When African Royalty Visited South Pasadena

If you’ve started streaming Netflix’s African Queens (the new docudrama series, narrated and executive produced by Jada Pinkett Smith), you may have noticed a familiar face among the African historians interviewed in the four-episode saga.

By News Desk

Queen Diambi Kabatusuila, ruler of the Bakwa Luntu tribe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is the name – and title – you’re looking for. The Woman King visited South Pasadena on May 29^th, 2019, honoring an invitation extended by former Mayor Marina Khubesrian, after the two met briefly in New Orleans.

Apart from her role as the leader of the Luntu people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kabatusuila is also the Grande Mãe do Povo Bantu Brasileiro – the Traditional Queen of the African descendants of Brazil. She continues to make long strides in the war against plastic pollution within Africa, and around the world. In 2021, she spoke at University of Exeter and the Oxford Union regarding her environmentalist efforts and goals.

Following an interesting childhood spent between Belgium and Kinshasa (the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo) Kabatusuila went on to secure degrees from the City University of New York (undergrad), Lynn University, Florida (Masters in Psychology and Mental Health Counseling) and Adam Smith University of America (Doctorate in Public Administration). She is the current Director of Public Relations of the Pan-African Council of Traditional and Customary Authorities (Cotonou, Benin), a member of the advisory board of the Africa Chamber of Commerce Scandinavia (Copenhagen, Denmark), a member of the Advisory Board of the Alternative Development Organization (Tokyo, Japan), a member of the Pan-African Council of traditional and customary leaders and the Council of Elders of Africa, the Vice Chairperson of the Global Blockchain Organisation, Co-Founder of Theometrics Africa (Yaounde, Cameroon), and founder of the Elikia Hope Foundation in New York. On the side, she works on a project mitigating child homelessness in Kinshasa.

The monarch also speaks at least six languages, and is the recipient of a host of humanitarian awards.

During her visit to the South Pasadena, back in 2019, Kabatusuila was warmly received by an informal delegation of residents who hosted her at the South Pasadena Library Community Room. Afterwards, the monarch was given a short tour of the city, the highlight of which was her stopover at the Moreton Bay Fig tree.

“She (Kabatusuila) loved the tree,” Khubesrian was reported saying. “She said the tree was happy there. She sat under the tree for a few minutes and rested…”

While Queen Diambi Kabatusuila has not made another trip to South Pasadena, her feature in Pinkett Smith’s docuseries is noteworthy for this African Queen.