Original subtitles

[Dramatic music playing]

[Woman] The African kingdom of dahomey is at a crossroads.

A new king, ghezo, has just taken power.

Their enemy, the oyo empire, has joined forces with the mahi people

to raid dahomey villages and sell their captives to European slavers,

an evil trade that has pulled both nations into a vicious circle.

The powen'u/ oyo have new guns and horses,

but the young king has his own fearsome weapon:

An elite force of female soldiers, the agojie,

led by a general, nanisca.

Now, these warriors are all that stand between the oyo

and dahomey's annihilation.

[Indistinct chatter]

[Grass rustling]

[Ominous music playing]

[Birds squawking]

[Laughing]

[Indistinct chatter]

[Grass rustling]

[Dramatic music playing]

[Exhales]

[Yelling]

[Women yelling]

Agojie! Agoj... [yells]

[Dramatic music continues]

[Man yells]

Where are the prisoners?

Where are our people?

We are farmers. We took no one!

Miganon.

[Prisoners gasping and whimpering]

[Man gurgling]

You will be home soon.

Horses.

That can only mean oyo soldiers.

[Sobbing]

Who is she?

My mother.

We will take you back to your village. Perhaps your father...

They sold him.

And my brothers.

They sold them all. [Sobbing]

[Somber music playing]

Miganon. The prisoners are ready to march.

Bring me stronger warriors.

[Oxen lowing]

[Poignant music playing]

[Indistinct chatter]

[Woman] Thank you.

[Speaks in fon]

Nawi!

Yeah?

[In English] Tell your mother to see me for the dress.

What dress?

Your wedding dress.

I will make you beautiful.

They have made you another match?

I don't know what she's talking about.

[Horn blows]

They are coming.

Let's go.

[Cheering and yelling excitedly]

[Man 1] My daughter! Welcome home!

[Man 2] Come here!

[Man 1] Daughter! Come!

[Man 3] My sister!

[Woman 1] My sister!

[Woman 2] Mother!

[Man 2] I'm so happy to see you.

[Bells ringing]

[Uplifting dramatic music playing]

But I want to see.

Shh! The king does not allow us to look upon the agojie.

Nanisca.

It is a victory.

They are here for you.

They do not know an evil is coming.

They know you will protect them.

I wish to speak to the king.

He's only seeing wives today.

Tell him. I will wait.

The agojie drink from the skulls of the men they have killed.

[Nawi] They cut off their heads and melt off their skin in boiling hot cauldrons.

Sister!

- Sister! - Nawi.

- Hm? - We have a visitor.

It's a rich man from cana.

Come.

Come!

Maybe he is handsome.

I own three fields of palm trees.

You will work.

You do not talk to your husband?

In my house, you will learn to obey.

[Father] Nawi!

Forgive my daughter.

The whispers were right.

Girl is worthless.

Master abade.

Come!

I wish to give my daughter to the king.

No husband will have her.

I will not marry an old man who beats me!

[Father] Go to war, then.

You will understand what pain is.

Enter.

In the palace, you do not have to look away.

Come.

[Women grunting and yelling]

[Izogie] Close your mouth.

You look like a fish.

What's in there?

Indigo dye.

What did you think it was?

Heads.

[Chuckles] No.

Those are the heads.

Some of the men who raided our village.

The rest will be sold in ouidah.

No men but the eunuchs are allowed in the palace after dark.

Beyond this wall, this is a palace of women.

[Indistinct chatter]

Come.

[Pensive music playing]

[Speaking indistinctly]

Hey.

Go and bathe yourselves.

[Hoovesthundefing]

[Ominous music playing]

Oyo! Can you see this?

Your comrades murdered.

By women.

[Whispering indistinctly]

The dahomey grow too bold under their new king.

[Ghezo] My loves.

My loves.

My love.

My love.

Nanisca, come with me.

[Pensive music playing]

[Wives whispering indistinctly]

Why does he always favor her?

She comes here filthy, shows no respect.

She fought for him during the coup.

Put him on the throne.

What did you do?

Locked yourself in a cupboard.

The oyo have entered our land.

They have broken the peace.

When they come for the tribute...

We will not pay it.

But that would mean war.

Migan, we have been under the foot of the oyo since my father's time.

Are you not tired?

Eh?

Because we fear their might.

Because of fear.

My king, they are a nation twice our size,

with horses and more muskets.

We need time to plan and prepare our armies.

The agojie are ready.

How many did you lose in this last battle?

Against the lowly mahi?

My king.

I hear whispers of a new general.

This last attack was sword-rattling. Nothing more.

I agree.

Dahomey has prospered in the peace. And the oyo too.

