Uncut Radio
📸 TriStar Pictures
A stiff campaign has erupted on social media calling for movie lovers and the general public to shun the historical Epic film ‘The Woman King’ which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, Canada on September 9.
The film is set around the real-life Kingdom of Dahomey in the 18th and 19th centuries, Oscar-winner Viola Davis leads the charge as Nanisca, General of the all-female military unit known as the Amazons. She and her daughter Nawi fight the French and neighboring tribes who violated their honor, enslaved their people, and threatened to destroy everything they’ve lived for.
However, the controversy surrounding the film comes from African and Black community critics who point out that it paints the involvement of African slave traders.
The film follows the story of the all-female military unit, known as the Agojie that guarded the West African kingdom of Dahomey from the 17th to 19th centuries.
It’s history but we have to take a license. We have to entertain people. If we just told a history lesson, which we very well could have, that would be a documentary, we didn’t want to shy away from the truth. The history is massive and there are truths on that that are there. If people want to learn more, they can investigate more.”
Julius Tennon, – Producer
The main point of contention by online critics is that the movie seemingly uplifts the women without fully acknowledging that the Dahomey tribe sold other Africans into slavery.
