Power Redefined
Viola Davis as General Nanisca | Agojie Dahomey Warriors by Tropenmuseum, part of the National Museum of World Cultures
Set in the 1820s, in West Africa, the just-released film The Woman King tells the story of the Agojie, the all-female army of the Kingdom of Dahomey. Young girls were recruited from the ages of eight to fourteen to train as protectors of the realm. Their military prowess was admired and revered, often referred to by Europeans as Amazons, a term for warrior women from Greek mythology.
I’m more than excited to see Viola Davis in the role of the leader of the Agojie, General Nanisca. Watching the trailers, Davis’ presence leaps off the screen with an intense energy that can only be described as powerful—a command and confidence in who she is, what she represents, and what she is capable of as a highly trained warrior.
Davis says that the idea of embodying the spirit of a warrior appealed to her. As a black woman who struggled as a young girl to be seen as worthy and valuable, a warrior represents agency and ownership. To physically get to that space, Davis went through five hours of training daily—sprinting at 10.0 on the treadmill, weightlifting, weapons training, and martial arts instruction. Psychologically, she embraced a fight or die spirit—the kind that tapped into all her strengthens—feminine and masculine. The Agojie’s power also came from the nurturing sisterhood that shaped and solidified them into an elite fighting force.
Co-star John Boyega says that his character allowed him to walk in power and strength—something he had not experienced in other roles. When asked about the women in the cast, Boyega says it was inspirational to watch their physical and mental transformation, which, he said, reflects the book of life in all its complex layers. All cast members vocalized agreement that recognition of women’s power should be more than a momentary acknowledgment, it should be a given.
From where do we source and establish our power?
Author David Emerald’s The Empowerment Dynamic (TED), says we can tap into our foundation of power through the mindset of a Creator (using vision and inspiration); a Coach (questioning and seeing others as resourceful); or as a Challenger (building people up by demanding greatness). These are our choices—antidotes to functioning from a victim, rescuer, or persecutor mindset—to achieve the outcome we want and shift into a place of ownership.
How do we execute our power—as power over or power with? And, in light of this, how do we hold ourselves accountable?
P.O.W.E.R
There is power in taking up space and being seen.
—Kemi Nekvapil
Author Kemi Nekvapil says she wrote Power: A Woman’s Guide to Living and Leading Without Apology to help women reclaim their power—to own their worth and honor who they are, so they can sculpt their capacity as leaders. Nekvapil admits that she was scared to write a book about power because she had felt so powerless throughout her life. Starting with the idea that women embody power in many different ways, Nekvapil was inspired to redefine power as acronym P.O.W.E.R, representing:
Presence – being present to what is and is not working in our lives
Ownership – taking full ownership of our stories by integrating the good, the bad, and the ugly
Wisdom – understanding that we have an innate wisdom regarding our boundaries, needs, and growth
Equality – is never in question because we all are worthy
Responsibility – no one is coming to save us, so we must take full responsibility for our own healing and happiness
What I find compelling about Nekvapil’s philosophy and Davis taking on the role of a warrior is: once we claim our power, we can be even more effective in serving others through it. We can tap into a power base that encompasses more than just the benefit to ourselves.