The slave trade is the reason we prosper.

But at what price?

It is a poison slowly killing us. And the Europeans know this.

They come to our land for their human cargo.

They've come to trade. We sell them what they want.

But why do we sell our captives?

For weapons?

To capture more people to sell for more weapons?

It is a dark circle with no end.

This is not the way.

The spirits have spoken. Ifa seeks light.

So, what do you suggest, nanisca?

We have other things to sell.

Gold. Palm oil.

We can double our harvest.

She wants to make us a nation of peasants.

I want dahomey to survive.

The gods have brought us a new king.

A king to be feared.

No one fears a farmer.

We have already started to gather the tribute.

Perhaps we pay, to buy us time.

I promise...

This will be our last.

As for the palm oil, nanisca,

show me.

Show me how much you can produce and we will see.

You speak in secret to the king.

You seek to cut me out.

If the king respects me, it is because I have earned it.

[Speaks in fon]

I am amenza.

You come to the palace of ghezo,

the ninth monarch of the dahomey people,

descendants of the leopard, agasu,

beloved of the twin gods, mawu and her brother, leesa.

You are called to join the king's guard.

[Pensive music playing]

We fight,

or we die.

We fight for dahomey...

For our sisters...

For our great king.

You will be revered.

You will be paid for your work.

Your opinions will be heard.

No tribe or kingdom in all of Africa shares this privilege.

For this honor...

We live out our lives in these palace walls.

We take no husband.

We will bear no children.

Mahi women,

no harm will come to you for the sins of your men.

I offer you and our people a choice.

Any woman who does not wish to stay...

May leave.

[Indistinct whispers]

[Chattering indistinctly]

Do not touch another warrior's weapon.

Mm... especially that one.

It is cursed.

Esi couldn't hit an elephant in a stampede.

Turn your back and see how true my aim is.

Ah, me?

- Mm. - [Chuckles]

Spent all my liberties walking the river till I found the perfect whetstone.

Shaped smooth by the waterfall.

Sharpens to a Thorn.

Pop out their eyeballs, fight is over.

They are also useful in keeping the trainees in line.

Why have you not bathed?

You are going to bring the buzzards.

- I let the others go before me. - Ah.

[Clicks tongue] The first rule of training:

Always obey izogie.

I am izogie.

[Water splashes lightly]

I'm sorry.

You may stay.

You are one of the captives we freed?

My father brought me.

As a gift to the king.

Is your father rich?

He must be.

Otherwise he would have sold you to a rich husband.

I do not want a husband.

I want to be a soldier.

An agojie.

How old are you?

I have 19 years.

I work hard.

Harder than anyone.

Many obstinate daughters are dumped at the palace.

They usually fail.

All our lives they tell us stories about the agojie.

That you have magic.

You look like a regular old woman to me.

Fighting is not magic.

We will see if you have any.

I am not a soldier.

Then why did you stay?

I have nowhere else to go.

You are mahi.

Why did you stay?

Here I will be the hunter,

not prey.

[Pensive music playing]

Today you are receiving your first weapon.

Not good.

Ah, good.

Again.

A rope is not a weapon.

You wish for a different weapon?

Stand up.

Go. Attack the soldier. Take his head.

- I apologize. - Do not apologize. Do it.

[Grunts, then gasps]

[Laughing]

I'd work on that rope.

[Chattering indistinctly]

[Izogie] Hey.

Tsetse.

Who's tsetse?

You. Little fly.

Buzzing around full speed.

But you don't know where you are going.

We need smart warriors.

The dumb ones die quickly.

I'm not dumb.

Then show me.

You have to train different.

The drills are a game.

It is play, like when you were a child.

I was not allowed to play.

I was made to work.

Such a sad tale.

You don't know anything.

[Sighs] You know...

When I had 14 years...

My mother put a sign out to sell my virginity.

The first man came and I cried for my mother,

but she didn't come.

The second man came and complained of my tears,

so she beat me.

The third man came,

and I burned him with an Ember.

Hm. Your family was cruel.

As was my mother.

It is enough to make you cry.

But it is better to laugh. Yes?

You have a new family now.

Trainees.

We will prepare you for the final test.

You will perform your battle skills before the king.

Those who pass the test will become agojie.

And those who fail will leave the palace,

never to return.

[Hopeful music playing]

Look at you.

The oyo will catch you.

Hang you by your feet and cut your throat.

Use your feet and walk.

[Trainees exclaim]

Get up. You are just waiting to die.

Are we training to cook?

You are cutting a body, not a yam.

Swing with purpose!

[Man] Ready.

Fire!

- [Trainees yelling and cheering] - [Izogie] Good, ode.

