Yennenga

Yennenga (born 11th-15th century) was a legendary princess, considered the mother of the Mossi people of Burkina Faso. She was a famous warrior within the Kingdom of Dagbon, now in present day Ghana. The founder of the Kingdom of Dagbon was her father, Nedega. Nedega refused to let Yennenga marry, resulting in her leaving the kingdom. On the run with her horse, she met a young hunter, Rialé with whom she had a child called Ouedraogo. Ouedraogo is a famous last name in Burkina Faso and means "male horse" in honour of the horse which led the princess to Rialé. Yennenga or her son Ouedraogo are considered the founder of the Mossi Kingdoms. There are different versions about the escape of the princess.

==Biography== Yennenga was the daughter of Nedega and Napoko, king and queen in the early 12th century of the Kingdom of Dagbon, now in present day Ghana. She is described in oral histories as beautiful, with her name, Yennenga, meaning "the slim", referring to her beauty. Her father raised her to be a skilled hunter and fighter and from the age of 14, she fought in battles for her father against the neighbouring Malinkés. Skilled with javelins, spears and bows, she was an excellent horsewoman and commanded her own battalion. She became a cultural icon, a woman with a strong character and an independent mind and beloved princess.