African kings have played a vital role in the history and development of the African continent. From the early empires of countries like Egypt, Ghana, Mali, and Songhai to the modern-day monarchies, African kings have left an indelible mark on the political, cultural, and social landscape of the region. These kings held great power and authority over their subjects, often ruling over vast territories, and making decisions that affected the lives of millions of people.
Their legacies live on in the many kingdoms and empires that shaped the African continent, from the pyramids of ancient Egypt to the modern cities of Morocco, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. Today, some African countries still have monarchies, although their power is often more symbolic than actual.
Let’s Get To Meet The Most Famous Kings of Africa
Amenhotep III
Kingdom: Dynasty of Egypt
Regin: 1391 to 1353 BC or 1388 BC to 351 BC
Position: 9th Pharaoh
Successor: Akhenaten
Shaka Zulu
Kingdom: Zulu kingdom
Regin: 1816 to 1828
Position: 1st Emperor
Successor: Dingane
Dingane
Kingdom: Zulu kingdom
Regin: 1828- 1840
Position: 2nd Emperor
Successor: Mpande
Mpande
Kingdom: Zulu kingdom
Regin: 1840- 1872
Position: 3rd Emperor
Successor: Cetshwayo kaMpande
Cetshwayo kaMpande
Kingdom: Zulu kingdom
Regin: 1872- 1879 and 1883-1884
Position: 4th Emperor
Successor: Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo
Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo
Kingdom: Zulu kingdom
Regin: 1884- 1913
Position: 5th Emperor
Successor: Solomon kaDinuzulu
Solomon kaDinuzulu
Kingdom: Zulu kingdom
Regin: 1913- 1933
Position: 6th Emperor
Successor: Cyprian Bhekuzulu kaSolomon
Cyprian Bhekuzulu kaSolomon
Kingdom: Zulu kingdom
Regin: 1948- 1968
Position: 7th Emperor
Successor: Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu
Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu
Kingdom: Zulu kingdom
Regin: 1968- 2021
Position: 8th Emperor
Successor: Misuzulu Zulu kaZwelithini
Oba Oduduwa
Kingdom: Oyo Empire
Regin: 700A.D
Successor: Omoluabi Odede(Ọranyan)
Oranyan
Kingdom: Oyo Empire
Regin: 1300
Successor: Ajaka
Ewuare
Kingdom: Benin Empire
Regin: 1440 to 1473
Successor: Ezoti
King Endubis
Kingdom: Axum Kingdom in East Africa
Regin: 270–300 CE
Successor: None
Taharqa
Kingdom: Kingdom of kush
Regin: 690 to 664 BC
Successor: Tantamani
Ezana
Kingdom: Axum Kingdom
Regin: 320s – c. 360 AD
Successor: MHDYS
Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu I
Kingdom: Ashanti Empire
Regin: 1701–c.1717
Position: 1st King
Successor: Opoku Ware Katakyie
Otumfuo Opoku Ware Katakyie
Kingdom: Ashanti Empire
Regin: 1720–1750
Position: 2nd King
Successor: Kusi Oboadum
Otumfuo Nana Kusi Oboadum
Kingdom: Ashanti Empire
Regin: 1750–1764
Position: 3rd King
Successor: Osei Kwadwo Okoawia
Otumfuo Nana Osei Kwadwo Okoawia
Kingdom: Ashanti Empire
Regin: 1764–1777
Position: 4th King
Successor: Osei Kwame Panyin
Osei Kwame Panyin
Kingdom: Ashanti Empire
Regin: 1777–1803
Position: 5th King
Successor: Nana Opoku Fofie
Otumfuo Opoku Fofie
Kingdom: Ashanti Empire
Regin: 1803–1804
Position: 6th King
Successor: Osei Tutu Kwame Asiba
Osei Tutu Kwame Asiba
Kingdom: Ashanti Empire
Regin: 1804–1824
Position: 7th King
Successor: Osei Yaw Akoto
Otumfuo Nana Osei Yaw Akoto
Kingdom: Ashanti Empire
Regin: 1824 -1834
Position: 8th King
Successor: Kwaku Dua I
Nana Kwaku Dua I
Kingdom: Ashanti Empire
Regin: 1834 – 1867
Position: 9th King
Successor: Nana Kofi Karikari
Otumfuo Nana Kofi Karikari
Kingdom: Ashanti Empire
Regin: 1867 – 1874
Position: 10th King
Successor: Nana Mensa Bonsu
Otumfuo Nana Mensa Bonsu
Kingdom: Ashanti Empire
Regin: 1874–8 March 1883
Position: 11th King
Successor: Nana Kwaku Dua II