Nawi, you move like a sloth.

[Chanting rhythmically]

[Chanting intensifies]

-[Yells] {Cheefing]

- Agojie! - Wu suu!

- Agojie! - Wu suu!

- Agojie! - Wu suu!

[Pensive music playing]

[Nawi] Fumbe.

Show me how to tie the rope.

[Laughs] Never.

It is the only thing I can do better than you.

Ode. This one.

[Laughs]

- But did you see izogie? - Ah!

With the dagger here.

She's standing there, not moving, not in pain.

- I'm going to be like her. - Yes, my friend.

- As strong as her. - Mm-hm.

You try to stab me, I'll stab you back.

[Laughing]

[Nanisca] Backswing.

[Explosions]

[Stifled laughter]

Which of you designed this trick?

Then you will all be punished.

We all did it.

It was me.

I apologize.

Once again.

Go back to the barracks.

How do you make this explosion?

You do not need guns to use gunpowder.

You just need a spark.

You like the guns?

Do you enjoy practicing with the men in the infantry?

I see you flirting.

- This is not allowed? - You know it is not.

Why not?

The men who are soldiers have wives and children.

But the agojie cannot.

How is that fair?

Were you this arrogant with your family? No wonder they gave you away.

It is you who is arrogant.

I am a general.

I have earned it.

You have earned nothing.

I should put you out.

I have watched soldiers die because they did not have discipline.

- Their easy life did not prepare them... - I did not have an easy life!

For this life here as an agojie!

I did not have an easy life.

Please.

I want to be here with the others. I want to fight for my king.

Please.

Your tears...

Mean nothing.

To be a warrior, you must kill your tears.

[Sniffles]

Ah!

Hey.

You are a mahi prisoner.

That is all you will ever be.

What did you say?

- She killed our people. - You killed mine.

Me, I also came here a captive.

Do you think yourself better than me?

No, ajahi.

If you make it through the final test, you are one of us.

No matter where you come from.

[Izogie] Hey, tsetse.

Eat up.

Nanisca favors the strong.

What is the first rule of training?

Always obey izogie.

Come with me.

What is it?

The only thing the white men bring worth having.

They call it "whiskey."

[Chuckles] There.

We finally found a way to quiet tse.

You know your tongue will get you kicked back to your village.

Why do you challenge the miganon?

[Nawi] If I'm quiet, she won't see me.

Do you think she has time to think about you?

[Scoffs] She is thinking about the world.

You know she may one day be the kpojito.

- The woman king? - Mm.

But we have not had one in so many years.

His brother did not honor it,

but king ghezo believes in tradition.

In the twin gods, mawu and leesa.

Woman and man.

Equal

ghezo will name a woman king.

For the gods. And the people.

But is that what the miganon wants?

I cannot say.

But in the palace, she is a legend.

Captured as a young soldier.

Given up for dead.

But she returned,

with the oyo bastards' kofes hanging by her belt.

[Laughs]

[Gasps]

[Breathing heavily]

[Groans]

[Nanisca] You know I hate that drink.

The king drinks anything I give him.

The king is young.

He brings that silly wife to the council.

[Laughs] Shante.

She is ambitious.

[Sighs]

Tell me the dream, nani.

It dispels its magic if you say the words.

- I am in the jungle. - Mm-hm.

Something is out there, in the darkness.

A beast.

Angry.

I can smell its sweat, its fear.

What does the beast look like?

I don't know.

That is when I wake.

The dream is a warning, no?

We must ask legba.

- Oh, no. Not the nuts. - Ah!

Do not call them "nuts."

- They are sacred. - Mm.

You have enemies gathering.

You must do better than that.

I see fire.

Something or someone from your past.

This is nonsense.

And your medicine too. I am not even tired.

Go to the altar.

Leave gifts for the dead.

If you do not respect if a, respect your own dream.

[Crickets chirping]

- [Nawi grunting] - [Weapon clacking]

[Poignant pensive music playing]

[Drums playing lively rhythm]

[All singing in fon]

[Singing and drums stop]

[Ominous music playing]

I am general oba Ade...

[Young nanisca grunting]

The esteemed regard of the king of oyo.

Gifts for the oyo kingdom, as is tradition.

Nanisca.

This is less than ever before.

Did you think we would not see?

Did you think we would not see your hand in the raid of our village?

To make up for your shortcomings, I will accept an addition to the tribute.

Forty agojie.

[Indistinct chatter]

Not too old.

And if I refuse?

Then you may no longer use the port in ouidah for your trade.

The port belongs to dahomey.

We have taken control. It belongs to us now.

I'm so surprised you brought your horses here to plateau.

If they are bitten by the flies, they may get the sleeping sickness.

