THE LAST DAHOMEY WARRIOR by Dr. Amy Holda Gueye – African Historical Fiction, Historical Action & Adventure, War & Military History

The Last Dahomey Warrior by Dr. Amy Holda Gueye is the gripping story of a group of fearless and feared female soldiers of the Dahomey kingdom—and the young girl who withstands grave peril to stand among them.

At age 11, Nanissa becomes the youngest candidate ever chosen to be one of the legendary Dahomey Akodgjie, an all-female elite class of warriors who protect their king and the Kingdom of Dahomey (now Benin).

Left in the sacred forest with no weapons or food, Nanissa must survive ten days to earn her place on the path to becoming a Dahomey warrior. She encounters dangers during her test, but by listening to the voice of her mother she not only survives but is endowed by the spirit of the Leopard, which serves her well in battles to come.

Nanissa learns to listen to more than just the teachings of her mother. The Queen Mother, Ahosi, who trains the Akodgjie warriors also serves as mentor to the young warrior. “Observe carefully, learn quickly, listen more, speak less…If you can learn what one does not say, memorize what one never teaches, and trust your gut, the voice right here in your chest… then you will make an excellent warrior.”

Before Nanissa faces her first battle as a young woman, the Chief of a smaller tribe comes to the Palace with word that the French are coming—prepared for battle with armor and rifles.

The Chief warns “ ‘…the French do not come with an open hand, Queen Mother. They did not come to trade, nor to seek Peace.’ His voice shook slightly. ‘They come to fight. To take what does not belong to them.’ ”  During these battles, the spirit of the Leopard emerges inside Nanissa, allowing her to fight in ways that are stronger than the men and cleverer than the enemy. Yet even with her skill, there are devastating losses.

It is during this conflict with the French that Nanissa faces her greatest challenges, ones of betrayal and forbidden love. She must choose between her own desire for peace, even for a moment, and what she has been trained to do. She must defend her people with her life. In the end, she’s faced with a heart-wrenching choice to become the Last Dahomey Warrior.

The Last Dahomey Warrior bridges multiple genres into a story as exciting as it is culturally meaningful.

It’s historical fiction of a time, place, and remarkable people whom most readers have not been taught. It’s an adventure story of Nanissa braving the world of the Dahomey Akodgjie and proving her worth as a warrior. It’s a coming-of-age story, as Nanissa spends her tween and teen years not only learning to fight but navigating the challenges of being both a warrior and a woman.

Finally, The Last Dahomey Warrior dispels ignorant Western beliefs that Africa was merely a “developing” continent without a past worth honoring. As Dr. Amy Holda Gueye writes in the Prologue, “This novel is more than a historical account; it is an act of reclamation…of Dahomey’s rich culture, the humanity of its people, and complexities of its history.”