How The Black Panther Movie Has Raised Awareness In The USA & Elsewhere About Certain Types Of Contemporary South African Music & Dance

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision: August 5, 2018

This pancocojams post provides selected YouTube discussion thread comments which demonstrate how the 2017 Black Panther movie has raised awareness in the United States and elsewhere about certain genres of contemporary South African music & dance.

Note: I've added an Addendum to this post. The Addendum is the complete [to date] exchange between several commenters in a Black Panther Dance Challenge video's discussion thread. I've added this sub-thread because I find it interesting and want to share it with people reading this post. That sub-thread begins with a person self-identifying as an African criticizing Black Americans performing dance challenges and otherwise supporting the Black Panther movie because the movie was funded by White people.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those involved with the Black Panther movie. Thanks also to all those who are involved in the Black Panther Challenge dances. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/02/various-african-cultural-elements-that.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "Various African Cultural Elements That Are Found In The 2018 Fictional Black Panther Movie (with Black Panther trailer video)"

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SHOWCASE VIDEO EXAMPLES
The following videos are referenced in some of the comments given below.

Video Example #1: T'Challa & Shuri full lab scene(Black Panther 2018)



Nashaly Vega, Published on May 5, 2018

snip-
Statistics as of August 4, 2018 12:26 PM EST
total number of views -175,238
total number of likes- 1,900
total number of dislikes -30

-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/08/babes-wodumo-ft-mampintsha-wololo-and.html for the pancocojams post entitled Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - "Wololo" (with a reaction YouTube video by The Ubinufu Space).

That post includes the official "Wololo" video and a reaction video posted by a group of Black men and women in the United Kingdom.

Comments from the YouTube Official "Wololo" video's discussion thread are given below as Comment Excerpts #1.

WARNING: This video may be considered inappropriate for children because of its focus on women shaking their butts.

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Video Example #2: Distruction Boyz - Omunye ft Benny Maverick & Dladla Mshunqisi (Official Music Video)



Distruction Boyz, Published on Dec 1, 2017
-snip-
Statistics as of August 4, 2018 at 12:38 PM EST
total number of views- 7,063,006 views
total likes- 45,000
total dislikes- 3,000

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Video Example #3 #Omunye
Black Panther Challenge | @mizzk.o



Kendra Oyesanya, Published on Feb 18, 2018
This is how me and the squad walked out of the Black Panther movie :)

[...]

song: Omunye (feat. Benny Maverick, Dladla Mshunqisi)
Artist: Distruction Boyz
Album: Gqom Is the Future

-snip-
Statistics as of August 4, 2018 at 10:53 AM EST
total number of views: 1,580,403
total likes- 36,000
total dislikes- 520
-snip-
Kendra Oyesanya, the lead dancer is from Nigeria.

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Video Example #4: #BlackPantherChallenge
Black Panther Challenge - @jusbmore @klassikkaneck @splack



World Of Africa TV, Published on Mar 8, 2018
-snip-
Statistics as of August 4, 2018 12:01 PM EST:
total number of views: 453,018 views
total number of likes: 12,000
total number of dislikes- 270
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/08/babes-wodumo-ft-mampintsha-wololo-and.html for more information about the song "Wololo". Some comments about the inclusion of this song in the Black Panther movie are included below.

Also, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npw4M2XLZK0 for that official video for the South African song "Omunye" by the Distruction Boys. That is the song that is featured in all of the Black Panther Dance challenges.

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SELECTED COMMENTS
Most of these comments refer to how the Black Panther and the Black Panther Challenge dance videos have raised the awareness in the United States and elsewhere about certain types of contemporary South African music and dance.

These comments are given under the links for their sources. Numbers have been added for referencing purposes only.

Comment Excerpts #1:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlkybvVEQ4g Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - Wololo (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
1. Sonia, 2018
"Thank you black panther for bringing me here to this amazing song and video"

**
2. David Yvan, 2018
"Yoo, this was in black panther!"

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REPLY
3. chukwudalu ibe, 2018
"It's an African song"

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REPLY
4. Mikaela Creedence, 2018
"Ben Grazuca watch Black Panther... it’s during Shuri’s lab scene"
-snip-
The comment from Ben Grazuca no longer appears in this comment thread, but one response indicated that he had insulted Americans for our lack of knowledge about this song. i.e. from Mikaela Creedence, 2018 "Ben Grazuca mmm sad 🤷🏽‍♀️ you clearly live a sad life, anyway I’m Canadian so you insulting Americans doesn’t hurt me"
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REPLY
5. Faith Jonathan, 2018
"Ben Grazuca i think what he meant is that this song was featured on Black Panther and gain more attention...they played it on Shuri's Lab"

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6. Beverly Madondo Madondo, 2018
"I sang along to let those from Western and Eastern Africa know this hit is from the Southern 😂 ✌"

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7. Christine Kiki Anozie, 2018
"Black panther brought me here 💯💯"
-snip-
"Here" meaning to the official YouTube video of Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - Wololo

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8. IC Henry, 2018
"Heard this in BLACK PANTHER and its been stuck in my head for over a WEEK!!!"

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9. alicia906, 2018
"OMG!!!! I heard this song in Black Panther and immediately needed to have it in my life... I'm from Chicago. I'm sad that I'm a year late on knowing this song... but I Bangzzz it SO HARD IN MY CAR EVERY DAY!"

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REPLY
10. IC Henry, 2018
"alicia906 I also feel so late to the South African music scene. When you get the chance check out other Gqom and S.A. house music videos! Afrobeats is 🔥 but South Africa is dropping FIRE tunes!!"
-snip-
"Afrobeats" is a contemporary music genre from Nigeria.

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11. Armon Hall, 2018
"Black Panther brought me to this greatness. 🙅🏿‍♂️"

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12. daniel peachey, 2018
"When people from overseas only heard of this song cause of BP but us lanzo people are still bumping to this after 2 years"
-snip-
I don't know what "lanzo people" mean, but from its usage, I assume it means people from South Africa.

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13. Tanya Kaseke, 2018
"Wakanda brought m here😍"

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14. Vaibhav Kalra, 2018
"from india with love..
cant understand a word but my new thang....
wakanda forever..🙌"

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15. Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, 2018
"Wakanda forever. Black Panther brings me here."

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Comment Excerpts #2
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npw4M2XLZK0 "Distruction Boyz - Omunye ft Benny Maverick & Dladla Mshunqisi (Official Music Video)"

Pancocojams Editor's Note: This is the South African song that is used for all of the Black Panther Challenge dance videos. This video is given as Example #2 above.

1. LetsHangThough, 2018
"hands up if Black Panther led you here!"

REPLY
2. okuomose okuns, 2018
"LetsHangThough this tune wouldn't be yhis big without black panther dance challenges"

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REPLY
3. LetsHangThough, 2018
"okuomose okuns I liked it before the challenge started, it was big before that. The challenge just revived it!"

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REPLY
4. Nachaka Davenport, 2018
"Hands in the air. Black Panther led me here. Power to the people!"

