Black Panther – Vibranium technology, wizardry in fanciful wakanda

I had interacted with the super-hero movie, Black Panther, on different levels as a journalist since it was premiered in February 2018 to much global acclaim.

I had read news around how it was breaking box office records, how its premiere across the world was attracting hundreds of patrons seeking to have a taste of the goodies cooked and served from the imaginary land of Wakanda.

From Pointe Noire heading to Addis Ababa on transit to Accra, it was but a pleasant surprise when I saw that Ethiopian Airlines had Black Panther on its movie menu.

I made a mental bookmark of the film as I went on to nose around which other films were on the menu. Naomi’s Dilemma (Nigerian) and ‘The Intern’ (American) are two other films I watched on board.

So after checking out the array of films, I settled back to explore for myself what the pant and or rant was all about Black Panther.

The three themes that I collected over the 90 minutes plus movie were: technology (high-end), culture with a tinge of wizardry and power play.

A cross-section of the cast.

Vibranium-backed technology

So in Wakanda – the independent and imaginary African land in which the movie is set, technology is a big deal. It is employed in the critical areas of territorial defense, health and transportation.

Outside of Wakanda, some rogues get access to vibranium which Wakanda has in abundance and were using it to perpetuate suffering on others. The kingdom is looking to protect the resource from the wrong hands.

In the lab of King T'Challa's sister (Shuri), there are jets that are mounted and remotely controlled to engage in combat thousands of miles away. The lab also healed an American spy who was shot in the spine. In the end, he got healed thanks to vibranium.

Then there is the part about the wreckless rascal (Klaw) in whose hands vibranium ended up - wrongly so, it turns out that he got it from Killmonger's father. Killmonger is discussed later on. Despite Klaw causing havoc whiles in contact with vibranium, the earth was saved when he was finally rid of it, whew!!! Those scenes were chaotically breath-taking.

Culture with a pinch of modern-day wizardry

The African outlook is generally reflected more in the setting of Wakanda, of their apparels and mannerisms – chiefly among them, the main greeting of the crossing of arms on one’s chest and the use of South Africa’s click language ‘xhosa.’ The predominant language used is English with a tinge of Korean and Swahili.

So when the king is in full regal gear, his dressing, his throne, the appearance of servants of the kingdom and I can’t forget the chief priest (Forest Whitaker, Zuri) who sacrificed his life to save the kingdom.

The point about wizardry is embedded in the rites for a new king. Where he lies in the earth and is covered with sand as he makes a transition to the other world where he is able to interact with ancestors and to seek direction on issues.

                                

Power play and how loyalty saved the kingdom

It turned out that the politics of Wakanda was steeped in a battle between two brothers. The choice of a leader was also somewhat premised on a show of bravery and for that matter a fight that had a winner-takes-all result.

T'Challa, the heir to his father won and lost a fight in the film. He won against a challenger to the throne (M'baku) and lost against a lost son of the Kingdom – a son of his uncle (Erik Killmonger) who returned to Wakanda with a vengeful and bellicose mentality.

In the end, it took the loyalty of some key allies of the regime (Nakia, Okoye) along with help of an adjoining kingdom led by M'Baku, to bring T'Challa, from the brink of death, to save the kingdom and by extension the world. A former ally, W'Kabi, who switched allegiance to Killmonger, was toast for his move.

My star of the movie, loyal kick-ass Okoye, real name Danai Gurira

Other themes that came up included arms race and diplomacy. Wakanda will insist on not sharing their technology with the world especially in the area of arms. They will not that their arms be used in the senseless wars displacing people across the world.

In the long run, however, the kingdom came to accept the reality of integration and how they had to play a part in global diplomacy. The last scene of the film is of T'Challa leading a Wakanda delegation to address the United Nations – cool end if you ask me.

My advice: If you come across Black Panther, lose guard not, watch it and share your views. Cheers.

Islamic date: 29 Muharram, 1440 = 9 October, 2018.

So who is the Black Panther, T'Challa? 

His role played by Chadwick Boseman

T'Challa is the Black Panther – a righteous king, noble Avenger, and fearsome warrior. Under his leadership, the African nation of Wakanda has flourished as one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world.

And though he’s a card-carrying member of the Avengers, his first loyalty lies with his people, and he will defend them to his last breath.

All smiley here, this was a chaotic bunch over the time the film lasted. Chadwick with hand on his chest.