AP African American Studies Flashcards: Kinship and Political Leadership
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 21 cards to help you master important concepts.
In which century did Queen Idia rule?
Queen Idia became the first iyoba in the late fifteenth century.
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In which century did Queen Idia rule?
Queen Idia became the first iyoba in the late fifteenth century.
In which century did Queen Njinga rule?
Queen Njinga became queen in the early seventeenth century.
List at least three varied roles women played in early West and Central African societies.
Women served as spiritual leaders, political advisors, market traders, educators, and agriculturalists.
How did Queen Njinga use the slave trade to her advantage?
She participated in the slave trade to amass wealth and political influence for her kingdoms.
Who was Queen Njinga?
Queen Njinga became queen of the kingdoms of Ndongo and Matamba in the early seventeenth century and was a formidable military and political leader.
For how long did Queen Njinga fight the Portuguese and what was her goal?
She engaged in 30 years of guerilla warfare to maintain sovereignty and control of her kingdom.
What is an iyoba?
An iyoba is a queen mother in the Kingdom of Benin. Queen Idia was the first to hold this title.
What was the primary function of kinship in many early West and Central African societies?
Kinship held family groups together through extended ties and often formed the basis for political alliances.
Who was Queen Idia?
Queen Idia was the first iyoba (queen mother) in the Kingdom of Benin in the late fifteenth century, serving as a political advisor to her son, the king.
The Kingdom of Benin, where Queen Idia was iyoba, is located in which present-day country?
The Kingdom of Benin is located in present-day Nigeria.
What was FESTAC?
FESTAC was the Second World Black Festival of Arts and Culture, which took place in 1977.
What was the long-term political legacy of Queen Njinga's reign in Matamba?
Her strong example led to nearly 100 more years of women rulers in Matamba, solidifying her legacy as a skilled leader.
Besides military leadership, what other powers did Queen Idia leverage to achieve victory for Benin?
She relied on her spiritual power and extensive medicinal knowledge to aid her army in battle.
Which group of people from Queen Njinga's kingdom has a significant connection to the history of the American colonies?
People from the kingdom of Ndongo became the first large group of enslaved Africans to arrive in the American colonies.
The kingdoms of Ndongo and Matamba, ruled by Queen Njinga, are located in which present-day country?
The kingdoms of Ndongo and Matamba are located in present-day Angola.
What military similarity did Queen Idia and Queen Njinga share?
Both Queen Idia and Queen Njinga were military leaders who personally led armies into battle.
What was Queen Idia's primary political role in the Kingdom of Benin?
As the iyoba, she served as a key political advisor to her son, the king.
What is the modern legacy of Queen Idia?
She became an iconic symbol of Black women’s leadership when an ivory mask of her face was adopted as the symbol for FESTAC in 1977.
What was the fundamental social and political structure of many early West and Central African societies?
They were composed of family groups held together by extended kinship ties, which also served as the basis for political alliances.
How did Queen Njinga strengthen and expand Matamba's military?
She offered sanctuary to those who escaped Portuguese enslavement, inviting them to join her forces.
How did Queen Idia's approach to warfare differ from Queen Njinga's?
Queen Idia relied on spiritual power and medicinal knowledge for victories, while Queen Njinga engaged in 30 years of guerilla warfare against the Portuguese.