Lupita Nyong’o turned down a role in The Woman King, probably for moral reasons
After its publication on 16. The Woman King smashed the box office with a $19 million debut. Viola Davis, who led the cast as the warrior Nanisca, was a torrid promoter of the film, pointing to the black, mostly female cast and the true events the film is based on as main draws.
The film does, however, stir up some controversy as others such as Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o have unearthed a very different story than the film suggests.
Viola Davis and John Boyega star in The Woman King
The Woman King Authors Maria Bello and Dana Stevens first introduced the story after a trip to Benin, Africa in 2016. But the LA Times points out that it’s not until Black Panther proved that a black-led action film could be successful at the box office The Woman King become reality.
The film focuses on a group of West African warrior women named Agojie. The Agojie fight for the kingdom of Dahomey, led by Ghezo (John Boyega). Ghezo was forced to pay tribute to the Oyo Empire’s leader, Oba Ade (Jimmy Odukoya), in the form of weapons and enemy captives captured by the Agojie.
An internal conflict arises between Nanisca and Ghezo over human trafficking. It comes to a head when young Agojie, Nawi (Thuso Mbedu), is captured by the Oyo. Nanisca leads Dahomey to war to rescue her and fight for the kingdom’s independence.
“The ones from Black Panther 2 Lupita Nyong’o made a documentary about Dohemy and the Agojie
Although originally cast for the role of the young warrior Nawi, Nyong’o plays no role The Woman King. The actress is set to reprise her role as Nakia in the upcoming and highly anticipated film Black Panther 2, however. Interestingly, both films were inspired by the Agojie.
Fascinated by the history of the powerful female warriors, Nyong’o also made a documentary about the Agojie, warriorsacross Africa in 2019. In the documentary, Nyong’o discovers what’s at the heart of the film’s controversies today: The Agojie was Warrior. But they did Not fight for what The Woman King claims they did.
The great liberties taken by The Woman King The New Yorker also points this out. The article refers to the historical account of Oluale Kossola who survived an Agojie attack on his village and was made a slave. in the warriorsNyong’o interviews the granddaughter of another Agojie slave.
“The conceit of the film is benevolently an elaborate exercise in wishful thinking,” writes Lucas, “Wouldn’t it be nice if Dahomey’s brave warriors were also fighters for justice?”
Towards the end of the documentary, Nyong’o can be seen with tears streaming down her face. She says, “Any notion that the Agojie is a beacon of enlightened feminism, like the Dora Milaje in Wakanda, is long gone,” according to the New Yorker.
After her work on warriorsNyong’o walked out quietly The Woman King.
Social media is calling for a boycott The Woman King
Despite the film’s largely successful debut and critical acclaim, many on social media have called for the film to be boycotted The Woman King. Many like Twitter Users @NileRoss have started using the hashtag “#BoycottWomanKing”. Others, like those in the Cassius Life tweet collection, have called The Woman King‘s story dishonest and shameful.
The Woman King The production team claims misinformation was spread through the writings of the European colonizers (LA Times). But Nyong’o keeps working warriors and the Agojie survivor’s first-hand account, relayed by Lucas’ New Yorker article, argues the contrary.
Despite the outcry raging on social media right now, what Nyong’o discovered while at work warriors seemed enough to dissuade her from the project, probably on moral grounds. But whether The Woman King whether she will overcome the controversy that currently threatens her remains to be seen.
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https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/lupita-nyongo-likely-turned-down-role-the-woman-king-moral-reasons.html/ Lupita Nyong’o turned down a role in The Woman King, probably for moral reasons
