This month we celebrate “Black History Month.” Blogger Erik looks to Black Panther–a film that rocked movie theaters around the world with its amazing all-Black cast, Black superhero story, and attention to cultural detail.
Names
Most of the film’s characters are lifted directly from the pages of the Black Panther comic books. However, their names have real-life origins. The names of Black Panther characters include . . .
Okoye
- Translation: “Born on orie market day”
- Origin: Igbo (language), Eastern Nigeria
Shuri (right)
- Translation: “Village”
- Origin: Japan
Nakia (left)
- Translation: “Pure and faithful”
- Origin: Egypt
Zuri
- Translation: “Beautiful”
- Origin: Swahili (language)
Dora Milaje
One of the best parts of the movie was the all-female warrior unit: the Dora Milaje. Led by Okoye, the Dora Milaje are fierce and loyal to the Wakandan throne. Their design is a culmination of numerous cultural aspects.
The idea of an all-female warrior unit is not just a sign of progressive times. The Dora Milaje actually draw inspiration from a real-life group of warrior women who fought French colonial forces in the 1600s. The “Dahomey Amazons,” as they’re called by Western historians, were created because their nation needed manpower to fight colonists, but most of the manpower had been stolen by slave traders. So, King Ghezo, ruler of Dahomey (modern-day Benin), created the female military unit.
The tall spears and red armor of the Dora Milaje warriors resemble the semi-nomadic Maasai tribe of northern Tanzania and southern Kenya. The beaded and disc necklaces seen worn by other Wakandans were also borrowed from the Maasai.
Speaking of neck jewelry, the golden neck rings originate from the Ndebele tribe of South Africa. Traditionally, Ndebele men give these rings to their wives after they’ve built a house together. However, these rings have lately become a fashion trend in modern-day South Africa.
Language
Even though Wakandans are fictional, their language is very much real. The Wakandas speak isiXhosa, which is the native language of the real-life Xhosa people of South Africa. Namhla Mbawuli, a isiXhosa speaker who lives in Johannesburg, claimed the inclusion of the language in Black Panther is “phenomenal” and “reinforces the importance of our culture, accepting our language and having pride in being Xhosa” (www.nytimes.com).
Sadly, Black Panther’s lead Chadwick Boseman passed away August 28, 2020. Mr. Boseman, you’ll always be king in our hearts. #WakandaForever
Sources
- http://www.nytimes.com
- https://qz.com/africa/1210704/black-panthers-african-cultures-and-influences/
- http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20180826-the-legend-of-benins-fearless-female-warriors
Black History Month Editor: Evan Spry
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