Tribute to Black African Superheroes
by Mauke Adjei
“Wakanda Forever”
As these words echo across the MCU universe in the coming weeks, fans across the world anticipate the premiere of Black Panther:Wakanda Forever. This catchphrase also continues to grow in other circles as a symbol of black unity and empowerment across the globe.
Source: Disneyplus.com
Black Panther was developed by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and appeared in the Fantastic Four, Issue 52, during the Silver Age of Comics (mid-1950s to early 1970s). The title is given to the King or Queen of the African nation of Wakanda, which is a modern kingdom rich in a mineral called Vibranium. The current King of Wakanda, who holds the mantle of the Black Panther, is named T'Challa, who was represented in the MCU by Chadwick Boseman until his demise in 2020.
Source: www.koimoi.com
Before Black Panther, the billion dollar super hero franchise of MCU lacked any major form of representation for black audiences. This led to an absence of black superhero figures for young black audiences in Africa and across the diaspora. Even though some superheroes have been played by black actors, as in the case of Falcon/Captain America (Anthony Mackie) and Luke Cage (Mike Colter), none of the storylines embodied a unique and deeply-rooted African lineage and experience as in Black Panther. The launch and success of the movie provided a sense of inclusion for Black/African youth in the world of comics and superheroes. In addition, its depiction of African culture and history in a futuristic and technically-advanced Wakanda provided black youth with a glimpse of black excellence and the economic and technological potential of Africa.
Source: www.ign.com
We cannot, however, ignore the contributions of other black superheroes in the Marvel Universe. One other notable superheroes include Storm from the X-Men, Black Lightning and Blade.
The Black Panther is a powerful symbol for the African people; it represents the richness of our culture and the strength of our people. We hope you enjoy the sequel as it premieres in theaters on November 11th.
Wakanda Forever