Over the weekend, I joined my children to watch the
much talked about ‘Black Panther’. It was a good film, and I was happy they
took me to see it. However, I came out of the movie theatre a little upset.
When the first scenes came up, and I saw “Sambisa Forest”
I was unhappy that the only reference the film makers could have for Nigeria
was a negative one, but I was later encouraged by the thought of Africans
solving African problems. That is a good thing, the kinds of things we used to
do. For young people who may not remember, Nigerian civil servants and indeed
most able citizens used to contribute money every month to support the struggle
against Apartheid in South Africa. Nigeria was the single stabilizing force
across West Africa. Helping to restore peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone are
examples of the gigantic status we once had.
Seeing another African country come play ‘Big Brother’
to Nigeria made me very sad. We must return to a place of respect. We may argue
that the film is a work of fiction, but there are many truths in the story — one of them being that young girls are being abducted by terrorists
across the northeast of Nigeria, and they need to be rescued. Only recently, a
band of terrorists stormed another girls’ school in Dapchi, Yobe State. After days of confusing
information, it is now confirmed that 110 girls are missing. Nigeria has once
again been thrown into sorrow with many of us wishing that there was indeed a
‘Black Panther’ to help rescue the girls.
Here are my takeaways on Black Panther:
Institutions are important
Wakanda was portrayed as a technological giant, which
ruled by great kings, supported by a council, and traditions are held in high
esteem. But it was easy to see that most of the decisions are those of the
king, which presents serious institutional problems. Institutional order in the
dispensation of justice could have helped handle the betrayal of Wakanda by the
king’s brother, which would have prevented the hatred of Wakanda which filled
the heart of the nephew who was left behind.
The succession system is also another example of
institutional weakness in Wakanda. The young man from America came in and
within days, destroyed the long standing institutions, even when he seemed to
be trying to help Black people all over the world.
In one moment of folly, he decided to destroy the
garden that guarantees powers to every other king of the future. Should there
not have been a process whereby a council needs to approve the King’s orders
before they are carried out? Institutions are better guarantors of good
governance than kings or strong men/women.
Checks and balances are important in leadership. This
is why democracy is important. As a Nigerian who has lived through many
dictatorships, I would have liked Wakandans to adopt a new model, which gives
them a say in who leads them, as well as includes checks and balances. This
would at least insure the country against the rise of tyrants and demagogues.
Killmonger’s liberation philosophy was terrible
The most successful tyrants always have simple
philosophies, which on the surface appear good. We only see the deviousness of
the plan after a second look.
Many people would be drawn to the message of black
liberation that the young American returnee preached, but closer scrutiny
reveals that it wasn’t liberation he was preaching, but reverse oppression.
When the oppressed becomes the oppressor, has justice really been done or are
we just exchanging one evil for another?
Nigeria’s hope is Nigerians
One of Wakanda’s most valuable resources was mentioned
in the film, but not shown — many Wakandans abroad providing intelligence to their
country back home. There’s enough Nigerian talent abroad to turn our country into a technology
and industry giant. The question then is how we can make the environment
conducive for them to return and contribute to its growth and development.
Read it full on Medium HERE
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