Much of today’s world is celebrating the bravery of the Kurdish women soldiers who are fighting the terrorist group ISIS. French Street Artist YZ Yseult shows us an equally inspiring look at women with her focus on historical accounts of the First Franco-Dahomean War. During the 1890s it was the highly-trained military women of Dahomey, more commonly referred to as Amazons, who were busy chopping off the heads of the French, often while they slept.

Researching her own history as a descendent of slaves, YZ is using her considerable artistic talents to showcase these memorable, brave and engaging women writes Brooklyn Street Art.

Back in her former Senegal now to do research for the project, she (YZ) writes on her website: 

 … there are many female figures who we may not know of in current times, but who may provide crucial inspiration, possibly bolstering the confidence of women in 2015 to advocate for their positions and opinions. “I want to show warriors from ancient times; revolutionists, anti-colonialists, intellectual women who have written the story of Africa. We need figures to be proud of our roots, to keep fighting for our rights, and to write the story of tomorrow.”

This story is captivating and AOC will be investigating both the fierce Dahomey women and YZ in greater depth.