By Ngozi Agu
Renowned Nigerian author and New York Times bestselling writer Nnedi Okorafor has revealed that she almost turned down Marvel’s offer to write Black Panther, citing deep concerns about how Africa was represented through the fictional nation of Wakanda.
Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera English, Okorafor said she initially struggled with the idea of Wakanda as a wealthy, technologically advanced African country that chose to remain hidden from the world during colonialism and other traumatic periods in African history.
“One of the biggest contradictions for me was the silence,” Okorafor said.
“Why would a nation with that level of power and technology stay quiet while the rest of Africa was being colonised and brutalised?”
She also questioned Wakanda’s external relationships, noting that its engagement appeared to be more focused on the United States than on neighbouring African countries.
“That imbalance didn’t sit right with me,” she said.
“If this is an African nation, why does it seem more connected to America than to Africa itself?”
Okorafor added that her personal discomfort with monarchies further complicated her decision. The idea of a king ruling Wakanda conflicted with her own views on leadership and power.
“I’m not a fan of kings,” she said.
“The concept of a distant ruler didn’t align with how I think communities should function.”
Despite these reservations, Okorafor said she ultimately accepted the project because it offered a rare opportunity to challenge and reshape the narrative from within one of the world’s most influential comic franchises.
She pointed to her work on Long Live the King as an example of how she sought to humanise leadership in Wakanda. In one symbolic scene, the king walks barefoot into a community, a deliberate choice meant to reject distant royalty and bring power closer to ordinary people.
“I wanted to show leadership that was grounded,” she said. “Power doesn’t have to be removed from the people it serves.”
Okorafor, widely recognised for her contributions to African culture, fantasy and science fiction, said the experience was complex but meaningful, allowing her to engage critically with a global symbol of Black and African identity.
Her revelations have sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some users praising her honesty and critical perspective, while others questioned her decision to accept the project despite her moral concerns.
Okorafor said the debate itself underscores why representation matters. “These stories carry weight,” she said. “They shape how the world sees us — and how we see ourselves.”
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