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REPLY
5. SUGAR TO SH&T*, 2018
"LetsHangThough
🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
I AM FROM THE U. S. And
CNN NEWS LED ME HERE!!!
🐾🐾BLACK PANTHER🐾
I couldn’t believe this most watched news station was playing clips of this video 😵
I was sitting watching the news when a CNN anchor stated that FORBES just announced that 🐾🐾BLACK PANTHER 🐾
Is the HIGHEST GROSSED SUPER HERO🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Movie 🎥 of all times and it will be another one in the making.
Then I was shocked to see the news anchor show clips of this video and the beat of this music. I started moving my shoulders from side to side and waving my hands before I knew it my old ass was getting it. 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
I am here for this sh&t*!!!!🐾🐾"
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this screen name and in this comment.

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6. Kaylin Phillips, 2018
"I love how they used this in Black Panther 😍👏🏽 Wakanda Forever ✊🏽"

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REPLY
7. KATO ABDO, 2018
"Me also😍😍😍"

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REPLY
8. El Bee II, 2018
"It wasn't actually in the movie. But the guys that used it in the choreography totally smashed it. 🙅🏾‍♂️"

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9. Steevenlight75, 2018
"Lol I’m here because of Black Panther choreography"

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10. Susu Palmers, 2018
"Black panther brought me here! Where all my brothers and sisters from wakanda at 🙋🏽‍♀️🙋🏽‍♀️"

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REPLY
11. Ada Ekwutife, 2018
"Susu Palmers meee I'm from wakanda lmao😛😂😂💀"

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REPLY
12. sibu ncube, 2018
"Welcome to Wakanda 😁"

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13. Britt F, 2018
"This should have been on the Black Panther Soundtrack! I wish I understood the lyrics (language) but the beat is Hot🔥🔥🔥🔥!!!!!! Great Music and Great Dancing!!! #blackpantherchallenge
Much Love all the way from the U.S. 😘😘😘😍😍😍😁😁😁"

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14. HawkZulu, 2018
"Black Panther challenge brought me here.. MY GOD this song is lit. WAKANDA FOREVAHH!!"

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15. Actively So! Claudia, 2018
"South Africa is Wakanda Nation 😏😏😏"

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16. Timia Maya Kameeta, 2018
"Africans knew this before black panther already 😏🔥🔥🔥"

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17. Arry Lee, 2018
"Wakanda lead me here 😍 i love black folks ❤ love from indonesia"

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18. Ali Wilson, 2018
"Yes Black Panther movie compelled me to search for this track, but when I saw the video I was indeed disappointed....."

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REPLY
19. IKINGW GAMER, 2018
"This Song wasn't part of black panther movie,it was a challenge on instagram. The song that played in black panther scene is called wololo"

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20. Miss Coco, 2018
"Thanks to black Panter for leading me here, Great beat"

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Comment Excerpt #3:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfc_KZbQu_E Black Panther Challenge | @mizzk.o
-snip-
This video is given as Video Example #3 above.

1. Kendra Oyesanya, 2018
"Thank you all for the love! For the people asking yes we are the creators of the "Black Panther Dance Challenge" and we loved seeing everyones remake! #WakandaForever"

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REPLY
2. Kona Jyun, 2018
"Amazing job well done on coming out with Black Panther challenge I've never been any more proud as an African to see our people appreciating themselves. Omunye by Distruction Boyz was the perfect song choice for this I watch this video st least three times a week, I'm so happy it went viral thank you for creating a new dance craze. 😎😍#WakandaForever #AfricaForever"

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REPLY
3. myfddream, 2018
"Kendra Oyesanya Hey great job whos the artist and title of the challenge song. Cant find it."

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REPLY
4. Kona Jyun, 2018
"myfddream Artist are Distruction Boyz and name of the song is Omunye. They are Zulus from South Africa."

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5. chi chi, 2018
"I saw this on Facebook. This went viral girl ❤❤❤❤"

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6. Bri.V.M., 2018
"Omg that was you lol? I saw this on Tumblr. This was too lit! 🔥🔥🔥"

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7. Reo Ndimande, 2018
"OmG, this is South African song by Destruction Boys😀😀 it's called "Omunye"...There's a part of a very popular dance on the video originating from SA too it's called" Gwaragwara" it was recently performed by Rihanna and went viral!! So excited!"

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REPLY
8. ten ruwona, 2018
"Reo Ndimande It's amazing how Black Panther has exposed the talent in Africa"

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9. MseUnscripted, 2018
"It looked as if the Black Panther was blessing them as they danced out...they did the music more justice than the official music video...#MyPeopleAreBeautiful"
-snip-
"The official music video" that the commenter is referring to is the video for "Omunye".

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10. African Pegasus, 2018
"#GQOMFamily rise up!! South African music is making moves!

Plus her Gwara Gwara at 0:31 was legendary!! Utter bliss!!"
-snip-
"Omunye" is an example of "Gqom" music. The isiZulu word "omunye" has the sexual meaning of "being on top of". A commenter in the official video of that song shared that because of that word's meaning (not because of the video itself which isn't sexually explicit) the song "Omunye" was banned from playing on South African radios.

"Gwara Gwara is the South African dance that is usually performed to Gqom music."

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11. Brandy Wandera, 2018
"Those are South African dance moves."

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REPLY
12. Roman Tick, 2018
"Brandy Wandera yes but not all! There was gwara gwara from SA and then Shaku Shaku and shoki from Nigeria but all together is fiiiiire"

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13. Tsholofelo Tau, 2018
"Because of the song I thought they were South African but then they started doing the gwara gwara and I was like NOPE that's not how we do it. But this is still great choreography so AWESOME!!!"

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14. Sibusiso Siso, 2018
"Black panther I salute all the way from South Afrika yeah u guys rocks"

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15. Kay D, 2018
"I saw this on Instagram after I watched Black Panther. On Thursday the week it came out. #WakandaForever ✊🏾✊🏾💖"

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16. HawkZulu, 2018
"Love to South Africa from you family in America"

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17. Roman Tick, 2018
"Shaku shaku and Shoki from Nigeria!! Gwara Gwara from South Africa all together is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥"

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18. Nothando Zulugirl, 2018
"This song is Omunye Phezu komunye by destruction boys - it's a Zulu song from South Africa - Shout out to black panther for putting Africa on the map. Translation of the song cost 1$ lol Hahaha"

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19. Darwin G, 2018
"Black panther is so much more than a movie, I love everything around it!"

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20. Laylaa Yverson, 2018
"Awesome how some black people who call themself black american and always denied there rooots ,beeing interested now,in the African culture, where there normaly belong too,since the film black panther comes out......is no more "i have a dream"now its "wakanda forever"...like it...

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Comment Examples #4
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNyVUIhvW64 #BlackPantherChallenge
Black Panther Challenge - @jusbmore @klassikkaneck @splack

This video is given as Video Example #4 above.

1. Nicole Falanka, 2018
"lol that movie is making us so proud"

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2. Flora Yeboah, 2018
"On point!..Im South African. I love my AFRICA!! Wakanda forever..."