Otumfuo Nana Kwaku Dua II
Kingdom: Ashanti Empire
Regin: 1884 – 1884
Position: 12th King
Successor: Nana Prempeh I
Otumfuo Nana Prempeh I
Kingdom: Ashanti Empire
Regin: 1888 – 1931
Position: 13th King
Successor: Osei Tutu Agyeman Prempeh II
Otumfuo Osei Tutu Agyeman Prempeh II
Kingdom: Ashanti Empire
Regin: 1931 – 1970
Position: 14th King
Successor: Nana Opoku Ware II
Otumfuo Nana Opoku Ware II
Kingdom: Ashanti Empire
Regin: 1970 – 26 February 1999
Position: 15th King
Successor: Nana Osei Tutu II
Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II
Kingdom: Ashanti Empire
Regin: 26 April 1999–present
Position: 16th King
Gangnihessou
Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom
Regin: unknown – 1620
Position: 1st king
Successor: Dakodonou
Dakodonou
Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom
Regin: 1620-1645
Position: 2nd king
Successor: Houegbadja
Houegbadja
Kingdom: Dahomey Kingdom Modern-day Benin Kingdom
Regin: 1645-1685
Position: 3rd king
Successor: Akaba
Famous for:
Akaba
Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom
Regin: 1685-1708
Position: 4th king
Successor: Agadja
Agadja
Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom
Regin: 1708-1732
Position: 5th king
Successor: Tegbessou
Tegbessou
Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom
Regin: 1732-1774
Position: 6th king
Successor: Kpengla
Kpengla
Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom
Regin: 1774-1789
Position: 7th king
Successor: Agonglo
Famous for:
Agonglo
Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom
Regin: 1789-1797
Position: 8th king
Successor: Adandozan
Adandozan
Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom
Regin: 1797-1818
Position: 9th king
Successor: Ghezo (Gakpe)
Ghezo (Gakpe)
Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom
Regin: 1818-1856
Position: 10th King
Successor: Glele
Glele
Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom
Regin: 1856-1889
Position: 11th King
Successor: Behanzin
Behanzin
Kingdom: Dahomey kingdom
Regin: 1818-1856
Position: 12th King
Successor: Agoli-agbo
Agoli-agbo
Kingdom: Dahomey Kingdom
Regin: 1894 – 1900
Position: 13th King
Dunama II Dabbalemi
Kingdom: Kanem-Bornu Empire
Regin: 1210 – 1224
Position: 15th king
Successor: Kade
Kade
Kingdom: Kanem-Bornu Empire
Regin: 1224- 1242
Position: 16th king
Successor: Kachim Biri
Kachim Biri
Kingdom: Kanem-Bornu Empire
Regin: 1242 – 1262
Position: 17th king
Successor: Djil
Dari
Kingdom: Kanem-Bornu Empire
Regin: 1262 – 1281
Position: 18th king
Successor: Ibrahim I Nikale
Ibrahim I Nikale
Kingdom: Kanem-Bornu Empire
Regin: 1281 – 1301
Position: 19th king
Successor: Abdullah I
Abdullah I
Kingdom: Kanem-Bornu Empire
Regin: 1301 – 1320
Position: 20th king
Successor: Selma
Yekuno Amlak
Kingdom: Ethiopia empire
Regin: 1270-1285
Successor: Yagbe’u Seyon
Yagbe’u Seyon
Kingdom: Ethiopia empire
Regin: 1285 – 1294
Successor: Senfa Ared IV
Senfa Ared IV
Kingdom: Ethiopia empire
Regin: 1294 – 1295
Successor: Hezba Asgad
Hezba Asgad
Kingdom: Ethiopia empire
Regin: 1295-1296
Successor: Qedma Asgad
Qedma Asgad
Kingdom: Ethiopia empire
Regin: 1296-1297
Successor: Jan Asgad
Jan Asgad
Kingdom: Ethiopia empire
Regin: 1297-1298
Successor: Saba Asgad
Saba Asgad
Kingdom: Ethiopia empire
Regin: 1298-1299
Successor: Wedem Arad
Wedem Arad
Kingdom: Ethiopia empire
Regin: 1299-1314
Successor: Amda Seyon I
Amda Seyon I
Kingdom: Ethiopia empire
Regin: 1314-1344
Successor: Newaya Krestos
Newaya Krestos
Kingdom: Ethiopia empire
Regin: 1344-1372
Successor: Newaya Maryam
Newaya Maryam
Kingdom: Ethiopia empire
Regin: 1372- 1382
Successor: Dawit I
Dawit I
Kingdom: Ethiopia empire
Regin: 1382- 1413
Successor: Tewodros I
