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The magic of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

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Danai Guria (left) and Letitia Wright in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

By Ibrahim Sheme

Finally watched Black Panther: Wakanda Forever last night. Great acting by the cast, especially Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira and Lupita Nyong’o. However, there is a huge hole in the movie without the late Chadwick Boseman, “the Black Panther” who passed on, sadly, two years ago at the young age of 46.

And how I wished Michael B. Jordan was given more than a special appearance! Michael is a heart-grabber, any day. I had also expected to see more of Daniel Kaluuya after his unforgettable role in the first Black Panther film.

The costume and the special effects are also superb. The kingdom of Talokan, situated below the Atlantic Ocean, is out of this world.

However, even though some people may think the lip-ring on Isaach de Bankolé is a welcome expression of a Masai cultural artefact, I didn’t find it funny or wholesome. It doesn’t even allow him to speak easily. They should have put that awful thing on the mouth of a Kenyan actor instead of an Ivorian’s! Well, someone said Wakanda is another name for Kenya.

Also, given the chance, I would delete quite a number of scenes and shots, including those sleepy market ones. The sound effects are prize-winning; the one that got me hooked was the drumbeat when the spear was beaten into the ground.

Moreover, my forgiving spirit wasn’t comfortable with allowing Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejía) to go scot free after killing our lovely Queen Ramonda (played so beautifully by the delectable Angela Bassett). Princess Shuri (Letitia Wright) should have simply put that burning spear through his heart as he lies helplessly on the sandy beach. Reason: the cataclysm he caused in our dear Wakanda when he came for revenge over the death of his daughter was way too much to bear.

The alliance he is forced to consummate with Wakanda is fake because he tells his cousin that it is a ploy to buy the time he needs to conquer the land world, our world. That means he is not in it in order to form an indomitable bulwark against the machinations of those supercilious super powers.

The ending is superb. I predict that there will be part 3 of this movie, what with the revelation that the late King T’Challa had fathered a child with Nakia before her escape to Haiti, where the boy, Toussaint, and his mother now live. Besides, his ancestral name is also T’Challa.

Yes, another basis for expecting part 3 is that the tussle with the Western powers over access to vibranium, Wakanda’s prized possession, has not been resolved, so it will continue. Viewers would like to see where the deadly competition will go under Queen Shuri as the fake alliance with Talokan kingdom is doomed already.

Overall, Wakanda Forever is worth my N6,000 gate fee (I even paid for two other viewers). I am not surprised it attained an impressive approval rating on the most trusted movie scalers – 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.4/10 on IMDb.

As expected, African cinema-goers have proved their love for it. The Premium Times reported that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has made history across the continent by shattering previous box office records. In Nigeria, it became “the biggest industry opening weekend of all time with a box office tally of ₦240 million,” the Abuja-based newspaper said. This figure must have tripled as the theatres continue to fill to capacity.

Given Nigeria’s position not only as an African older sister but also a big player in the global movie industry, I had expected that Marvel Studios would cast Nigerians in prominent roles in this second serving, especially following complaints that our actors were not seen in the first movie in 2018 even though there was a Chibok girls episode in it. (Someone told me there ARE Nigerians in the current movie. Who are they? Kamaru Usman, you mean? I asked. Nah!).

Director Ryan Coogler should have been asked that question when he, together with some of the crew and cast, including Wright, Nyong’o, Gurira, Mejía and Winston Duke came to Lagos on November 6 for the “black carpet” premiere of the movie – the first official African Marvel Studios premiere in Nigeria.

Nevertheless, I doff my hat to the director and his team. I say, with my clenched fists across my chest, “Wakanda forever!”

  • Sheme is a Nigerian journalist

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ACF hails Gov. Yusuf 50% slash down of school fees, says the move is exemplary

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The Arewa Consultative Forum( ACF) has hail the 50% reduction of school fees for indigent students by the incumbent Governor, of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf as exemplary and worthy to emulate by other governor’s.