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3. Clio MDC, 2018
"That gwara gwara with the guy in the dashiki was mad lit"

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4. LPTV, 2018
"It was going well and then they started barking like dogs"

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REPLY
5. TheDent InRm'sChin, 2018
"LPTV That's in the movie. Go see it to understand"
-snip-
Some commenters wrote that "the bark" was actually a gorilla grunt, connecting these dancers with the Jabari ethnic group in the Black Panther movie. That also explains why one of the dancers wore a gorilla suit.

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6. Nthabiseng Kutoane, 2018
"So proud of the fact that the rest of the world is embracing our dance moves...and music!!"

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7. Jimmy Jones, 2018
"That ending tho!! 😂✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊ love it! #WAKANDAFOREVER ✊✊✊✊"

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8. MrAramis02, 2018
"the king of wakanda applauds these men despite being from jabari"

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9. Ntongo Breaker, 2018
"I really like every dance about wakada and the beat of the song really nice 😂😘😍😍😍😍"

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10. Praise Onaturals, 2018
"Real Entertainment! Wakanda Forever! I NEVER FREEZE! 😂😂😂😂😂"
-snip-
"Wakanda Forever" and "I never freeze" are two catch phrases from the 2018 Black Panther movie.

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11. BWC B, 2018
"You guys did well. It's one of the best ones taking the challenge."

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12. Brett Golightly, 2018
"Each time watching it can’t stop watching one in front middle in red!
Love how this all comes together during times like this! Now, if only some of my “fam” could accept my Western & Eastern African bloodlines....."

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13. dk dk, 2018
"Wakandans woooooohhhhh!"

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14. Antonieta Merces Reina Galan, 2018
"WAKANDA THE DANCE !!✋"

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ADDENDUM: DISCUSSION THREAD EXCERPT
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0E7bnTW0bw "Walking back into Black Panther movie like", published by World Of Africa TV on Mar 2, 2018
[numbers added for referencing purposes only)

This sub-thread begins with a person self-identifying as an African criticizing Black Americans performing dance challenges and otherwise supporting the Black Panther movie because the movie was funded by White people.

1. Andrea_, 2018
"Bruh! that movie was not even funded nor produced by the black community..it was funded and produced by white executives from dysney; it's a dysney movie that happened to have a black writer and black actors ..the movie itself has no actual tie nor resemblance to the actual black panther group ( that faught against police brutality done on ppl of color) but ironically the movie was strategically released on black history month to give black ppl yet another false feeling of empowerment; the movie seem like yet another movie made by oppressors to financially exploit something important to the black community such as the black panther group or movement 😦😯😳 is odd all of a sudden African Americans now suddenly want to claim their African roots..usually they alienate themselves from their African roots ..in the stated walk up to an african American and tell him or her that he's ancestors are African and see the reaction you get; they look at you like you called them the n-word in a derivative manner; I am African meaning I was born and raised in Africa but live in the states and upon living here I have been bullied both by a Caucasian and an african American for being African"

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REPLY
2. Briste Belle, 2018
"Andrea_ so because you are an African and was bullied, you come here to spit rubbish?
I am African too, and you're an idiot.
All these superhero movies are not real but it empowers white people who are the most represented in them. It makes them believe they can do great things and with that empowerment, they actually start implementing it.
It's not a bad thing that African Americans are empowered by a marvel movie. Empowerment is empowerment. So the movie has a black writer, producer and actors but you care only about where the funding came from?
The best thing coming out of it is that it changed the mindset of many African American youths about their roots. As an African, I don't care if black Americans think being African is an insult because they don't understand, I know who I am and I'm proud of who I am you should too, rather than being hateful and bearing grudges."

**
REPLY
3. Shewanda Pugh, 2018
"Where to even start with you?
1. The first appearance of the Black Panther comic book character predates the Black Panther Party by a few months. They're not related nor were they supposed to be.
2. Who cares who made the movie? Anytime diversity is presented in a positive form, we all win, as it's a pathway to greater tolerance.
3. This is a blockbuster film with a mega-budget, international success, and a cast made up of minorities. It opens the door to more such films as it proves we can pull in the crowds and have wide appeal.
4. It seems like you keep poor company. I don't know any African Americans who balk at having an African heritage. I don't know any who would bully someone because of where they're from. You need more positive, thoughtful, intellectual people in your life. Though with the negativity you spew, I'm not sure they'd want to be bothered."

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REPLY
4. Asa J, 2018
"I really hate when people spew negativity, especially when they act like they have facts they don’t. BLACK PANTHER WAS DIRECTED, PRODUCED AND CAST BY BLACK PEOPLE. What are you so bitter about. You were bullied? So was I. What the hell does that have to do with the movie? Go tell your therapist because this is just not the place or the medium through which you should circumvent your issues. It just makes you look bad."

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REPLY
5. isfvt tyug, 2018
"Somebody with some sense. You know how stupid these american blacks look smfh Dance when you can fund a damn movie."

**
REPLY
6. beejioux, 2018
hugs

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Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - "Wololo" (with a YouTube reaction video by The Ubinufu Space)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest update: Feb. 10, 2021

This pancocojams post showcases the official YouTube video of the 2016 South African song "Wololo" as well as a YouTube reaction vlog (video blog) to that official video from a group of young Black men and women of African descent who live in the United Kingdom.

Information about that song and its performers is included in this post along with selected comments from the YouTube discussion thread for those two videos. These selected comments are some of the comments from that discussion thread which focus on the song, its performers, its music genre, and the dance that is usually performed for this song.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Babes Wodumo and Mampintsha for their music and for this video. Thanks also to the Ubunifu Space (United Kingdom team) for their publishing a reaction video to this South African song. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Note that this post provides information about the South African song "Wololo" and its official YouTube video. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/08/comments-about-south-african-meanings.html for a companion pancocojams post that focuses on the South African meanings of the word "wololo').

Also, note that the word "wololo" in this South African song doesn't have the same meaning as the  word "wololo" in the Age Of Empire games.
" KnowYourMeme says: (2013)
"Wololo is the sound made by the Priest unit in the 1997 video game Age of Empires. It is used as an interruptor, causing the color of something to change colors between red and blue." https://www.reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/1vnug5/whats_a_wololo/

Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Empires for information about The Age Of Empires video games.

Here's a comment exchange from 2020 & 2021 that provides an explanation of what "Wololo" means in this South African song:

kelvin giathi
"wololo in Kenya means suprise and shock at something insane.

I think this is it wololo salalaaaaa"

**
Reply
Ebekezela Construction, 2021
"Pretty much the same in isiZulu 😊"

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2016 SOUTH AFRICAN SONG "WOLOLO"
The official YouTube video for Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha's dance song "Wololo" was published on YouTube on June 24, 2016 by West Ink TV Mampintsha. Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlkybvVEQ4g for that video.*

The song's lyrics are in isiZulu and from KwaZulu Natal (Durban, South African) slang. "Wololo" is an example of South Africa's Gqom music..