Tewodros I
Kingdom: Ethiopia empire
Regin: 1413-1414
Successor: Yeshaq I
Yeshaq I
Kingdom: Ethiopia empire
Regin: 1414- 1429
Successor: Andreyas
Menelik II
Kingdom: Ethiopia empire
Regin:1889 to 1913
Successor: Lij Iyasu
Lij Iyasu
Kingdom: Ethopia empire
Regin:1913- 1916
Successor: Zewditu
Zewditu
Kingdom: Ethiopia empire
Regin:1866 to 1889(Shewa kingdom) and 1889 to 1913
Successor: Empress Zewditu I
Haile Selassie
Kingdom: Ethiopia empire
Regin: 1930-1974
Successor: Amha Selassie
Piye
Kingdom: Kingdom of Kush
Regin: 744-714 BC
Position: 1st Kushite pharaoh
Successor: Shebitku
Shebitku
Kingdom: Kingdom of Kush
Regin: 714-705 BCE
Position: 2nd Kushite pharaoh
Successor: Shabaka
Shabaka
Kingdom: Kingdom of Kush
Regin: 705–690 BCE
Position: 3rd Kushite pharaoh
Successor: Taharqa
Taharqa
Kingdom: Kingdom of Kush
Regin: 690–664 BCE
Position: 4th Kushite pharaoh
Successor: Tantamani
Tantamani
Kingdom: Kingdom of Kush
Regin: 664–653 BCE
Position: 5th Kushite pharaoh
Successor: Atlanersa
Sundiata Keita
Kingdom: Mali Kingdom
Regin:1235-1255 CE
Position: 1st emperor
Successor: Uli I
Mansa Uli I
Kingdom: Mali Kingdom
Regin: 1255-1270
Position: 2nd Emperor
Successor: Brother Wati
Mansa Musa
Kingdom: Mali Kingdom
Regin: A.D 1306 and 1332 A.D
Position: 10th emperor
Successor: Maghan I
Maghan I
Kingdom: Mali Kingdom
Regin: 1337-1341
Position: 11th Emperor
Successor: Suleyman
Ahmose I
Kingdom: 18th Dynasty of Egypt
Regin:c. 1539–14 bce
Position: 1st Emperor
Successor: Amenhotep I
Amenhotep I
Kingdom: 18th Dynasty of Egypt
Regin:1526 to 1506 BC
Position: 2ndEmperor
Successor: Thutmose
See Also: 10 Richest African Kings Today Vs Mansa Musa
Thutmose I
Kingdom: 18th Dynasty of Egypt
Regin:1506–1493 BC
Position: 3rd Emperor
Successor: Thutmose II
Thutmose II
Kingdom: 18th Dynasty of Egypt
Regin:1493 to 1479 BC
Position: 4th Emperor
Successor: Hatshepsut
Amenhotep II
Kingdom: 18th Dynasty of Egypt
Regin:1427 to 1401 BC.
Position: 7th Emperor
Successor: Thutmose IV
Thutmose IV
Kingdom: 18th Dynasty of Egypt
Regin: 14th century BC
Position: 8th Emperor
Successor: Amenhotep III
Thutmose IV
Kingdom: 18th Dynasty of Egypt
Regin: 14th century BC
Position: 8th Emperor
Successor: Amenhotep III
Amenhotep III
Kingdom: 18th Dynasty of Egypt
Regin: 1386 to 1349 BC
Position: 9th Emperor
Successor: Akhenaten
Akhenaten
Kingdom: 18th Dynasty of Egypt
Regin: 1351–1334 BC
Position: 10th Emperor
Successor: Smenkhkare
Opoku Ware II
Kingdom: Ashanti Kingdom
Regin: 1970-1999
Position: 15th king
Successor: Nana Osei Tutu II
Mansa Wati
Kingdom: Mali Empire
Regin: 1270-1274
Position: 3rd emperor
Successor: Kahlifa
Mansa Kahlifa
Kingdom: Mali Empire
Regin: 1274-1275
Position: 4th emperor
Successor: Abu Bakr
Sunni Ali Ber
Kingdom: Songhai Empire
Regin: 1464 to 1492(28years)
Position: 1st emperor
Successor: Sunni Baru
Sonni Bāru
Kingdom: Songhai Empire
Regin:1492 to 1493
Successor: Askia Muhammad I
Askia Muhammad I
Kingdom: Songhai Empire
Regin: 1493 to 1528
Successor: Askia Monzo Mūsā
Askia Monzo Mūsā
Kingdom: Songhai Empire
Regin: 1529–1531
Successor: Askia Mohammad Benkan
Askia Mohammad Benkan
Kingdom: Askia dynasty of the Songhai Empire
Regin: 1531–1537
Successor: Askia Muhammad I
Askia Isma’il
Kingdom: Songhai Empire
Regin: 1538–1539
Successor: Askia Ishaq I
Askia Ishaq I
Kingdom: Songhai Empire
Regin: 1539–1549
Successor: Askia Daoud
Askia Daoud
Kingdom: Songhai Empire
Regin: 1549–1582
Successor: Askia Muhammad II (al-Hajj)
Askia Muhammad II (al-Hajj)
Kingdom: Songhai Empire
Regin: 1582–1586
Successor: Muhammad Bani
Muhammad Bani
Kingdom: Songhai Empire
Regin: 1586–1588
Successor: Askia Ishaq II
Askia Ishaq II
Kingdom: Songhai Empire
Regin: 1588–1591
Successor: Muhammad Gao