Sometimes a mouse can take down an elephant.

Do you threaten the oyo, usurper?

You will respect the king!

[Tense music playing]

[Ghezo] Uh-uh-uh. Migan,

this new general seeks to bait us.

We won't jump at his foolishness.

Let us talk.

Twenty agojie.

Of our choosing.

We will march them to ouidah and surrender them.

And the port remains open for our trade.

I will leave boma to enjoy the feast that you have prepared.

In ouidah, I will be waiting.

[Ominous music playing]

[Somber music playing]

Nanisca.

What happened?

Your nuts were finally right.

[Ominous music playing]

[Indistinct chatter]

[In Portuguese] I can't believe it.

I'm really here.

[Santo in Portuguese] It is a savage place.

I'm afraid you will not find it to your liking

after the comforts of your upbringing.

I can say the same for your ship.

Slave ships are the only kind that come to these shores.

And I intend to run it as my father.

Your father runs a print shop. That is all you know.

Come.

Let's see the city.

[Indistinct chatter]

[Horses neighing]

[Goats bleating]

[Man yelling indistinctly]

[Slaves coughing]

[Ominous music playing]

[Slave] Agojie.

Agojie's here.

- Are they...? - The dahomey Amazons.

Virgin soldiers.

Bloodiest bitches in Africa.

We bring tribute from king ghezo.

Dahomey has no soldiers man enough. They have to use their women.

It is against the gods!

My men will find plenty of use for them.

You're mistaken.

These soldiers are not your tribute.

This is your tribute.

[Crowd exclaims]

Let it be known to all!

The great and mighty king ghezo fears no one!

- [Speaks in fon] - [Yelling]

- Oyo! - Oyo!

[Tense music playing]

[Agojie laughing]

[Men yelling]

[Dramatic music playing]

[Man] Lift the gate!

Miganon!

[Nanisca] Go!

[Tense music playing]

[Gunshofl

[Gunshots continue]

Push off.

Why did you not follow the plan? You were to go to the boats.

The soldiers were coming.

- If I did not come back as I did... - So you are the hero?

You can act on your own, ignoring orders?

- You would not have escaped. - Nawi.

It is you who faced capture by disobeying my orders.

We are agojie.

We do not act alone.

We move together with one purpose. Alone you are weak.

Alone you are killed or worse.

Now you have seen the barracoons.

A captured agojie is a slave.

Used by men. Left to rot.

It is better to die.

Cut your own throat.

I will never question you in front of the others,

but it is you who did not follow the plan.

I only ever had one plan, amenza.

- To take his head. - Nanisca, I...

[Poignant music playing]

- [Women laughing and chattering] - [Baby cooing]

Nanisca.

Come in.

I hear you have had a victory.

Nanisca, I think we have started on a wrong foot. I wish to be your friend.

I can help you. I have the king's ear.

We should work together to serve our king to ensure he grows only more powerful.

It is you who wants to be powerful.

To stay safe and rich in your fine palace.

Too much change can be dangerous. I have said this much to my husband.

Then we will soon understand who truly has his ear.

[Pensive music playing]

[Nanisca] This field alone produces thousands of barrels of palm oil.

If we harvest many fields each year, we will have a continuous supply to trade.

[Ghezo] Hm. I never saw a path before, nanisca.

But look at this. Now I do.

Vision is seeing what others do not.

But now we have declared war.

We will conquer the oyo, and we will expand our land.

Nanisca, we will be the greatest empire in Africa.

Yes, my king.

But let us not be an empire who sells its people.

- Let us be an empire who loves its people. - My brother sold our own.

I will never do that.

Even if they are not dahomey, they are still our people.

The white man has brought immorality here.

They will not stop until the whole of Africa is theirs to enslave.

[In English] The English Navy now patrols the waters,

attacks and removes our cargo.

Your tribal warfare is none of my concern.

And yours with dahomey is none of ours.

It will be over soon enough.

The mahi, the igbo, they are with us.

By the full moon, we will march on their city,

and we will take it.

Ouidah is open for business. You will have your cargo.

[In Portuguese] You wish to see dahomey?

Then we must go now. Before it is no more.

[Ominous music playing]

[Birds chirping]

Santo!

This isn't funny!

You've got my clothes.

Go back to ouidah, slaver.

Naked like the people you sell.

[In English] I am not a slaver.

You understand me?

My mother was dahomey.

You do not look like dahomey.

My father is white.

So you are dahomey but not.

But not.

You think I could have my pants now?

I saw you in ouidah.

Why are you here in the jungle?

I am going to dahomey.

The place my mother told me so much about.

- Perhaps I will see you there too. - If you are allowed into the palace.