Reflecting the fact that "Wololo" is a mega hit in South Africa as well as in many other African nations and elsewhere in the world, the official YouTube video for that song has gone viral with 8,568,467 total views (as of August 2, 2018 at 6:35 PM EST).

Update: As of Feb. 10, 2021 at 9:33 AM ET, this video has a total # of 11,496,865 views. 

-end of update-

Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha's song "Wololo" isn't well known in the United States. However, to the extent that this song is known, that familiarity can be largely attributed to its inclusion in the 2018 blockbuster hit movie Black Panther (in the beginning of the scene when T'Challa walks into his sister's lab).

Here's a link to a clip of that scene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ9nxj54P_s&ab_channel=CUTV [This is an updated link as the previous link is no longer available.]

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A SYNOPSIS OF AND COMMENTS ABOUT THE SONG "WOLOLO"
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tiXWkfUeHk "Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - Wololo ( REACTION VIDEO )"

Ngasiirwe Katushabe, 2017
"Hey! Ngasii the Context Kid here with some context once again:

So this song is pretty simple because qùte a bit of it is really ad-libbing. It is performed in Zulu by Babes Wo-doo-mo and Mam-pin-cha (The nguni "tsha" is pronounced "cha") with the beat by DJ duo the Distruction Boyz. They are from the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.

The first part of Babes' chorus is her singing about how her friend fell asleep in studio as they were working and woke up the next day lost as to where they were:

lale ilalilale [ad-libbing]
wavuk'ek'seni, awaz'ulalephi
(you woke up in the morning not knowing where you sleep)
x2

The second part is her giving thanks and praise to the people who she credits for having made her career the success it is; those people being SA House Legend DJ Tira and the peoole of his label Afrotainement as well as her mentor and bae Mampintsha of the iconic House Band Big Nuz who owns the label West Ink:

Weh Tira, sigcwele ngawe
(Yo Tira, we feel you)
Abafana base Afro sigcwele ngabo
(The guys/men from Afro(tainment), we feel them)
Weh Mpintsho, sgcwele ngawe
(Yo Mpintsho [a nickname for Mampintsha], we feel you)
Abafana base West Ink, sigcwele ngabo
(The guys from West Ink, we feel them)
Abafana base Afro benz'amas*mba
(The guys from Afro do their s*%t/ the damn thing)
Abafana base West Ink benz'amawololo wololo wololo wololo wololo wololo wololo wololo wololo
(The guys from West Ink doing their the damn thing)

NB: "Wololo" is actually more an ad-libbed word that can change meaning but thanks to Babes nkw [typo correction: now] generally refers to the way she uses it in this song.

South African languages like Xhosa and Zulu invent new words for emphasis on things everyday, many of which coming about as a result of the sound of something or the feeling of what is meant.

Side Note:

The choreography in the video is by Babes and the dancers. She has a dance academy called the West Ink School of Dance in KZN that caters to artistic people be it singers, dancers, actors, models and the like which she was part of opening to give back to her community and have people who are not academically inclined thrive in life and make a living for their families.

Other-side note (*Adele pun*😂)

Her name "Babes Wodumo" roughly means "Girl of Fame".

"Babes" is her kid name probably inspired by her name Bongekile . "Wodumo" was added later as she was "famous" for singing, dancing, acting, modelling etc capabilites from a young age all around her hometown on Lamontville, KZN

In South Africa, when asked, "uDume Ngani?" you are asked,"What's your claim to fame".

Shout out to The guys of Ubunifu Space for continuing to show Mzansi love 💪"


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SHOWCASE VIDEO #1: Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - Wololo (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)



West Ink TV Mampintsha, Published on Jun 24, 2016

Music video produced for West Ink by Pilot Films 2016
-snip-
WARNING: This video may be considered inappropriate for children because of its focus on women shaking their butts.
-snip-
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread.As a reminder, these are examples of comments from that discussion thread which focus on the song's music genre and the dance that is usually performed for this song. In addition, these selected comments focus on other information about the popularity of this song and its subsequent use in social and commercial media.

These comments are presented in relative chronological order based on their publishing date with the oldest year comments given first, except for replies.

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
1. Lindiwe Moloi, 2017
"OMG this song is known by primary kids.. its our nation anthem😂😂😂😁😁"

**
2. Christopher Clay, 2017
"What is this genre called?"

**
REPLY
3. Emmanuel Mukhondo, 2027
"Gqom"

**
4. Lonwabo Matross, 2017
"Gwara Gwara dance was made for this song"

**
5. Thinamazulu Zulu, 2017
"Note that the video was shot in the height of winter (A Durban winter nonetheless) that's why guys are wearing long sleeved tops and the girls are in bikinis. Gotta keep it sexy yo. Dope track nonetheless."
-snip-
Here's an excerpt from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durban
"Durban... is the third most populous city in South Africa—after Johannesburg and Cape Town—and the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. Located on the east coast of South Africa, Durban is famous for being the busiest port in the country. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism because of the city's warm subtropical climate and extensive beaches."...

**
6. Sandile Tembe, 2017
"its very sad that babes wodumo didn't win any award in SAMA awards 2017 😕😕😕"
-snip-
Here's information about the SAMA award from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Music_Awards
"The South African Music Awards (often simply the SAMAs) are the Recording Industry of South Africa's music industry awards, established in 1995. The ceremony is held in late-April or May every year, with the judging process starting in November of the previous year. The nominations are typically announced at the end of March. The winners receive a gold-plated statuette called a SAMA.[1]

The show has mostly been held at the Super Bowl in Sun City, with the exception of three years, and broadcast live on national broadcaster, SABC. The ceremony features live performances as once-off collaborations by a selection of nominees. The SAMAs are considered the South African equivalent of the American Grammy Awards."

**|
7. Sizwe Nzama, 2017
"6 million viewers and not even one award ayi they are playing with babes"
-snip-
As of the date of this post's publication [August 2, 2018], the official video has 8,568,467 views

**
8. Sibisi Mxolisi, 2017
"sisi noma bengakudlela umona shame u ar the star anyway u dnt need the stupid award you have us. everthing with south african has corruption so u dnt need them now uzohlanganisi 6 million views on youtube so dnt stress go to bet on show them who you are ngyazifela ngawe there is no music in mzansi ngaphandle kwa babes"

**
9. Rabotlhoko Tlhabane, 2017
"Trust me cousin, this track is overrated and overhyped! Any Lento by Professor ft Speedy destroys this Wololo....
-snip-
I think the word "any" is a typo for "and". Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og5InvyyhYY for a video of the South African song Professor "Lento" ft Speedy which was published on YouTube in 2011.

