Black Panther
The First Black Superhero Movie
Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.
The Inspiration of Black Panther
The movies' production designer, Hannah Beachler, spent months in Africa compiling a 500 page "Wakanda Bible", a giant book of design and aesthetics that could be used as inspiration for the architecture of this fictional nation. The aim was to create a world that was simultaneously high-tech and futuristic, yet also rooted in its past.
Wakanda was based primarily on the southern African country Lesotho, an enclave that had historically only lightly been colonized by the British because of its terrain. Much of the production style was also based on archetecture from Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, D.R.C. and Ethiopia.
There are four tribes that are represented under the rule of the first Black Panther. As in the comics, four of the tribes (The River tribe, the Mining tribe, the Merchant tribe and the Border tribe) worship the panther god, amongst others, and also have a strong spiritual tradition of ancestor worship. The River Tribe wear green clothes made from crocodile skin, with some males wearing a lip plate (as pictured above). The Mining Tribe are in charge of the Vibranium that is mined, stored and utilized. The Merchant Tribe are responsible for trades and crafts of art. Lastly, the Border Tribe reside on the montainuous borders of Wakanda to deceive foreigners from Wakanda's wealth.
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