Yennenga

Yennenga, considered the mother of the Mossi people of Burkina Faso, "has entered into legend, though [her story] may have a core of truth". One of the king's horsemen helped Yennenga, disguised as a man, escape on her stallion. She was a famous warrior within the Kingdom of Dagbon, now in present day Ghana. The founder of the Kingdom of Dagbon was her father, Nedega. Nedega refused to let Yennenga marry, resulting in her leaving the kingdom. On the run with her horse, she met a young hunter, Rialé with whom she had a child called Ouedraogo. Ouedraogo is a famous last name in Burkina Faso and means "male horse" in honour of the horse that led the princess to Rialé. Yennenga or her son Ouedraogo is considered the founder of the Mossi Kingdoms. There are different versions about the escape of the princess.