**
REPLY
10. Flakka Goat,
"no it doesn't, gqom tunes bring out inner ratchetry you can't get that type of energy from soft ass songs like lento.,

**
REPLY
11. sipho mvandaba, 2017
"stop hating bra"

**
REPLY
12. Rabotlhoko Tlhabane, 2017
"Hating? No old friend.. It's me opinion but Lento is better than this track"

****
13. Sonia, 2018
"Thank you black panther for bringing me here to this amazing song and video"

**
14. David Yvan, 2018
"Yoo, this was in black panther!"

**
REPLY
15. chukwudalu ibe, 2018
"It's an African song"

**
REPLY
16. Mikaela Creedence, 2018
"Ben Grazuca watch Black Panther... it’s during Shuri’s lab scene"
-snip-
The comment from Ben Grazuca no longer appears in this comment thread, but one response indicated that he had insulted Americans for our lack of knowledge about this song. i.e. from Mikaela Creedence, 2018 "Ben Grazuca mmm sad 🤷🏽‍♀️ you clearly live a sad life, anyway I’m Canadian so you insulting Americans doesn’t hurt me"

**
REPLY
17. Faith Jonathan, 2018
"Ben Grazuca i think what he meant is that this song was featured on Black Panther and gain more attention...they played it on Shuri's Lab"

**
18. Vegas Element, 2018
"O.K....so I see how South African Afrobeat differs from Nigerian...I love African music. Damn it I need to visit! Love from Las Vegas."

**
REPLY
19. Mwafrika Mkenya, 2018
"Vegas Element Actually this is a version of Afro-house. There are two main versions ,Angolan 'Kuduro' music and this south African 'gqom' Music."
-snip-
I'm adding this comment, although according to what I've read online, Gqom is a separate music genre from House music (or Kwaito). For example, read a comment exchange from the discussion thread for the South African hit song "Omunye" that I've quoted below in the comment section for this post.

**
20. y2k, 2018
"What dialect or language are they speaking in?"

**
REPLY
21. Bhekuyise Mbele,2018
"It's called isiZulu (one of South African official languages), but it's not that pure, it's mixed with local tsotsi (gangsta) slang as it is used here"

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2: Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - Wololo ( REACTION VIDEO ) || @BABESWODUMO @MampintshaNuz



The Ubunifu Space, Published on Jun 28, 2017

The Ubunifu team back again with another reaction video!

This is the UK half of the Ubunifu team

Doing Our #UbuReach where we react to a song different to the region we normally do. We will only do this once in a while, but it brings something different and maybe new to our viewers.

This is our reaction to a South African Song: Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - Wololo
-snip-
Here's information about The Ubunifu Space from the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UbunifuSpace/
"The Ubunifu Space, January 30, 2018

Made up of two teams.

Based in London, UK & Nairobi, Kenya

We have created a digital space where we showcase & share the different sounds & creative arts of young Africans from within the African continent & also in diaspora, so we can show and create links for Africans from across the continent and the world!"
-snip-
*Note that some scenes in the Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - "Wololo" video may not be suitable for children.
-snip-
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread.As a reminder, these selected comments are some of the comments from that discussion thread which focus on the song, its performers, its music genre, and the dance that is usually performed for this song.

These comments are presented in relative chronological order based on their publishing date with the oldest year comments given first, except for replies.

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
1. Nompumelelo Kubheka, 2017
"Thank you Ubunifu team for giving a reaction to this video. Babes Wodumo got a BET ward nomination for this song and from your reaction to it, I am not surprised why this song has been recognized internationally. She's a newcomer in the SA music industry and we love her."

**
2. Lady T, 2017
"@Ubunifu Space...this song Graced the UK screens on a smirnoff advert about 3 months ago.Such a dope advert!!How did you miss that??#Wololo#"

**
3. Nokwanda BongyNGIDI, 2017
"Yes it is the song kids dance too in SA that really went viral and still is a hit. Thanks guys you so much fun to watch you react to one of our South african music."

**
4. sphamandla cyril, 2017
"LOL that sound of music is called "GQOM" and the lyrics were in IsiZulu,it is slightly different from South African house music though. It did serve as a GQOM beat that went viral and had South African kids dancing to."...
-snip-
This comment continued with a request for this team to publish a vlog "reaction" to two other South African contemporary songs. Many of the comments in this discussion thread were similar "please react to" requests. This is indicated in this compilation by the ellipses ["..."] at the end of those comments.

**
5. Keabetswe Ngoaku, 2017
"hey FAM, yebo it is this song.
mampintsha is pronounced as mam-pinch-a😂😂😂"
-snip-
"FAM" is an African American Vernacular English term that is short for "family".

**
6. zakhe nokuthula Mthembu, 2017
"yasssss! this went in... even the guy that is never impressed was dancing from jump"

**
7. Boitshoko Tshabile, 2017
"YES COME TO SA!!! I wouldnt mind hosting you guys in johannsburg. AND YES it is the song with that went viral. its a genre in south africa of music called Gqom originating in our westal coast of Durban, that dance is called GwaraGwara"

**
8. sihle kwanini, 2017
"Love you guys🙈🙌🏾🙌🏾😂 The song is in Zulu. Mampintsha is pronounced Mampincha....like pinch. Y'all most definitely visit SA especially in the summer💃🏿💃🏿 amaWololo is doing the damn thaaaaang"

**
9. PAUL KULCHA #KingOfKwaito, 2017
"that's our Kwaito dance music called Gqom ."...
-snip-
A number of commenters on various YouTube discussion threads about Gqom music indicate that that music genre isn't the same as the South African music genres "Kwaito" or "House".

**
10. SkirozTV, 2017
"Ha ha ha ...great reaction guys especially since this is our current club sound banger called Gqom' in South Africa!"

**
11. Percy Mashao, 2017
"They famous dance Gwaragwara pronounced ( Gwah rah Gwah rah) is mostly danced to with this song and it was made by Dj bongz."

**
12. Sanele Gcabashe, 2017
"Lovely guys...this was one the major hits of the year (2016) crossing over all genres. Yes lyrics are in Zulu, it is a proper turn up jam!"..."

**
13. Busiswa Maphalala, 2017
"New Subbie. Yes they were singing in Zulu and they are from KwaZulu Natal this type of music is called igQhomu. I'm Zulu and the parties this side are always lit like that!"....

**
14. Josephine Jaruha, 2017
"This music was more of dance moves than singing"

**
REPLY
15. Bil Guil Media & Entertainment, 2017
"Josephine Jaruha that was the idea, clever you"

**
16. zingrosa, 2017
"Love your energy in this vid!!!!! No one can resist the beat of this song"

**
17.
Lindo Kuhle, 2017
"Wololo!!! Proof yet again that wololo was the biggest song in SA. This was the first applause from the guys for a SA song... the energy is unmistakable and it is infectious! Wolololo!!!"

**
18. cebisile mabaso, 2017
"Can we please have a moment of prayer for the people who dislike the video."

**
19. MTHABISI INNOCENT Marapani, 2017
"They really enjoyed this song more than any they have reacted to."

**
20. Libahle Langeni, 2017
"That is the songs beat the dance is called the gwara gwara dance"

**
21. Lala Vetro, 2018
"I was just happy when they used this song in Black Panther"

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Various African Cultural Elements That Are Found In The 2018 Fictional Black Panther Movie (with Black Panther trailer video)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update: August 4, 2018

This is Part II of a three part pancocojams series on the 2018 Black Panther American movie.

