Meeting The Queen Mother Nan Zognidi Kpodjitoh of Abomey Benin: A Journey of Ancestral Reconnection for Women’s History Month

Some experiences are unforgettable – moments so divinely aligned that they feel orchestrated by the Ancestors themselves. My journey to Benin was one of those sacred experiences. It was more than a trip; it was a pilgrimage, a homecoming to the land that holds the untold stories of my lineage.

Reconnecting with My Ancestral Roots in Benin

Returning to Benin was not just about retracing the path my Haitian Ancestors walked – it was about honoring the resilience, wisdom, and contributions of the women whose sacrifices made my existence possible. Often, the narrative of the African Diaspora is told solely through the lens of slavery or colonization, but our history holds much more depth and range. Before the transatlantic slave trade, before the oppression imposed generational trauma, there was sovereignty and an unbroken lineage of wisdom keepers who safeguarded our cultural and spiritual traditions.

Through the Rara Tou Limen Vodou Voyage to Benin, carefully curated by Bon Manbo Ashade Portsha, I was able to immerse myself in these Ancestral traditions, reconnecting with the spiritual and cultural legacies that have shaped my Haitian identity. Even though I’m a Haitian raised in the United States, I have always felt Africa alive within me. But standing on the red soil of Benin, surrounded by communities untouched by colonization, I finally experienced the depth of that truth in every fiber of my being.

The Power of Matrilineal Lineages and the Feminine Energy

One of the most profound lessons I learned on this journey is the true meaning of the feminine. Unlike the Westernized concept of femininity which reduces it to physical beauty standards, the African understanding of the feminine is the first principle of life. The feminine is an energy.  It’s an embodied experience that’s the most powerful of human experiences, it leads by encouraging rather than dominating and oppressing, it and connects us to the non-physical world where manifestations and miracles come from. The very essence and genetic codes of creation and sustenance of living beings is feminine. This principle is why Benin and Togo, like many other African nations, have matrilineal traditions, honoring the feminine as the foundation of life.

Women in these cultures are not just caretakers; they are leaders, counsel, warriors, and wisdom keepers. Their power is not given – it is inherent. To witness a society where this truth is acknowledged and upheld was deeply affirming.

Meeting The Queen Mother Nan Zognidi KpodjitohNan Zan Zognidi – A Living Legacy of the Agojie Warriors

One of the most life-changing moments of my journey was meeting The Queen Mother Nan Zognidi Kpodjitoh of Abomey Benin, a direct descendant of the Agojie, the legendary all-women warrior army of the Dahomey Kingdom. Often referred to as the real-life Woman King, Queen Nan Zognidi Kpodjitoh embodies both spiritual power and regal presence. The Agojie Amazonian Dahomey Warriors are so respected, a 30 meter (98 foot) tall statue of Queen Tassi Hangbé, the first woman King, was erected in Cotonou, overlooking the Marina Palace where the President of the Republic of Benin resides. Award winning movie directors Gina Prince-Bythewood and Ryan Coogler pay homage to these Dahomey women warriors in the movies The Woman King as the Agojie warriors, and in Black Panther as the Dora Milaje, respectively.

Even before The Queen Mother Nan Zognidi Kpodjitoh entered the room to sit on her throne, preceded by courtiers, and flanked by her women guards, her energy filled the space. We humbled ourselves before her, encircling her with reverence. But despite The Queen Mother Nan Zognidi Kpodjitoh’s formidable presence, she welcomed us with immense love and warmth. She did not just acknowledge us as visitors – she embraced us as her children.

A Sacred Encounter of Love, Wisdom, and Ancestral Blessings

The Queen Mother Nan Zognidi Kpodjitoh provided us with deep love and kinship. She spent a generous amount of time with us answering our questions, poured wisdom into us, and assured us that no matter where we are in the world, this is our home.

We experienced a variety of ceremonial dances, harmonized singers, powerful rhythms pounded out of hand-made drums, and couldn’t help but join her courtiers to dance for The Queen Mother Nan Zognidi Kpodjitoh! Synchronizing our dance moves in flow with her courtiers, rolling our shoulders and stomping our feet into the red soil, embodied by the divine and the Ancestors! Prior to visiting her, we took a dance class by world renowned Rachelle Agbossou founder of Walo Dance Compagnie , where we happened to learn the Agojie Warrior dances. The Queen Mother Nan Zognidi Kpodjitoh beamed with pride, declaring that we were indeed her children because of the way we danced – our spirits recognized the rhythm, the steps, the energy. In that moment, centuries of displacement disappeared. We were home.

It’s difficult to put into words the magnitude of her magnetism, her presence, and the life-giving love she exuded. As someone who walks between the physical and spiritual worlds, I hadn’t realized how much I had been yearning for this level of intentional connection and it’s absence in my life living in the states. The Queen Mother Nan Zognidi Kpodjitoh’s presence affirmed that my existence, my purpose, and my power are deeply rooted in something far greater than just existing in grind culture and achieving the American dream.

A Personal Revelation: Reclaiming My Space and Power

The Queen Mother Nan Zognidi Kpodjitoh shared with us that she’s been empowering women since previous lifetimes. Before accepting her role as The Queen Mother in this life, she was a woman’s rights advocate. The Queen Mother emphasized the importance of teaching young girls about their power, and reminded us of ours. Her words felt like a divine confirmation of my own calling to support women along their journey of self-discovery, remembering their Ancestral calling to experience liberation. Seeing her take up space so effortlessly, embracing the fullness of her existence, gave me permission to do the same.

What moved me even more was how much she resembled my late mother. The striking features, the regal presence – it was as if I was looking at my own lineage, stretching from Anse-à-Veau, Haiti, to Abomey, Benin. This wasn’t just a meeting; it was a reunion of family across time and space. I was moved to tears.

Carrying the Legacy Forward

As Women’s History Month reminds us to honor the contributions of women past and present, I reflect on the powerful women who have shaped me. I can now say The Queen Mother Nan Zognidi Kpodjitoh is one of those powerful women.

I left Benin empowered, feeling sourced by the right roots, knowing that I am part of an unbroken legacy of warrior women, healers, wisdom keepers, and leaders. I now move forward with a renewed sense of purpose, fully claiming my role in continuing the work of my Ancestors.

This journey was not just about remembering herstory – it was about remembering how to continue to live and embody it.

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