TASSO DATTENBERG-DOYLE

A FILM THAT RESONATES AFRICA

Black Panther has rocked the cinematic world, offering a rich and proud vision of Africa that has been missing from our screens. From the very beginning, we are introduced to the story of the creation of the Black Panther’s nation, Wakanda. Similar to other African creation stories, the country springs up from a bountiful element, like a story from Mali which tells us how the world is born from milk.
Black Panther is a film marked by the past and traditions of Africa, as they were, and as they survive to this day. The team behind the film took great care to bring an Afrocentric feel to the film and succeeded in a number of areas that film critics are already applauding. The costume design was largely inspired by the Maasai people of Kenya, the language of Wakanda is Xhosa, a language spoken in South Africa, and African actors made up the majority of the cast. Special praise can be directed to Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira and Letitia Wright. Their wonderful performances (as Nakia, Okoye and Shuri, respectively) demonstrated ferocious talent and the power of women, physically and intellectually.
For too long black actors and stories have not featured in Hollywood but the perhaps now is the pivotal moment of change. Black Panther is a story set in Africa which draws on a huge range of the continent’s influences and peoples to create a new and stunning picture which will lead to a change in how the world sees the history, the present and the future of a great continent, populated by great peoples.

CONCLUSION

The vision of Black Panther is wonderful, and it is one that countries all over try to achieve: success and prosperity that afford the people happy lives. We celebrate that message and take courage, knowing we can contribute, in small and large ways, each and every one of us.