Renowned Nigerian author and New York Times bestselling writer, Nnedi Okorafor, has revealed why she struggled with Marvel Studios’ Black Panther project, explaining that the fictional world of Wakanda raised serious concerns for her about how Africa was being represented.
Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera English, she shared that her hesitation came from the way Wakanda’s story conflicted with her personal understanding of African history and identity.
Okorafor explained that one of her biggest challenges was the idea of Wakanda as a wealthy and technologically advanced African nation that chose to remain hidden from the rest of the world.
She questioned why such a powerful country would stay silent during colonialism and other painful chapters in Africa’s past, describing this as a troubling contradiction. From breaking news to viral moments.
She also pointed out that Wakanda’s relationships seemed more focused on the United States than on neighbouring African nations, which she found problematic. Another factor that made her reluctant was her discomfort with monarchies.
The idea of a king ruling over Wakanda did not sit well with her, and this added to her doubts about taking on the project.
Okorafor is widely recognised for her works on African culture, fantasy and science fiction. Her writing career has earned her international recognition, and Marvel’s invitation to write Black Panther placed her at the centre of one of the most influential comic franchises in the world.
Despite her reservations, she eventually accepted the role because she believed it gave her a rare chance to reshape the narrative from within. She mentioned her work, Long Live the King, as an example, where she deliberately introduced symbolic scenes to humanise leadership in Wakanda.
In one moment, the king walks barefoot into a community, a subtle rejection of distant royalty and a gesture that brought power closer to the people. Watch the video below:
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