The earlier you realize our fabrics are being adopted universally, the more you begin to appreciate the African clothing styles enthusiastically.
We have witnessed these fabrics showcased elegantly in movies of the local and international outfits. The combination at which they are matched together tells the tale of royalty and pride of Africans.
Hollywood producers are less hesitant today than they were few years ago to invest in films that touch on subjects and motifs outside of the United States due to the extent of cultural integration.
Undoubtedly, some Hollywood blockbusters have drawn inspiration from African culture and experience. Below are four of the best examples, serving as potential models for Hollywood’s confidence in making high-budget African films.
If it doesn’t tell you something then one must be lagging behind. A fusion of ready-made African fabrics, colorfully styled by top stylists and designers, gives accolades to our enriched culture and speaks of the grace it carries. Can tacky wears ever be produced with these fabrics? Only if the wearer is not in 2020.
Table of Contents
Coming to America 1988 & 2021
Coming 2 America is a 2021 American romantic comedy film that serves as a sequel to the 1988 film Coming to America starring Eddie Murphy and directed by Craig Brewer, from a screenplay by Kenya Barris, Barry W. Blaustein, and David Sheffield, and a story by Blaustein, Sheffield, and Justin Kanew, based on characters created by Murphy. It co-stars Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, KiKi Layne, Shari Headley, Teyana Taylor, Wesley Snipes, and James Earl Jones.
Queen of Katwe 2016
Queen of Katwe is a 2016 American biographical sports drama film directed by Mira Nair and written by William Wheeler. Starring David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o, and Madina Nalwanga, the film depicts the life of Phiona Mutesi, a girl living in Katwe, a slum of Kampala, the capital of Uganda.
Black Panther 2018
Black Panther is a 2018 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the 18th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was directed by Ryan Coogler.
Black Panther premiered in Los Angeles on January 29, 2018, and was released theatrically in the United States on February 16, as part of Phase Three of the MCU. Critics praised its direction, writing, acting (particularly that of Boseman, Jordan, and Wright), costume design, production values, and soundtrack, but some criticized the computer-generated visual effects.
Many critics considered the film to be one of the best in the MCU, and it was also noted for its cultural significance because the story and African clothing styles it featured. Organizations such as the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute named Black Panther as one of the top ten films of 2018. It grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide and broke numerous box office records, becoming the highest-grossing film directed by a Black filmmaker, the ninth-highest-grossing film of all time, the third-highest-grossing film in the U.S. and Canada, and the second-highest-grossing film of 2018.
The Woman King 2022
The Woman King is a 2022 American alternate history epic film about the Agojie, the all-female warrior mostly dresses in native African clothing styles that protected the West African kingdom of Dahomey during the 17th to 19th centuries. Set in the 1820s, the film stars Viola Davis as a general who trains the next generation of warriors to fight their enemies. It is directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and written by Dana Stevens, based on a story she wrote with Maria Bello. The film also stars Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, and John Boyega.
The Woman King had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2022, and Sony Pictures Releasing released the film in theaters in the United States on September 16, 2022.
