The King is Dead, Long Live the King: A Feline Beast’s Dance with History
I hate getting into arguments on online platforms simply because opinions are like asshole, everyone’s got one but they think each others stink. I was forced to delete Twitter a few years ago to maintain some level of sanity and nearly deleted Facebook and Instagram as well. I probably still would and very certain I won’t be missed but before then, let’s talk about Black Panther.
I agree that the hype about the movie feels a tad exaggerated, intrusive even, but it needs to be said that some of the comments by naysayers have been borderline ridiculous. Don’t hate something just for the sake of it or hate from a distance, which is the number one malaise of certain people. First of all, you need to truly understand what you’re trying to hate. Nas famously rapped “Niggas fear what they don’t understand and hate what they can’t conquer”. It’s probably the other way round. Either way, it’s very apt. Secondly, after immersion, be constructive with your criticism. Nothing CAN be perfect after all.
I finally saw the movie this weekend. Besides the fact that I found it thoroughly enjoyable, it also represented a beautiful portrayal of several African cultures, a fusion of sorts. It puts in context what Africa CAN/COULD HAVE LOOK(ED) LIKE and not the unfortunate misrepresentation of people swinging from trees which unfortunately remains a recurring perception till date. With all else going on around the world, how is that a bad thing? Let’s not forget that the only vivid representation (by Hollywood) that some still have of Africa is ROOTS. A simple google search will tell you all you need to know about that.
We sit around chanting change the narrative and when we get a rare opportunity to do just that, we still complain and throw the biggest tantrums. Leaves me asking out aloud “What exactly is our %#*£ing problem?”. Some White people continue to display their ignorance about black people on a shocking scale and yet, black people still won’t see eye to eye on something as mundane as a movie? Seems like you just can’t win if you’re black! I even saw a comment disparaging people for going on about a fictional movie, with the commenter saying He would rather have a movie about Sango because it is “real”. I won’t begin to highlight the ignorance here because I can’t disregard some of the amazing work some guys are putting in, in this regard but before all that crystallizes, can we just enjoy this one? As has become obvious with the resounding success of the Black Panther movie, the watch words are Patience and Collaboration.
Finally, whether the Black Panther is the best movie ever produced by Marvel is a moot point and I don’t see the rationale for the debate. It’s all about context; but in being constructive, the facts remain that it’s a movie that pays tribute to Africa, and attempts to put different cultures into positive perspective, I would even go as far as proclaiming it celebrates ALL Africans. I also believe it could act as a springboard for the likes of Kolawole Olarewaju of Komotion Studios, who is trying to tell African stories on the biggest stage. After all, our stories can only be best told by us. Shout out to Ryan Coogler and the rest of the cast and crew. #blackexcellence #blackpanther #wakandaforever #africarising #changethenarrative #Longlivetheking
