American actress Jada Pinkett Smith has donned the hat of Executive Producer at the helm of a new documentary series exploring the lives of the famous and iconic. Queen of Africa.
The first season of the series, which will be available on Netflix, will cover the life of Njinga, a complex, charming and fearless 17th century warrior queen of Ndongo and Matamba, in modern Angola.
As the country’s first female ruler, Njinga gained a reputation for combining political and diplomatic skills with military might and became an icon of resistance.
In addition to producing Queen of AfricaPinkett Smith will also narrate four, 45-minute episodes that are co-executive produced by Miguel Melendez, Terence Carter and Sahara Bushue for Westbrook Studios as well as Jane Root, Maxine Watson and Ben Goold for Nutopia.
“There are so many stories that need to be told about the black experience around the world. I think it’s important to tell stories today because we can and we can’t always.
Although there is still much work to be done, we are now in a place where we have the ability and the opportunity to tell stories that have been forgotten as well as stories that are part of our daily lives, and what a gift that is, said Jada Pinkett Smith in a statement.
“This is a testament to standing on the shoulders of all those who before us did not have a chance but it is part of carving a path for us all to get to where we are today. Queen of Africa it’s for respect,” he added.
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African Queen will also feature actors in the dramatization of certain parts of the documentary, illustrating important points in the story being told.
Queen of Africa will start streaming on February 15, 2023 on Netflix, one of the world’s leading entertainment services with 231 million paying members in more than 190 countries who enjoy TV series, movies and games in different genres and languages.
WATCH: Official trailer for ‘African Queens: Njinga’
‘African Queens’ Q&A with Jada Pinkett Smith
What is the original inspiration for Queen of Africa?
This particular project went through various machinations, but it started with Willow. Raising a princess like Willow, in the beginning, we thought, “Let’s go to Africa and study African queens together as mother and daughter”.
Because the term queen is thrown around a lot but what does it take to be a queen? So that’s where the inspiration really comes from.
How do you choose the queens?
I really wanted to represent black women. We don’t often see or hear stories about black queens, and it’s very important for me, and for my daughter, and just for my community to know these stories because there are so many of them!
The sad part is that we do not have ready access to historical women who are very strong and are the backbone of African countries. I am always interested in certain people, Njinga is one of them.
Many people probably do not know about this, but I am a historian and Njinga came to my reading. I just find him charming. He was a powerhouse. It is important to me that the story is told well and Nutopia is one of the best partners because they do this well. They will look into any name or idea you give them. I am very happy that he is also passionate about this project. He just knows how to dive deep.
What do you like most about Njinga?
Being queen is a complicated position. Being a woman in a patriarchal culture is also complicated, but what I love is her perseverance, and her love for her sister, and never giving up to protect her family and being willing to do whatever it takes. to protect his own people and his Kingdom from the ravages of transatlantic trade. He knows that he must make difficult and difficult choices, but he is a leader who rules in a complicated era, and I need to understand him in the context of that era.
Why did you decide to go the docudrama route vs a narrative feature?
The difficulty with the narrative is that sometimes you want to take creative license and stretch ideas a little, where I really wanted to be able to stick to the historical facts of each woman. I just think it’s important, especially since it’s such a little-known story.
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There is a wealth of historical literature on all the monarchs of England, so if you decide to tell their story in a narrative, the purity of their existence is at your fingertips. This is not the case with black African queens, so it was very important for me to do a docudrama. I want to be educated, factually, about the woman’s life.
How involved are you in casting and what do you look for in actors for narrative interludes?
Authenticity. I was very involved. It was a difficult process because it wasn’t a big budget documentary, but we went through tape after tape. When I saw the actress for Njinga, Adesuwa Oni, I knew right away. I was like, “We have to have him!” Because she has such a strong power, but she also has a level of vulnerability that I also love. She’s very nuanced, and as an actress, I’m always looking for it because her character is so complex. I really thought he did Njinga beautiful justice.
In 2023, it is different to ask actors to play and the audience to watch images of slavery, when we are already attuned to this historical trauma for the black community. How do you negotiate that line? It’s definitely a smooth ride, but I also think it’s important to acknowledge history and slavery as an aspect of our history. It was a tough walk, but I don’t think it was a memorable walk.
Writers Peres Owino and NneNne Iwuji spoke very passionately about the project. How to read the script and watch the work?
He did a wonderful job. He is very talented and I gave him some notes. I feel very happy that he is a part of this project.
Do you think it is important to tell these stories at this time?
There are many stories to be told about the black experience around the world. I think it’s important to tell stories now because we can and we can’t always. Although there is still much work to be done, we are now in a place where we have the ability and the opportunity to tell the stories that have been forgotten as well as the stories that are part of our daily lives, and what a gift that is. This is a testament to standing on the shoulders of all those who before us did not have a chance but is part of carving a path for us all to get to where we are today. Queen of Africa is in honor of that.
What are some of the conversations you hope have come out of this?
I hope that you can pierce some of the stereotypes, I really do. I feel like there are stereotypes on both sides, about what black Americans are and stereotypes about black Africans. I want people to be proud of the essence of what we all have together and what we have done to overcome the challenges we face. I hope it can be a bridge and honor and give more understanding about the seed that has been born.
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Compiled by Kaunda Selisho