The Cultural Influences of Marvel’s Black Panther
6. Wakandan Weaponry
While all of Wakandan marvels of science are made of the fictional metal known as Vibranium, the weapons its residents wield still bear a connection to our reality. From T’Challa’s shield that can be seen as a hybrid of multiple African tribal shields to filmmakers taking notes on the Ahosi of Dahomey – an all female military corps that directly served the king in what is now modern-day Togo and Benin – to bring the Dora Milaje to life, Black Panther’s action scenes and looks owe a lot to Africa’s real history.
Weapons of Wakandans used in the Warrior Falls challenge for the throne. Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.
Even the way the characters fight is based on actual African techniques, such as the Ethiopian Surma warriors’ stick fighting inspiring the Dora Milaje’s coordinated spearmen and close quarter combat inspired by the traditional wrestling of the Senegalese Serer and Sudanese Dinka Bor tribes. This deliberately African aesthetic extends to even the costumes and armor that the fighters adorn during combat. The extensive use of geometric shapes in their designs is a distinctly African feature, and one commonly seen throughout history, especially in the various tribal weapons.
Source:
GP Manalo
