Historian, journalist and writer Paula Akpan comes to Sheffield to uncover the stories of African women who ruled kingdoms, led communities and resisted conquest in When We Ruled: The Rise and Fall of Twelve African Queens and Warriors.
Appearing in conversation with Dr Yinka Olusoga, Akpan takes audiences on a journey through African history, from pre-colonial Nigeria and Rwanda to Madagascar and South Africa.
At the centre of the event are women who exercised political, military and cultural power but whose stories remain unfamiliar to many British audiences.
Through her work, Akpan challenges versions of African history in which women are absent and versions of Black history that begin primarily with enslavement or colonialism.
Instead, audiences encounter royalty, ancient civilisations, resistance, conquest and complex societies in which African women were central figures.
Paula Akpan is a historian, journalist and writer whose work explores Black history, culture and identity.
She is joined by Dr Yinka Olusoga, lecturer in education at the University of Sheffield and co-author of Black History for Every Day of the Year.
Taking place during Black History Month, When We Ruled is an oppor
More Sheffield Listings MORE
A Night To Remember – Motown Show
A Night To Remember – Motown Show brings the sound of 1960s Detroit to Sheffield in a high-energy…
KalakutHER: Queen of Fela’s Republic
KalakutHER: Queen of Fela’s Republic brings an important and rarely told chapter of Nigerian cultural history to the…
Seven Magic Birds: An African Panto
What happens when the traditions of a British pantomime meet the storytelling world of an African folktale? Seven…
Joeboy Live in Sheffield: Nigeria Independence Celebration
Nigerian Afrobeats star Joeboy comes to Sheffield for a special late-night celebration marking Nigeria’s Independence, bringing contemporary Nigerian…
The Pendulum — The TASH Project
The TASH Project presents a special community screening of The Pendulum, a film and research project exploring the…
In Conversation with David Greig and John Rwothomack
Two leading theatre-makers come together at Sheffield Theatres for a conversation about storytelling, creative practice and the place…
ÌLỌ́YÁ… the Journey Begins
ÌLỌ́YÁ… the Journey Begins is an intimate one-person performance exploring dreams, family, love, loss and the difficult choices…
Ijakadi — The Wrestle
Ijakadi — The Wrestle is an intimate work-in-progress performance exploring colourism, identity, masculinity and the struggle to understand…