[Santo] Malik!

Is the water good?

[Speaks in Portuguese]

I do not like this young captain.

Puffed up like a banty rooster.

Finally we agree.

[In Portuguese] Too long, santo!

You hide yourself!

Your Portuguese is flawless, your majesty. My father sends his regards.

[Ghezo in English] So you are now a captain?

- Sim. - Very good.

He taught me well.

Gifts. For you.

You have my thanks.

This is Malik. His mother was taken from dahomey as a captive.

My mother was also taken.

Sold by my brother.

I have many men in your country searching for her,

and they will bring her back.

It is a must.

And, uh, if they find your mother, they will bring her back too.

[In English] I have just buried her.

It was her dying wish that I come to her home,

the only place she was ever free.

This is your home.

It is yours. Eh?

And you came on the right day.

Our magnificent agojie, they are doing their final test.

So, please, sit.

Go. Go on, sit. Go.

Prepare the seats for them.

Very good.

Let us begin!

[Playing lively rhythm]

- [Drums stop] - [Clears throat]

Fear not.

Face it head-on.

Relentlessly we will fight.

[Crowd yelling]

[Dramatic music playing]

[Screams]

[All grunting and groaning]

Fumbe.

- No, no, no. - [Nawi] Come.

Come. Come. Come.

[Dramatic music playing]

[Crowd exclaiming]

[Yelling]

[Crowd cheering]

Come.

Come, come, come, my dear. Come, come, come.

[Cheering stops]

[Nawi panting]

What is your name?

I am nawi, my king.

Nawi.

You are beautiful as you are fierce.

If she was not so skilled, I would have made her a wife.

[Crowd laughs]

To the Victor!

[Cheering and shouting]

The gods will bless you. The gods will keep you safe.

Well done to all of you!

You are the strongest warriors in Africa!

Welcome to the king's guard.

- [{cheefing] - [Dramatic music playing]

- [Izogie] Agojie! - [All chanting]

Agojie!

Agojie!

Hey, be still.

Thank you.

Why did you return to help fumbe? You could have lost.

Fumbe is my friend. I want her to stay.

- To stay, she must pass the test. - To be useful, she must stand on her own.

You would not help your friend, miganon?

Amenza? I would step on her head to win a footrace.

Your first scars. The Mark of a warrior.

You see?

You will have many more.

Make sure

all the thorns come out.

- Here. Here. - Mm-hm.

- Here. - [Izogie] Mm-hm.

What is this?

My father used to call it the devil's Mark.

It was there when he chose me from the orphanage.

You are an orphan?

- But your father... - He took me in.

I guess I didn't turn out to be the daughter he wanted.

- What did you do with it? - With what?

- You told me never to tell you. - I'm asking.

You said you would ask, and you made me swear.

Amenza!

I am not your servant, nanisca.

- I gave her to the missionaries. - What missionaries?

The ones we passed on the road.

- Where did they take her? - I have no way to know.

- What direction did they go? - I followed your order.

To free you of the burden.

And I chose to give her away.

- And that is all you know? - Yes! I do not lie to you.

Why do you ask these questions after all this time?

Because nawi is an orphan?

You couldn't possibly think that she...

Of course not.

[Pensive music playing]

The gods are not that cruel.

[Santo speaks in Portuguese]

Speak my language when you are in my palace.

[In English] Your wife shante, she said you seek an end to the trade.

She does not speak for me. And she will be punished for thinking she does.

She says this is your general's wish and perhaps not yours.

My generals obey my wishes.

So you wish to sell palm oil.

I wish for my people to prosper,

as those of your land do.

Ghezo, the people in my lands prosper because of the slave trade.

And this very same trade has made you rich.

As rich as the king of england.

You stop the trade, you will be nothing.

King, maybe, but king of mud.

All of these captains will take their business elsewhere.

The business of selling africans?

You will be unprotected.

Unprotected?

[Scoffs] Ooh.

You know, I am under no illusion that you see us as anything but a commodity.

But I am a king.

With or without your respect.

And if you are no longer a necessity to me,

you, too, are unprotected.

- [Drums playing lively rhythm] - [Whooping and laughing]

Nawi.

- May I come in? - No.

No man may cross the palm line.

In Brazil, foreign men may look on the king's women?

In Brazil, women cover their bodies with long sleeves, long skirts.

Then how do they run?

[Speaking indistinctly]

We make camp outside the walls tonight.

Come to see me.

Tonight we take our blood oath.

If you wish for a girl to come to your tent,

there are girls you can pay in the market.

No, no, I just want to talk to you.

[Santo] Malik!

Will you come to see me?

