KeKe Palmer got lots of questions from fans after debuting a new tattoo of ancient pyramids with the words “Queen of Kush” inscribed along the bottom. Some believed the tattoo was related to marijuana, but 22-year-old Palmer corrected those false thoughts over the weekend.
In an Instagram post on June 13, Palmer wrote a lengthy history lesson on the true meaning behind the image.
The Scream Queens star wrote the Kingdom of Kush was an ancient African Nubian Kingdom that controlled all of Egypt at the height of its ruling. She added the Kushite Pharaohs were the leaders of the empire “situated on the confluences of the Blue Nile, White Nile and River Atbara. (1050/1070 B.C. – 350 A.D.).”
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According to About.com, the ancient state actually had two kingdoms. The first lasted from 2000 to 1500 B.C. and the second lasted from 1000 B.C. t0 400 A.D.
In part of her message, Palmer pointed out her particular love for the Kush’s history of female rulers.
“In school, we very rarely ever learn about female rules and never about African rulers. Amanirenas was one of the most famous Queens of Kush,” she wrote. “She reigned from about 40 B.C.E. to 10 B.C.E. She is one of the most famous kandakes (means queen really but that was the title back then), because of her role leading Kushite armies against the Romans from in a war that lasted five years.”
The former Nickelodeon star got the tattoo at Three Kings Tattoo in Brooklyn, New York. It’s the latest addition in a slew of ink for Palmer, which includes tats on her rib cage and arm to name a few.
She found lots of support from fans after explaining her new ink. User gods_gift11 wrote, “I think I love you that much more. I’m glad you’ve learned the truth.”
Still, while Palmer mentioned it was a Nubian empire, others pointed out the Kingdom of Kush was located in what is now Sudan.
“But are you going to mention where [the] modern Nubian kingdom is located or na? Are we not referencing Sudan in this?” asked user lostmytribe.
New World Encyclopedia reports that the region reaching through northern Sudan, southern Egypt and parts of Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia were also part of the Kush.
