It’s no wonder that The female king has gained immense fame over the past few days due to its epic storytelling and outstanding cast. It is based on a true story, and a major factor in its popularity is the Agojie, an all-female warrior group from the kingdom of Dahomey.
The film stars Academy Award winner Viola Davis as General Nanisca who leads a group of female soldiers under King Ghezo, played by John Boyega. General Nanisca welcomes a young woman named Nawi, played by Thuso Mbedu, into his custody, along with several other combat-trained girls.
RELATED: ‘You Support This Narrative’: The Woman King Star Viola Davis Says Fans Who Don’t See Her Film Believe ‘Black Women Can’t Run The Box Office’
Usually, films based on historical events are recreated and changed in ways that make them more compelling. The female king takes place in 1823 when the kingdom of Dahomey fights for its freedom against the empire of Oyo, and that king Ghezo manages to cut the bridges with the enemy. All of this is true; however, General Nanisca and Nawi are fictional characters.
The Woman King: Who are the Agojie?
The Agojie is a group of female warriors that dates back to the early 18th century. King Houegbadja was known to have formed a group of female elephant hunters to serve as protectors of the kingdom, but another ruler has been credited with establishing the all-female army. It is true that the Agojie became popular during the reign of King Ghezo, where they earned the nickname “The Amazons of Dahomey” from Europeans.
As in The female king, the Agojie had a rigorous training. The people who enlist are volunteers, former slaves, women who do not intend to marry and orphans. Surprisingly, they are privileged because they live inside the king’s lands and have their own servants. Another interesting part of the Agojie tradition is their vow of celibacy. They are considered the king’s wives, although they do not bear his children and are not allowed to marry.
RELATED: The Woman King Review: An Action-Packed, Challenging, Yet Formulated ‘True Story’
The real Agojie was crueler than you think
The Agojie have been portrayed as protective, but they are more brutal in real life. They conquered cities and took people away from home. They burned villages and beheaded their victims. In fact, they had a religious ceremony called the Annual Customs of Dahomey, where they offered hundreds to thousands of human sacrifices.
The slave trade was partially addressed in the film, but it was portrayed as if they were against it. Much of Dahomey’s wealth came from this kind of business and director Gina Prince-Bythewood strayed from this subject to present it as a hero story.
The female king‘s Agojie indeed inspired Black Panther’s Dora Milaje, and the film is proud to honor the brave female warriors who defended their kingdom. While many aspects of the film have been fictionalized, it’s best for audiences to know the real story behind the Kingdom of Dahomey and its famous army of women.
RELATED: ‘The last time I felt like crying at the end of a movie was during Black Panther’: Fans hail woman king as huge leap forward for women of color