[Pensive music playing]

[Agojie humming solemn melody]

[Amenza] Agojie!

[Speaks in fon]

[In English] Blood of our sisters!

[Agojie singing in fon]

I make us invincible j“

I you live for me j'

I and I for you j'

I blood of our sisters j“

I make us invincible j“

[sings in fon]

[Amenza in English] I you live for me and I for you j“

I you live for me and I for you agojie j'

[all singing in fon]

[Pensive music playing]

You are now my sister.

I will be proud to fight with you.

I want you to teach me.

Like the miganon teaches you.

I also want to be great.

To be great, you must focus.

- There can be no distractions. - I will.

At the test, I saw the man from Brazil wave to you.

You know this man?

I came across him in the jungle.

"In the jungle."

[Chuckles]

So, what, you have feelings for him?

I have no way to know how I feel about him.

You want me to teach you.

You are powerful.

More than you even know.

Do not give your power away.

You mean to love?

Love makes you weak.

You really believe that?

[Clicks tongue] Eh.

You have never loved?

I will be miganon one day.

You cannot have both.

Will that be enough?

This is the life we have chosen.

We each survive in our own way.

You will find yours.

[Malik] My mother was a slave.

That is all I ever knew of African people.

I never dreamed that we were kings and warriors.

[Fires crackling and men chattering nearby]

But now?

I see the majesty.

I see the beauty.

I think you are a good man.

You must not ally yourself with slavers.

We grew up together.

But does he see our beauty as you do?

Nawi, the oyo are coming.

We are ready.

No, not just the oyo.

Other tribes too.

I heard the general plotting.

We must tell the miganon.

- I must get back. - Nawi, wait.

Tomorrow we are going to leave.

This is ogou.

He is courage and strength.

Perhaps he will bring you back to us.

I have nothing to give to you.

[Poignant music playing]

I will take you back.

[Footsteps approaching]

Miganon.

I have heard something.

One of the men that came to the palace, Malik,

he says the oyo general is growing his army with other tribes.

They will march on dahomey.

The oyo have given them courage.

Where were you speaking with this man, Malik?

He spoke to me through the palm line.

On the night you swear loyalty to your sisters,

you speak in secret with a slaver?

He's not a slaver. His mother was dahomey.

You defend him?

Is that knife a gift?

Where have you been?

- I have been nowhere. - Come here.

Here.

You are an agojie.

You cannot be with a man.

Do you think you are so special that I will not put you out?

Because I will.

- I do not think I am special. - Do not bow your head.

Do not.

I know your arrogance. You continue to do as you please. You disregard the rules.

What do you want from me?

I proved myself today. I am the best!

It is not enough to be the best!

Your arrogance and your stupidity will get you caught.

I am not you!

Izogie told me that you were captured. That will never be me!

I was raped many times each night.

When they would come, I wished only to die.

They took it all away.

Everything I knew.

And when I finally escaped, I was with child.

A child of those men.

I would have to leave my sisters forever, so I had to hide.

I bathed alone.

And my belly grew.

[Dramatic music playing]

It was a girl.

I told amenza, "take it away."

But the blood, it kept coming.

And amenza ran away to find medicine, and she left me with her.

So I did something.

[Dramatic music continues]

I made a cut on the back of the left arm,

and I pressed a tooth into it.

A shark's tooth.

It isn't me.

[Dramatic music continues]

[Poignant music playing]

[Nawi sobs]

[Nanisca] They are a day's journey from our plateau.

They will set up camp there.

They expect us to defend ourselves from behind our walls.

We are greatly outnumbered.

Their size makes them arrogant and slow, like their guns.

[Pensive music playing]

But you don't need a gun to use gunpowder.

You just need a spark.

Sometimes a termite can take down an elephant.

We will bring the war to them.

[Ominous music playing]

Agojie!

[Chanting in fon]

[Drums playing lively rhythm]

[Whooping and yelling]

For 90 years, dahomey has lived under the thumb of the oyo!

When it rains, our ancestors weep

for the pain we have felt in the dark hulls of ships

bound for distant shores!

When the wind blows, our ancestors push us

to march into battle against those who enslave us!

When it thunders,

our ancestors demand we rip the shackles of doubt from our minds

and fight with courage!

We fight not just for today, but for the future.

We are the spear of victory.

We are the blade of freedom.

We are dahomey!

- Agojie! - [Chanting in fon]

Agojie!

Agojie!

[Whooping and yelling]

[Poignant music playing]

[Ominous music playing]

[Men screaming]

We are under attack! Attack!

Grab your weapons!

We are oyo!

[Yelling]

[Yelling]

[Dramatic music playing]

[Vertebrae crack]

[Dramatic music playing]

Where is oba?