This post showcases the official trailer for the 2018 Black PantherAmerican movie video and quotes excerpts from five online articles that highlight various African cultural elements that are found in that movie.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/01/possible-origins-meanings-of-names-from.html for Part I of this series. Part I presents information about the 2018 American movie Black Panther and suggest possible es origins and meanings for the names of various characters from that Marvel comic book series and that movie.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/02/reactions-to-2018-black-panther-movie.html for Part III of this series provides selected comments from a YouTube discussion thread about reactions to the 2018 Black Panther movie from Africans and from people from the African diaspora.

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The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who have created, developed, written, and drawn the comic book series Black Panther character. Thanks also to all those who are associated with the 2018 Black Panther movie. Thanks also to all others who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Marvel Studios' Black Panther - Official Trailer



Marvel Entertainment, Published on Oct 16, 2017

Long live the king. Watch the new trailer for Marvel Studios #BlackPanther. In theaters February 16! ► Subscribe to Marvel: http://bit.ly/WeO3YJ

****
EXCERPTS FROM ARTICLES THAT HIGHLIGHT AFRICAN CULTURAL ELEMENTS IN THE 2018 "BLACK PANTHER" MOVIE
EXCERPT #1
From https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-black-panther-reimagined-african-style_us_5a7730e0e4b01ce33eb3e6d5 By Zeba Blay; 02/16/2018 04:38 pm ET Updated, 2/17/2018
From Zamunda To Wakanda: How ‘Black Panther’ Reimagined African Style
“Black Panther” is very much a mix of regional, ethnic and cultural customs. And that’s part of what makes it so brilliant.
..."aesthetically, “Black Panther” is very much a hodgepodge, a juxtaposition, a mix of regional, ethnic and cultural customs. And that’s part of what makes it so brilliant.

Costume designer Ruth E. Carter, in collaboration with production designer Hannah Beachler, created a “Wakandan Bible” early on in production, a tome that set the standard for “Black Panther” and the inhabitants of its world ― from the Dora Milaje, King T’Challa’s personal body guard, to the Jabari, a clan that lives in the mountains of Wakanda.

[Before the shoot], I had already been gathering information about the Maasai tribe, and I fell in love with the Dogon,” Carter told HuffPost. “The real Dogon tribe lived in the mountainous area in Africa and they were one of the first astronomers and they studied the stars and they performed a ritual every year where they created these amazing masks that shot up to the heavens. They were carved out of wood and they would adorn their bodies with these raffia skirts and brilliant colors. They were the inspiration for the Jabari tribe.”

Elsewhere in the film, Carter incorporated the traditional painted robes of the Ndebele people of South Africa in the blankets (which are actually shields) worn by Wakanda’s border tribe.

There’s one scene in the movie, in which King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), finds himself on the ancestral plane speaking with his dead father. T’Challa wears a tunic with an elaborately embroidered collar, reminiscent of those worn by Yoruba men in Nigeria. When his father appears to him, he is wrapped in traditional cloth in the style that many Ghanaian men do ― indeed the fabric itself is covered in Ghanaian Adinkra symbols for “strength.”

There are many aesthetic moments like this in “Black Panther,” many instances of cultural anachronisms that, somehow, work on another level. There is a flurry of various forms of traditional African attire, from vastly differing parts of the continent. It is, in some ways, nonsensical. In other, more important ways, it makes all the sense in the world. Wakanda is not real in the physical sense, but it is a spiritual ideal, a world representing what the diaspora is and could be if given the chance.

For Carter, the blending of cultures in the film isn’t necessarily about disregarding the significance of the clothes on display.

“Looking at it with modern eyes, it’s OK to pay homage to culture and tradition, but we weren’t trying to make a documentary,” she says. “We wanted to honor it in this futuristic way and a lot of the details of the indigenous African tribes easily translate into a futuristic model.”...

****
EXCERPT #2
From https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/16/africa/black-panther-behind-the-scenes-marvel/index.html
(CNN) Wakanda is a lushly futuristic, equatorial enclave. A journey into Wakanda: How we made Black Panther
By Chris Giles, CNN; Updated 11:52 AM ET, Fri February 16, 2018
..."The production of Marvel's "Black Panther" (US release February 16) is a remarkable feat. It's a thrilling and refreshing spectacle on the big screen, capturing traditional African influences in a hypermodern context.

[...]

It is a huge technical and creative undertaking for those working behind the scenes. The production, costume, jewelry and other designers and stylists are creating a whole new world -- one where nature and technology are intertwined.

[...]

'Black Panther' fast facts 00:28
The film also bears with it an important responsibility on the designers and director that the images and representations of an African nation -- in a continent often lazily portrayed in the West -- are inspired by African groups.

A large part of the research process was traveling to Africa.
The team traveled up the coast of South Africa in KwaZulu-Natal, into the countryside and via urban districts.

Production designer Hannah Beachler. "When I came back we reworked everything. There was a lot achieved because of my experience of being able to able to touch and feel and be there and see. I had a better perspective," Beachler says.
"It's a lot about taking the ideas that people have about what it is to live in Africa and what it is to be African and retelling that story, reclaiming it I guess, and having this clarification," Beachler said.

[..]
This story is also seen in what Wakandans wear, a mesh of traditional and hi-tech Afropunk influences.

[...]

Roadmapping African influences
Ruth E. Carter [Black Panther movie’s costume designer]
"There were at least 10 different tribes that we gathered costume inspiration from, because Wakanda is a fictitious land in the Northern Central part of Africa, and it's imagined as a place that was never colonized.
"We could create something that honored African history, African-American history and also would be a new-found culture that would be unique to Wakanda," Carter said.

Carter instructed a team of over 100 buyers. This was no small undertaking, especially for Carter's first shot at a Marvel movie.

She visited Africa and drew influence from ancient tribes to establish the Wakandan people's unique characteristics.
"They wear things more avant-garde. Their hair is natural. They're sometimes barefoot. I would say the Afrofuturistic model is the one characteristic that goes throughout the Wakandan community," Carter says.
Carter was particularly inspired by the Dogon people of West Africa.
"They were a big inspiration for me because they were like astronomers and they lived in this mountainous area of Africa," Carter said.

Other tribes of sartorial inspiration were the Turkana people in East Africa, Hemba people in Congo, Suri tribe in Ethiopia and Tuareg people in western and northern Africa, among others.

However, Carter emboldened these costume designers with edgy, high-tech touches.

Carter said it was important to show this royal African family in a futuristic model."...

****
EXCERPT #3
From https://qz.com/1003692/marvels-black-panther-and-wakanda-raises-questions-about-african-cultural-appropriation/ "Black Panther has some impressive superpowers—solving cultural appropriation isn’t one of them"
written by Lynsey Chutel; June 12, 2017
....“It’s a third world country: textiles, shepherds, cool outfits,” is how Martin Freeman’s character Everett K. Ross describes Wakanda. In the film, it’s the image Wakanda has put forth in order to protect itself and in real life, it’s what most audiences may think of when thinking about Africa in film and television—the “Coming to America” trope still firmly in place.

