Page 58 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 3

AFRIKA’S HEROES

Kandake Amanirenas

OF kush

RESEARCHED BY CHIOMA PHILLIPS
ART SOURCE: Victor Rossi
https://victorrossi.artstation.com/resume

he ancient kingdom of woman or queen). ruler whose husband was her
Kush, was located just Kandake, in the Meroitic tongue, consort; and in Kush, this was not
Tto the south of Egypt in referred to the sister of the king an uncommon happening.
what is now The Sudan and is of Kush, who – due to matrilineal According to research, the
referenced as a part of the region succession – would bear the Kandakes were portrayed in
known as Aethiopia (the place next heir to the throne, making their art as having strong, even
of burnt faces). Kush was a land her queen mother. The word muscular statures and towered
of kings and queens who had is Latinized as Candace. The over their enemies, in contrast with
mastered their terrain and knew Kandake was a prominent and their female Egyptian neighbors
how to use it to their strategic important member of the society, to the north who preferred to be
advantage. A land whose royal having her own courts and lands portrayed as slim and slender.
family members, much like in and the role of regent. But, every The Kandakes and their kings had
Egypt, were buried in pyramids. now and then, one would rise to scars on their faces which they
Hot and dry, strategically watered become not only Kandake, but wore with pride as symbols of
by the Nile, this is the land of Qore (king) as well, meaning, beauty.
the Kandakes. (Kandake = great ruling queen. A fully independent The Kandakes on record who