Where is oba?

Fall back! Oyo, fall back!

Grab the agojie.

Oyo, move!

Oba wants the agojie.

Move, move, move!

They are retreating!

[Yells]

[Soldiers yelling]

You fought well, my young sister.

Now you must rest.

She is not here.

No one has seen her.

Fumbe.

I failed.

No. You stayed alive.

You are not tied to anyone.

Go over.

Huh?

Do you want to live?

[Men chattering indistinctly]

We need to buy passage.

We are not going home?

We have lost.

At home we are dead men.

Put this one on display. The bids will be higher for soldiers.

Move!

I said move.

[Indistinct chatter]

[Man] Move! Back!

Make space for one more.

[Ominous music playing]

Izogie.

[Izogie groans]

We will need our strength to escape.

My arm is broken.

I know what I must do.

What the miganon said.

We will slit our throats.

We will not.

"Fear not. Face it head-on.

Relentlessly we will fight."

You are izogie.

You said it.

"Relentlessly we will fight."

Come on!

Push it back together.

- [Bones crack] - [Izogie grunts]

You are strong for a little fly.

Now what?

- [Man whistling] - [Cows moo]

[Fumbe] They were taking us to the barracoons.

How many others?

Uh, three, I think.

Izogie?

I did not see her.

Nawi said to throw myself off the wagon.

Nawi?

Miganon. Ajahi.

The king requests you.

I have brought you here because I have chosen kpojito.

Kpojito is beloved of the people.

She must be deserving of their admiration and their trust.

We must share the same vision for our future.

A bold future.

For that reason,

I have chosen nanisca.

- She is a common soldier! - Will you sit down?

- Ruined by the enemy! - Sit down and be quiet!

Shante.

Kelu, efe, go and talk to her. Go, go, go.

We will celebrate.

We will bring the city to the palace, and we will have a big feast.

Go and prepare.

My king, it is a great honor.

But perhaps it is too soon.

When we have lost so many soldiers, and the people are grieving...

Grieving?

No one is grieving. We have won. We have thrown off the yoke.

My king, I wish to seek our lost agojie.

Some were taken captive. They will be sold, used by the men.

The moment you seek is here.

The few have been sacrificed for the many. Now we must move forward.

I can go alone. Let me try.

You disobey me, nanisca.

Are you confusing my admiration for weakness?

I am your king.

Let me tell you:

You will not seek out those captives.

You must stay by my side

and take the honor I bestow you.

Do not force my anger.

[Dramatic music playing]

[Izogie] In the morning, they will come.

- Move it! Move it! - Get back! Back!

- Back! - Move it!

Stay back!

Move!

[Izogie] They will take the agojie first.

On your feet.

We must have Patience.

When we are brought to the block,

we will be unshackled.

We will have our legs.

We must not let them see my arm is broken.

[Tense music playing]

When we are sold, that will be the moment.

You will make a distraction.

I give you 90 for this one.

120.

Oba, you said you would be good to me here.

It will go to the highest bidder.

[Izogie] We will each disarm a guard, and run.

Do not stop until you reach the water.

[Malik] Nawi!

[In Portuguese] What the hell are you doing!

[In Portuguese] What I came here to do!

[Malik] You call them savages? It is you who is savage!

Stay out of this! Count yourself lucky you are not on the block!

[Dramatic music playing]

Stay where you are!

Izogie.

Come on. Come on. Come on.

Get up.

No. Izogie, get up.

Please, izogie.

I'm sorry.

Nawi.

You move like a sloth.

I'm sorry.

I'm 3 o rry, I'm 3 o rry

let's go. Let's go.

Izogie?

Izogie. Izogie.

You get away from her!

Get away!

If you want this one,

- What are you doing? - Move aside.

You know what the king will do to you if you defy him.

You want to be expelled, or worse? No, no. I cannot stand by.

I know what it is.

In the dream.

The beast I am so frightened of.

It is me.

It is that girl who was silenced

in those shackles by those men.

I've hidden her away.

I have denied her pain.

But I'm going to hear her now.

- I have to try to save her. - No.

Please.

[Dramatic music playing]

[Agojie singing in fon]

[In English] It is not safe for us. I brought you clothes.

I will sneak you out at nightfall.

- Do you own me now? - Of course not.

- Get out! - I am trying to protect you.

By locking me in?

Do you know what they would do to you? A white man was killed.

You have the key now.

You can choose when the lock is turned.

My mother guided me here to find myself.

And I found you.

I have booked passage on a cargo ship bound for england.

I want to keep you safe.

[Poignant music playing]

My heart has many scars.

[Shante] Husband.

