The fictional diary of 13 year old Nzingha, princess of Ndongo, draws on historical sources to create a portrait of an African kingdom resisting the colonial ambitions of the Portuguese in 1595. Nzinga embodies the pride and love of freedom of her people, and undertakes diplomatic missions on behalf of her father. She persuades him to resist the Portuguese offer of peace in exchange for a supply of slaves, having learned the fate of such captives transported to plantation work in Brazil.