Gov. Yusuf has recently cut down 50% reduction in the registration fee for the 2023/2024 academic session for all Kano State indigenes studying regular courses at the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Yusuf Maitama Sule University Kano, Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education, Kumbotso, Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Dambatta and other state owned tertiary institutions accross the state to cushion  the worsening economic situation people have been going through. 

While reacting to the governor’s initiative, the Chairman of the forum, Dr. Goni Farouk Umar  described the decision as both revolutionary and a hallmark of visionary leadership. 

He noted with delight the Kano State government’s resolve to restore its foreign scholarship programme designed to sponsor 1001 best graduates which demonstrates the government compassion that resulted in the payment of N700million registration fees for 700 Kano State students at the Bayero University Kano. 

The ACF leader noted that both the slashing of the fees in state owned institutions, and the off-setting of the BUK fees would go along way to ease the burden on parents and the students occasioned by the current economic hardship. 

Dr  Umar who describe education as power, and pivot in society’s advancement, prayed for the successful implementation of the government’s pro-poor education policies.

 He also appealed to all sections of the community to support educational development in all facets. 

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Nigeria’s President Tinubu say’s country’s pilgrim who return $80,000 to owner in Saudi is a pride of all.

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President of Nigeria, Mr  Ahmed Bola Tinubu will honour Zamfara pilgrim Hajiya A’ishatu ‘Yan Guru Nahuce who found $80,000 in Saudi Arabia during the last Hajj exercise and return the money to it’s rightful owner. Chairman Zamfara State Hajj Commission, Alhaji Musa Mallaha has revealed.

Mallaha disclosed that the president is overwhelmed by the act of honesty exhibited by the female pilgrim hence he directed the National Hajj Commission to organize a national press conference to interview the woman for record keeping while in Saudi.

When the directives was given by the president according to Mallaha, the woman was already airlifted back to Nigeria adding that arrangements are in top gear to ensure the presidential directives is implemented as soon as possible.

Mr. Mallaha who revealed that president Tinubu expressed delight and pointed out that Hajiya Nahuce has brought respect and honour to her country Nigeria said the commission’s preparation towards the national press conference in Nigeria now will include the State governor, Dauda Lawan keying into the activities.

Mallaha further said that her honesty is a pride to all Muslims accross the globe.

The woman during the last excise stumbled into the money while performing Tawaff at the Ka’abah, she said that she kick the bag of the money to a distance for fear of been trample upon if she bow down to pick it up because of the large crowd. An Arab Pilgrim who saw her action pick the bag and gave it to her thinking that it was hers.

Mrs. Nahuce who was sponsored to Hajj by her son’s revealed that it was her first trip to the holy land.

She further revealed in an interview that, she took the money to the officials of her local government Hajj commission and handed it over. The officials met Saudi Authorities and within few days the owner was found and the money was returned to him.

She commented that she was not aware of the magnitude of her action until she was back home to Nigeria where she understands that the news went viral before her arrival

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Nigerian Army neutralize 7 bandits, comb bush for others in Zamfara

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Nigerian Army neutralized seven Armed Bandits while several others flee with gunshots wounds in the late hours of Monday. 

The bandits in large number according to reliable source attempted to infiltrate and attack the troops at Kango Sabuwa. The gallant troops of Sector 1 Operation Hadarin Daji in conjunction with troops deployed at Forward Operating Base Wanke were steps ahead of them.

This was achieved by the troops in an ambush operation along the route suspected to be used by the Bandits.

The troops Shortly after the encounter proceeds in pursuit of other fleeing wounded bandits, recovered 1 Machine Gun, ammunition and 6 Motorcycles from the armed bandits.

The Commander Joint Task Force Northwest Operation Hadarin Daji, Major General Godwin Mutkut commends the troops for their bravery and resilience in dealing with the Armed Bandits.

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