Please accept my deepest apologies for questioning your will.

[Ghezo] Mm.

What do you want?

Move, my friend.

The wives are whispering.

- I told tanonu what they say... - Have I not told you not to discuss

my business with the wives? Have I not told you?

My king, please forgive me.

Nanisca's gone to ouidah

with the migan and a number of her soldiers.

- Eh? - We must postpone the feast.

No, no. The people gossip.

You cannot postpone it now, not without looking weak.

[Laughing and chattering]

[Ominous music playing]

Where are the others?

Izogie was killed, miganon.

Nawi is gone.

There will be no prisoners.

Burn their whole trade to the ground.

[Gunshofl

[man] Sound the alarm!

[Alarm bells ringing]

[Dramatic music playing]

[Pounding on door]

[Malik] Nawi. Nawi.

I need to come in.

- We must go. - My sisters have come.

I have to help them.

Then I will help you.

You must go.

[Malik] Your clothes are bloody.

You can wear these.

[Pounding on door]

- [Man yell indistinctly] - I will take care of him.

I will be on the beach.

[Malik speaking in Portuguese]

[Yelling and grunting]

[Dramatic music playing]

[Man] Hurry up, this way, this way!

Move, damn it!

[Santo] Malik!

Bring a boat! I need a boat!

No, no, no!

Malik, no!

Loose me! Loose me!

Malik! Malik, no!

[Dramatic music playing]

[Dramatic music playing]

[Grunting]

[Yells]

You do not remember me.

You will never forget.

[Gun cocks]

[Gunshofl

[Dramatic music playing]

Agojie!

[Agojie respond in fon]

Agojie!

Agojie!

Come! We cannot stay here. Get in the boat!

[Poignant dramatic music playing]

[Drums playing lively rhythm]

Shante, well done. You deserve it.

[Crowd cheering and yelling]

[All chanting] Nanisca! Nanisca! Nanisca!

Nanisca! Nanisca! Nanisca!

[Chanting continues]

[Drums and chanting stop]

You disobey your king, nanisca.

I will resign my command.

People of dahomey!

We have ended the reign of the oyo empire!

[Cheering and yelling]

Look upon the faces of the warriors. Look at them.

Many never thought it possible.

But we believed.

That is what makes a great leader.

Seeing what others do not.

The Europeans and the Americans have seen

if you want to hold a people in chains...

One must first convince them that they are meant to be bound.

We joined them in becoming our own oppressor.

But no more.

[Uplifting dramatic music playing]

No more.

We are a warrior people.

And there is power in our mind,

in our unity,

in our culture.

If we understand that power,

we will be limitless.

My people,

this is a vision I will lead.

It is a vision that is shared.

Heroes of dahomey!

Behold, the bravest of the brave,

appointed by king ghezo,

elevated to the sacred title of kpojito:

Nanisca, the woman king.

[Cheering and yelling]

[Uplifting dramatic music intensifies]

An offering for izogie.

She does not want that water.

She wants this.

[Poignant music playing]

In my blood is the blood of a killer.

A man who gave you so much pain.

I am sorry.

You are agojie.

I am sorry.

I left you.

I was not brave enough.

But you survived because you are meant to be here.

It is not your fault what happened to me.

Are not the thing that hurt me.

You are nawi.

You are my daughter.

I am sorry.

- [Drums playing lively rhythm] - [Whooping and shouting]

[Poignant music playing]

Mother, will you dance?

[Hopeful music playing]

[Dramatic hopeful music playing]

[Dramatic hopeful music continues]

[Amenza] Sisters in blood:

You fall...

And now you rise.

Dance with us.

Be with us.

You live for me

and I for you.

Izogie.

Kesia.

Breonna.

["Keep rising (the woman king)" Playing]

I got to understand what happens from here is in our hands I

I from mighty kingdoms of a distant land j“

I turn the world upside down yes, we can I

I we just gotta rise up j'

j' rise up j'

j' rise up j'

j' rise up j'

j' rise up j'

j' rise up j'

j' rise up j'

j' rise up j'

[vocalizing]

J' been marching so long j“

I how far is it to get to where we 're going? I

j' don't you know together we are strong? J“

I we 're gonna fight the madness 'til it's gone j'

I we just gotta rise up j'

j' rise up j'

j' rise up j'

j' rise up j'

j' rise up j'

j' rise up j'

j' rise up j'

j' rise up j'

[vocalizing]

[Singing in fon]

[In English I rise up j'

j' rise up j'

j' rise up j'

j' rise up j'

j' rise up j'

j' rise up j'

j' rise up j'

j' rise up j'

[vocalizing]

[Song fades]

[Dramatic music playing]