Queen Njinga, also known as Njinga Mbande or Ana de Sousa Nzinga Mbande, was a 17th-century queen and political leader of the Kingdom of Ndongo and Matamba in present-day Angola, known for her military prowess, diplomatic skill, and resistance to Portuguese colonial expansion. Queen Njinga is celebrated for her efforts to defend her kingdom against Portuguese encroachment, negotiate treaties and alliances with neighboring states, and promote cultural and religious independence, and she remains a symbol of resistance and national pride in Angolan history and culture.