‘Black Panther’ stars say film changed perceptions of Africa

Cameras flashed as stars of the highly-anticipated sequel to Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ walked the red carpet at the ‘Wakanda Forever’ premiere in London.

Set in the fictional African land of Wakanda, ‘Black Panther’ became a global hit and was hailed as a milestone for racial diversity in Hollywood when it came out in 2018.

Released by Disney-owned Marvel, it was the first superhero film to feature a predominantly Black cast.

For cast members of ‘Wakanda Forever’, the Marvel blockbuster had a positive impact on perceptions of the continent.

“Embracing the diversity that is African culture has resulted in other people embracing their indigenous cultures as well,” said Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o who plays Nakia, one of the lead roles.

“We are celebrating our culture, we are celebrating where we are from in a way that is extremely inclusive,” she said.

‘Black Panther’ was 2018’s top-grossing movie in the United States and Canada, and second-highest worldwide, with $1.3 billion in ticket sales.