Life, like mist, is temporary, but legacies live on and last forever.

The Black Panther

I get easily bored with movies. It’s hard to see me watching TV anyway. No matter how much I try, I only watch National Geographic Wild and Discovery documentaries. But when a movie truly hooks me, I can watch it a hundred times without losing interest. I saw The Black Panther early last year. At first, it didn’t make much sense to me (again, with my little interest in movies). However, I watched it again and again because I was impressed by many aspects. First, the casting; the actors and actresses were top-notch. I was impressed by the depiction of African culture and tradition: the cast’s intonation, dressing, setting, and more. Speaking of the setting, Wakanda portrayed a beautiful Africa. Every scene, even the fight scenes, offered a spectacular background: hills and valleys, waterfalls and rivers, mountain ranges, and vast forests. Diverse tribes fought for dominance, which added flavor to the plot. This was Wakanda (Africa), an advanced, modern, technology-driven society that managed to preserve its ancient traditions despite contact with external forces. I was excited that the directors incorporated reality as well. The rigor and stress of power struggles shown in the movie reflect the norms in many African societies. Such struggles often drain the people and resources. I give Marvel Pictures a big thumbs up. Also, using domesticated rhinos as war animals kept me glued to the screen. I wanted to see more, although afterward I was left to ponder the director’s ingenuity. The Black Panther is a great movie. No wonder it is Marvel’s biggest hit yet.

Chadwick Boseman

I could write a long story about this down-to-earth actor, but not today. Instead, I want to highlight the exceptional qualities that made him a true king both in cinema and in real life.

Chadwick’s fictional character added color to the movie. Just like Bruce Wayne with his Batman and Peter Parker with Spider-Man, he transitioned from the kind King T’Challa to the strong community vigilante (Black Panther). The good thing is that he used his powers to protect and lead his people. But there’s more to the man who played Black Panther. He was open, humble, kind, considerate, and determined. He wasn’t the loud type, so I barely noticed or heard him in the news.

Chadwick’s determination is worth emulating. He didn’t give up when diagnosed with colon cancer. Instead, he moved forward to gift the world great movies. It’s sad to know he made these movies amidst chemotherapy and treatments. Nothing could be more depressing. It’s even sadder that he was beginning to build a greater future. Who knows, he could have been the next Denzel Washington or Will Smith. To King T’Challa, I say: “You brought hope to many African youth.” He has shown that we can be anything we want to be. I take another lesson from Chadwick Boseman’s life: never rush to judge people because you don’t know the secret battles they’re fighting.

Rest in peace, King, the Black Panther. Africa mourns you. Wakanda forever!

**Nkosi: King