Behind a mighty waterfall that resembles Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya as it is known locally), is an Eldorado of technology and innovation known as Wakanda.

[...]

The film was mostly shot in a studio in Atlanta, Georgia, the falls are actually shots of Iguazu Falls in Argentina and the skyscrapers are all CGI. And in Africa we generally refer to our panthers as leopards. Still, it’s an indulgent fantasy of what Africa could be, but also what may have been without colonial interference. It’s a reminder that the film is not a meditation on culture, but rather a comic book fantasy that is perhaps inspired by Afrofuturism.

[...]

The city T’Challa returns to has walls painted in the geometric patterns that resemble those of Ndebele culture in South Africa. Lupita Nyong’o is seen in what looks like a wax print dress as she stalks through one scene. In another, T’Challa’s mother, played by a white-haired Angela Basset, is wrapped in a Seanamarena blanket, a large part of Lesotho’s cultural heritage. The scene causing the most debate so far is that of a tribal elder in a tailored suit, with a large lip disc.

What’s significant about this aesthetic is not the question it raises about the roots of lip plates and body stretching in African culture, but rather the blending of the modern and traditional. It’s something that happens every day on the streets of Africa’s cities, with sneakers and suits in bold, bright wax prints, beaded jewelry adorning everyday wear, and even the Seanamarena blanket cut into this season’s bomber jacket trend. These trends are borrowed between different cultures as social media breaks down borders and encourages collaboration.

There are questions on whether African Americans should be borrowing from continental culture…
What’s more, this raises questions on appropriation among Africans, whether acknowledging the specific origins of the design should be enough, or whether, for example, Ghana should be acknowledged in every graphic that resembles Kente.

These are not questions the Black Panther film is going to answer, and it isn’t supposed to—that’s what the debate around appropriation misses. In a similar way to young, connected Africans, the film borrows here and there from a blended African culture. One can only hope that the film will acknowledge the origins of these elements and avoid appropriation."...
"...

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EXCERPT #4
[Pancocojams Editor's Note: Notice that this article refers to another Marvel comic movie in which T'Challa, the Black Panther character appeared.]

From https://www.cinemablend.com/new/What-Language-Black-Panther-Actually-Speaking-Captain-America-Civil-War-129187.html by Gregory Wakeman, 2016 [the date stamp says "1 year ago" but the comments in the discussion thread say "2 years"]
"Captain America: Civil War isn’t just reuniting us with most of the Avengers. It’s also introducing us to two new superheroes. While we’ve revelled in the web-slinging exploits of a certain Peter Parker for quite a few films now, Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa/Black Panther is making his big-screen debut in the blockbuster. This means that movie audiences are now devouring every bit of information they can about Black Panther, which now includes the fact that his native language in Civil War and the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is Xhosa.

While Chadwick Boseman’s superhero actually spends most of Captain America: Civil War speaking English to the other English-speakers, there are one or two scenes that sees T’Challa talking to his father T’Chaka, played by John Kani, in a native Wakanda language. Co-director Joe Russo has now confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that they chose Xhosa for his language, admitting that John Kani actually taught Chadwick Boseman how to speak it.
The language we used for Wakandan is called Xhosa. John Kani, the actor who plays T’Challa’s father in the movie, speaks the language and taught it to Chadwick. It’s spoken by 7.6 million people in South Africa

The decision for Black Panther to speak Xhosa was quite a big one not just for Captain America: Civil War, but for the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, too. That’s because we’re almost certainly going to see T’Challa and his alter ego frequently uttering the language in his own solo film. It would just be weird if he didn't.

Xhosa is known as "the clicking language," as in order to properly pronounce its x’s, you have to put your tongue to the roof of your mouth and then make a clicking noise, which closely resembles the sound of a horse trotting. One of the official languages of South Africa, it is spoken by around 18% of the country’s population, while Nelson Mandela spoke it fluently."...
-snip-
Here are two examples of those comments from that article's discussion thread:
Stan Philip Samuel [2 years ago] 2016?
They picked the wrong language unfortunately. Xhosa is only spoken in South Africa. Wakanda has been geographically placed in Equatorial Africa near Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia (as seen in Iron Man 2). Maybe Swahili would have been a more appropriate selection. Leaving South African and African audiences confused at the lack of appreciation of our language spread. I guess they took the easy route and used it because John Kani knew the language, still does not make it right though. Oh well, it's a fictional world right?

**
"MH Eingoluq, [2 years ago] 2016?
"It really just felt odd to me as a choice. I mean, John Kani is South African and speaks Xhosa, but as far as I know Chadwick Boseman doesn't and he's going to be starring in an entire film set* in Wakanda. So it's not obvious to me why they couldn't just pick a language from that general area.

*I mean, I haven't seen it or anything and plenty of Black Panther stories, including some of the best ones, are set outside Wakanda. But if the casting is 90% black people, which is awesome, it seems awfully likely that that's where it's going to be set."
-snip-
Click http://abcnews.go.com/International/black-panther-puts-spotlight-xhosa-real-african-language/story?id=53142351 "Black Panther' puts spotlight on Xhosa, a real African language spoken by Nelson Mandela"
By JAMES LONGMANANGUS HINES; Feb 16, 2018, 12:10 PM ET for an article about the inclusion of Xhosa in Black Panther.

Also, here's a celebratory comment from a South African in a February 18, 2018 discussion thread from a YouTube video on this subject:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVHwiH0eXjU Black Panther' puts spotlight on Xhosa, a real African language spoken by Nelson Mandela by news usa, Published on Feb 16, 2018
Alice Gauteng, February 18, 2018
"As a South African I was proud hearing Xhosa spoken in the movie. And tbey also wear Badotho blankets.
Coolest thing ever!

****
Excerpt #5
From http://www.africanews.com/2018/02/17/black-panther-wins-the-hearts-of-africans Black Panther wins the hearts of African cinema fans; Daniel Mumbere 17/02 - 13:10
"Africans can’t get enough of the first Marvel superhero movie with a predominantly black cast.

Black Panther has received rave reviews from critics and cinema goers who have flocked to its’s premieres in Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa among others.

Some of the cast actually flew down to South Africa for the premiere, with Kenyan born actress Lupita Nyong’o, tweeting that ‘the excitement is spellbinding’.

'The people who made the film were very specific about the references they used in relationship to Africa. They are pulling from the best fashion and art.'

Wakanda
Black panther is set in the fictional African nation of Wakanda. It tells the story of the new king, T‘Challa/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), who is challenged by rival factions.

The fictional African country is depicted as a verdant land with stunning waterfalls where spacecraft designed like tribal masks soar over a modern metropolis.

Directed by black director Ryan Coogler and featuring actors including Michael B. Jordan, Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong‘o and Forest Whittaker, the film has received widespread critical acclaim after years of criticism about the under-representation of black people in Hollywood.

