Over 900 years ago, in the 12th century, there lived a beautiful and fearless warrior named Yennenga. She was the princess of Dagomba, a royal kingdom in the city of Gambaga. Many people today honor Yennenga for her strength, independent mind, and the legacy she paved. She was strong, like a stone pillar, yet as regal as the cowrie shells and gold beads around her neck. At fourteen years old, she bravely fought alongside her brothers against the Malinké army, battling under their father’s command. She was praised for her ability to wield spears, javelins, and hand-bows while riding her stallion. She even led a battalion of her own.
On the outside looking in, Yennenga had it all. But deep down, she longed for something that wasn’t arranged for her. She wanted to find love, get married, and start a family. She had a strong feeling that if she pursued her own destiny, it would serve a greater
purpose in her life. Her father, King Nedega, objected to it. He told her she was too precious to him and too important of a warrior to be given away in marriage. To show her grief, Yennenga planted a field of wheat near the palace. As the crop grew, King Nedega became impressed. To his surprise, Yennenga let the crop die. When he asked her about it, she explained it was a symbol of how she felt. She said,
“Just as I allowed this crop to wither and rot, I feel you are letting me wither and rot for refusing to let me marry.”
This made her father angry, and he locked her away. Although he did not admit it, King Nedega did this out of fear of losing his daughter. Yennenga was determined to break free. She was friends with many of her father’s horsemen. One of them helped her escape from the palace at night. He handed Yennenga men’s clothing and armor to wear as a disguise. When he gave her back her horse, she cried tears of joy. With their pulses racing, Yennenga and the horseman rode off into the dark woods heading north.
Along the way, they came across their enemy, the Malinké clan. The horseman fought the men off, telling Yennenga to keep going without him. Unfortunately, he was killed protecting her. Yennenga and her horse bolted toward a rushing river. They dove into the icy waters and fought their way across. Luckily, Yennenga and her horse made it to the other side. By the next morning, an elephant hunter named Riale found them and offered them food and shelter. At first, Yennenga pretended to be a man. She did this for her own safety. She soon began to trust Riale and told him who she was. When the two went hunting together, Riale was amazed by her skills. It wasn’t long before their friendship turned into love. Riale and Yennenga got married and had a son named Ouedraogo, which means
“stallion.”
Back in the Dagomba kingdom, King Nedega was desperate to find his daughter. It pained him to know that he drove her away with his harsh rules. He sent many of his men out to look for her, but they could not find her. Finally, one day, a messenger told him that she was alive and well, with a family of her own. Overcome with happiness and relief, King Nedega sent them an invitation to come home for a big feast. Yennenga agreed to her father's request. Upon arriving, King Nedega and his people welcomed Yennenga and her family with love. Yennenga’s
son Ouedraogo began training with his grandfather. As a gift, King Nedega gave Ouedraogo his own cavalry, goods, cattle, and groups of people, whom he’d take north to build his own kingdom. Ouedraogo founded Tenkodogo, along with other Mossi kingdoms.
In the end, Yennenga fulfilled her destiny. Not only did she find love and birth a legendary son, but she became the mother of the Mossi people of Burkina Faso.