Black Panther is an empowering film for African children - Fuse ODG

UK-based Ghanaian Afro pop star, Fuse ODG has described American superhero film, Black Panther, as an empowering film for African children “so they must watch it.”

The film, he told NEWS-ONE on Tuesday, has a strong message to challenge African children to believe in themselves and embrace who they are.

Black Panther, which is based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, is currently ranked as one of the world’s most successful films of all time.

It is directed by Ryan Coogler, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Robert Cole, and stars Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa / Black Panther, alongside Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis. In the film, T’Challa returns home as king of Wakanda but finds his sovereignty challenged by a long-time adversary, in a conflict with global consequences.

On Tuesday, Fuse watched the film together with pupils of his private school; Wood Word Mission School – Akosombo, at a private screening ceremony at the Silverbird Cinemas, West Hills Mall at Weija.

The ceremony was part of a social drive to give the children a cinema experience and it was also an initiative of #WeWillRizeTogether in association with iHeartAfrica, NGOs that help people realise their full potential through well coordinated programs.

The children who numbered over 100, travelled from Akosombo to watch the movie. After the screening ceremony, they were engaged in a discussion where they expressed their enthusiasm in the film.

Some of them indicated that the film thought them that, “Africans are beautiful, kind and important to the world.”

Fuse who was born Nana Richard Abiona, in an interview with NEWS-ONE, said it was useful for the children to watch the film.

“For a lot of these kids, it is their first time coming to the cinema. And for them to watch Black Panther, it is a greatest experience because this film is empowering.”

“It is a film that emphasizes on African culture. It is so good that the kids were like, the movie made them feel like Africans are important, Africans are beautiful, Africans are kind and it’s so nice to hear these kids feel a sense of pride of who they are and their culture as well. So that’s the main thing I wanted them to take from the film,” he emphasised.

According to him, he wanted the children to be proud of their identity.

“I want them to understand that it is okay to love yourself. They should love their hair and skin. Love who are you are as a Ghanaian or African,” he added.