[...]

Ugandans claim Wakanda
Ugandans who have two actors with roots in the East African country featured in Black Panther, Daniel Kaluuya and Florence Kasumba, have been showing why Wakanda is actually Uganda.

Chazzy Chaz
@SEEMUGASHA
When u watch Black Panther...look out for location on globe..Its not a coincidence Wakanda rhymes with Uganda and our guy is called O"Wakabi" and u see Murchison falls and rift valleys and impenetrable forests and mountains of the moon! Come vacation in Wakanda/Uganda. https://twitter.com/WOODY_THEGREAT/status/964407617077485569 …

3:12 AM - Feb 16, 2018

Asiimwe Jolly
@asiimwejolly1
The young one of a Uganda is a Wakanda....after all Wakanda is a fictional East African nation bordering Uganda, might as well be our baby. 😄😋 #BlackPanther #WakandaCameToSlay

5:06 AM - Feb 17, 2018


Janelle Villadiego
@jdcv_17
"As it turns out, the filmmakers, prod. designers, & costumers of Marvel’s #BlackPanther imagined Wakanda as an amalgamation of real African nations, economies, & cultures, including Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, & the Congo."🇳🇬🇰🇪🇺🇬🇿🇦🇨🇩👏https://www.inverse.com/article/40961-black-panther-wakanda-real-life-inspirations-africa …

6:50 AM - Feb 14, 2018"...

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ADDED FEBRUARY 25, 2018
Excerpt 6:
From https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/behind-black-panther-hidden-meanings-stunning-wakanda-costumes-200814997.html
Behind 'Black Panther': The hidden meanings of those stunning Wakanda costumes
by Gwynne Watkins, February 24, 2018

[quotes from an interview with Black Panther movie costume designer Ruth Carter]
..."the Dogon tribe were the first astronomers. They do a ceremony once a year where they adorn themselves in these brilliant raffia skirts and wood-carving masks that shoot up to the stars — they’re really tall. And they do these moves that sweep the earth. I was fascinated by that. So Ryan wanted the Jabari to wear grass skirts during battle, and the Dogon was the perfect place to start with the inspiration. We used the wood carving design for the armor for the Jabari. So when we see Winston Duke (as M’Baku), he really is representing the Dogon tribe of ancient Africa....

And then the Dora Milaje were inspired by many indigenous tribes of Africa. The color was the brilliant red of the Maasai. When you see these pictures of them with their beadwork, you see this red that is just so prominent and so strong, and really beautiful with these bald heads, and they stack beads, and it’s just phenomenal. So I upped the color of the design to be a much more brilliant red so they could have this part of Africa that was undeniable in its brilliance and in its color. Also their neck rings were inspired by the Ndbele tribe of South Africa....

[in reference to the various tribes of Wakanda] the Merchant Tribe representing the Tuareg, the River Tribe representing the Surma and the Kongo, the Mining Tribe representing the Himba...

And I wanted to apply the art of the tribes to their costumes. For example, silver is a precious metal for the Tuareg, and that fit within the Wakandan ideology of vibranium, because vibranium is also silver. So I combined the silver from the Tuareg look with that aubergine-baby blue kind of mixture for the Merchant Tribe of Wakanda.

The same goes for the River Tribe. The cowry shell was a form of commerce [in West Africa], it was how they traded. And so I used a lot of the cowry shell on Lupita’s costume, and a lot of beads and shells because she represented the river and the water and the grass."...

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Excerpt #7:
From https://twitter.com/diasporicblues/status/964900111129174021?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fdebirhan.com%2F2018%2F02%2Fwakanda-ethiopia-tchala-menelik-ii-black-panthers-copy-right-issues%2F

Waris
@diasporicblues

Feb 17 [2018]
Thread on African tribes/cultures featured in #BlackPanther. #Wakanda
-snip-
This thread includes a number of references to the influence on the Black Panther movie of various African ethnic groups which have already been mentioned in this pancocojams post. However, here are some tweets about additional ethnic groups or aspects from various ethnic groups that Waris highlighted that haven't been mentioned thus far in this post [I've given numbers to these tweets as they are given here for referencing purposes only.]
1.
Waris
@diasporicblues


Feb 17
Zulu headdress. Queen Ramonda wears a distinct headdress. It's reminiscent of the reed Zulu flared hats or "Isicholos." The Zulu headdresses are traditionally worn by married women for ceremonial celebrations.

**
2.
Waris
@diasporicblues

Feb 17
Igbo Mask. In one scene Erik Killmonger wears a mask. The masks, known as Mgbedike, are distinguished by the large size and bold masculine features. They are used in Igbo rituals and are designed to contrast the female dancers with their more feminine beauty. #BlackPanther

**
3.
Waris
@diasporicblues

Feb 17
Ndebele Neck Rings. Shuri and the Dora Milaje have outfits with a prominent collar. The South Ndebele peoples of Zimbabwe/South Africa wear neck rings as part of their traditional dress and as a sign of wealth and status. #BlackPanther #Wakanda

**
4.
Waris
@diasporicblues

Feb 17
Many of the costumes have a distinctive red earthy tone. This was done by studying the colors used by the Himba people of north-western Namibia. Himba people are known for applying a red ochre paste, known as "otjize", to their skin and hair. #BlackPanther #Wakanda


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5.
Waris
@diasporicblues

Feb 17
Forest Whittaker plays shaman Zuri who's the spiritual leader of Wakanda. He wears ornate flowing robes known as an Agbada. It's one of the names for a flowing wide-sleeved robe worn by men/women in much of West Africa, and North Africa. #BlackPanther #Wakanda

**
6.
Waris
@diasporicblues

Feb 17
Tuareg scarfs. Several characters in the film wear large scarves covering their head and face. These are similar to the ones worn by the Tuareg people. The Tuareg people inhabit an area in North and West Africa. #BlackPanther #Wakanda

**
7.
Waris
@diasporicblues

Feb 17
Replying to @diasporicblues
T'Challa's Kente scarf. Kente, known as nwentom in Akan, is a type of silk and cotton fabric made of interwoven cloth strips and is native to the Akan people of Ghana. #BlackPanther #Wakanda
-snip-
Here's a tweet in that discussion thread from another blogger:
8.
IG: PHILANIZUNGU
@Philani_Zungu01

Feb 17
Replying to @diasporicblues
Michael B is also wearing a Zulu lion claw necklace normally worn by Zulu Kings. ^^Google Shaka Zulu for pics.
-snip-
"Michael B [Jordan] plays the character Erik Killmonger in this 2018 Black Panther movie.
-snip-
ADDED August 4, 2018
An additional African element in the Black Panther movie is the snippet from the popular South African 2016 dance song "Wololo" by Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - Wololo was played at the beginning of the scene when T'Challa, accompanied by some members of the Dora Milaje, enters his sister Shuri's lab. The August 2018 pancocojams post http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/08/babes-wodumo-ft-mampintsha-wololo-and.html provides includes a video and comments about that scene.

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