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The Archive · Fighters & Freedom-Makers

Heroes
of the Resistance

Men and women who refused the terms of colonial rule

Resistance did not begin with the independence movements of the twentieth century. For as long as there were colonial armies on African soil, there were people who organised, fought, and refused. These are their names. Many were executed, exiled, or written out of the histories their conquerors left behind.

Each hero here led a war, a rebellion, or a movement. The archive records who they fought against, the names of the conflicts they led, and — in many cases — what the colonial government did to punish them. History is incomplete without these chapters.

YAA ASANTEWAA

Ashanti Empire (Ghana)

Yaa Asantewaa

War of the Golden Stool

Rudolf Duala Manga Bell

Cameroon (German Kamerun)

Rudolf Duala Manga Bell

Resistance against German colonial ex…

Patrice Émery Lumumba

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Patrice Émery Lumumba

Congolese Independence Movement

Pierre Mulele

Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Congo-Léopoldville)

Pierre Mulele

Simba Rebellion

Samuel Maharero

German South West Africa (Namibia)

Samuel Maharero

Herero Wars (Herero and Nama genocide)

Ahmed Sékou Touré

Guinea

Ahmed Sékou Touré

Led Guinea to independence through po…

SARKI ALU …

Kano Emirate (present-day Nigeria)

Sarki Alu (Aliyu Babba)

British invasion of Sokoto Caliphate

Dedan Kimathi Waciuri

Kenya

Dedan Kimathi Waciuri

Mau Mau Uprising

Harry Thuku

Kenya

Harry Thuku

Involved in early nationalist movemen…

Jomo Kenyatta

Kenya

Jomo Kenyatta

Mau Mau Uprising

MUSA M'KIRIBUA …

Kenya

Musa M'Kiribua M'Muchiri

Mau Mau Uprising

DONA BEATRIZ …

Kingdom of Kongo (present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Angola, and parts of Gabon)

Dona Beatriz Kimpa Vita Nsimba

Part of the broader resistance agains…

Queen Ranavalona III

Madagascar

Queen Ranavalona III

Menalamba Rebellion

Hendrik Witbooi

Namibia (German South West Africa)

Hendrik Witbooi

Nama Rebellion, part of the broader r…

KAHIMEMUA NGUVAUVA

Namibia (German South West Africa)

Kahimemua Nguvauva

Resistance against German colonial ru…

NICODEMUS KAMBAHAHIZA …

Namibia (German South West Africa)

Nicodemus Kambahahiza Kavikunua

Ovambanderu Khauas-Khoi War (part of …

JAJA OF …

Nigeria

Jaja of Opobo (born Mbanaso …

Resistance against British colonial a…

JOHN CHILEMBWE

Nyasaland (Malawi)

John Chilembwe

Chilembwe Uprising

STEPHANUS JOHANNES …

South African Republic (Transvaal)

Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger

First Boer War/Second Boer War

Samory Touré

Southeastern Guinea (established Wassoulou Empire in parts of Guinea, Mali, Ivory Coast, and Senegal)

Samory Touré

Mandingo Wars/Samorian Wars

NDANSI KUMALO

Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)

Ndansi Kumalo

First Matabele War, Second Matabele W…

ABUSHIRI IBN …

Tanzania

Abushiri ibn Salim al-Harthi

Abushiri Revolt

MKWAWA (CHIEF …

Tanzania

Mkwawa (Chief Mkwavinyika Munyigumba Mwamuyinga)

Hehe Rebellion

Nehanda Charwe Nyakasikana

Zimbabwe (Southern Rhodesia)

Nehanda Charwe Nyakasikana

First Chimurenga

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