Yennenga was a princess from Burkina Faso who lived more than 900 years ago, the daughter of King Nedega and Queen Napoko.

Yennenga was a princess from Burkina Faso who lived more than 900 years ago, the daughter of King Nedega and Queen Napoko. Nedega was a 12th-century ruler of the Dagbon Kingdom, which is located in present-day northern Ghana. Raised to be a proficient hunter and warrior, Yennenga was renowned for her beauty and strength—her name, meaning "the slim," reflects her allure. By the age of 14, she was already fighting alongside her father against the neighboring Malinkés. A master of javelins, spears, and bows, and an exceptional horsewoman, Yennenga led her own battalion.

Her combat prowess was so significant that when she came of age, her father refused to allow her to marry. To express her discontent, Yennenga planted a field of wheat and let it wither, symbolizing her frustration with being unable to marry. However, this act did not sway her father, who subsequently imprisoned her.

With the help of one of the king's horsemen, Yennenga, disguised as a man, escaped on her stallion. After a skirmish with the Malinkés that left her companion dead, she continued north. Exhausted from crossing a river, her stallion led her into a forest where she encountered Riale, a solitary elephant hunter. When he discovered her true identity, they fell in love. Yennenga and Riale had a son named Ouedraogo, meaning "stallion," a name still common in Burkina Faso.

Ouedraogo later visited his grandfather, King Nedega, who had been searching for Yennenga. Upon learning she was alive, Nedega hosted a feast and sent emissaries to bring Yennenga and Riale back to the Dagbon Kingdom. Reunited with her father, Yennenga was welcomed warmly, and her son received extensive training and resources. Ouedraogo eventually founded the Mossi Kingdom with the support provided by his grandfather.