Chadwick Boseman Is The Boss

King T’Challa played by Chadwick Boseman in the movie Black Panther, directed by Ryan Coogler, is a frustrating character because he comes up weak, too gentle.  He seems to avoid confrontation of any kind.  He is not even convincing as a royal candidate, when he accepts the wrestling challenge from either M’baku or Erik Killmonger. 

The audience regards him as a weakling because it is conditioned to equate power with violence.  It later unfolds that he is low key because he has Wakanda’s interests at heart.  He has a double vision on the country, both internally and globally.  He cannot be brash like M’Baku or Erik Killmonger, who do not hide personal agendas.

T’Challa is both Black Panther and a diplomat.  He must.  Vibranium, Wakanda’s precious mineral should not fall in wrong hands, which makes it ironic that he sees the American character as an ally.  In real life, the U.S. is a big capitalist bully that sends marines to kill locals in order to protect its interests like oil, in countries thousands of miles away.

King T’Challa cannot use a blow torch strategy like the U.S. because Wakanda must take its place on the international stage, while protecting its resources and way of life.  It’s a delicate trapeze act. 

This frustrates audiences so they fall in love with M’baku and Erik Killmonger.  The penny finally drops and they realise that T’Challa is guided by his dead father’s dreams.  King T’Chaka (John Kani) wanted Wakanda to come out of its shell and be respected around the world, while protecting vibranium, its precious mineral.

Chadwick Boseman played that part extremely well, although audiences took some time to get it, as they say on the streets.

By:  Nonqaba waka Msimang.