in Great Britain. Wheatley became the first Black poet in America. She proved that Africans or Black people have creative abilities and opened the door for the acceptance of literary works by people of African descent. Today, buildings, societies, and clubs are named in Wheatley's honor.