VOICE OF AMERICA
One of 2018’s biggest films premiered for African audiences in February in the Kenyan hometown of one of the film’s stars, actress Lupita Nyong’o. Based on a Marvel superhero comic, Black Panther is set in a fictional, technologically advanced African nation
The Kisumu premiere drew several hundred people. Although the stars of the movie did not attend, that did not dampen the atmosphere. “To be honest, it’s a great honor that Kisumu is the first place in Africa that this movie is screened,” Kenyan actor Moses Oduwa said. “We are so happy that we are honored this way.”
The film has been hailed as an example of the Afro-futurism movement, which blends science fiction and African tradition. After the screening, attendees gave positive reviews.
“What I remember is this interesting mix between the traditional and postmodern, and something about the movie which I liked is that evil was punished in the end,” said John Obiero, a Kisumu resident.
The movie also gives a positive view of the continent, something that hasn’t been the case in major motion pictures.
“I think it’s more of like massaging African ego,” opined Edwin Odoyo, who also lives in Kisumu. “Like we are strong but we really don’t know how strong we are.”
The movie has become one of the most successful films of any genre in history, topping $1.3 billion in ticket sales early in its release.
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