Shelton-Mason County Journal - Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886

From the first impeccably staged fight scene of "The Woman King," it's impossible not to hear its implicit sales pitch in your head:

Hey, kids, do you like the Dora Milaje of Wakanda, from the Marvel Cinema Universe's "Black Panther?" Because these African warrior women were the Dora Milaje in real life.

During the 19th century, the West African kingdom of Dahomey did indeed maintain an all-female fighting force known as the Agojie, which was one of the only standing armies (and one of the only uniformed militaries) of any African kingdom, most of whom disbanded their forces when they were...