Nigerian Chronicles

  Queen Nzinga: The African Warrior Queen Who Fought the Portuguese for Decades Long before Angola became an independent country, powerful African kingdoms controlled large territories across the region. Among the most remarkable rulers of that era was a woman who became famous for her intelligence, diplomacy, military leadership and resistance to European expansion. Her name was Queen Nzinga Mbande, also known as Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba. Born around 1583 in the kingdom of Ndongo, in present-day Angola, Nzinga lived during a period when Portuguese forces were expanding their influence in Central Africa. The Portuguese wanted land, political control and access to the Atlantic slave trade, while African rulers fought to protect their kingdoms and independence. Nzinga eventually became one of the most determined opponents of Portuguese expansion. She negotiated with Portuguese governors, formed military alliances, used diplomacy when it benefited her and fought when negotiations ...

  Why Rwanda Mountain Gorillas Rarely Attack Tourists — And What Rangers Do When a Silverback Charges Imagine walking through the misty mountains of Rwanda when suddenly a huge silverback gorilla turns toward you. He beats his chest. He tears at vegetation. He makes powerful sounds and starts moving in your direction. For most people, the instinct would be simple: run. But during a mountain gorilla trek, running is one of the worst things a tourist can do. The strange part is that despite their enormous strength, mountain gorillas generally do not treat tourists as enemies. The gorillas visited by tourists have been carefully habituated to human presence, while guides and trackers are trained to understand their behaviour and keep encounters under control. Still, these are wild animals. A silverback can charge, especially if he believes that his family is being threatened. So what actually happens when a gorilla charges a tourist? Why don't mountain gorillas usually attack tourists...