Imagination has never been a kind of turning towards direction. Always funny that too much happens and I have no imagination, so I can’t go on. But Blood and bone children It was different. This was a book everyone He was talking. The Tonight Show got it for 2018 Summer Book ClubMovie rights were secured before the publication (which is almost unheard of for a debut author), and paid very positive attention to the internet. What really inspired me was his setting: a rich fantastic, pre-colonial world inspired by Nigeria called Orisha. An African fantasy novel that takes the world scene? I had to see it for myself – so I gave the book and loved it.
This was six years ago. Now, with the building of excitement The upcoming adaptation of the movieThe book is going to become a great production of Hollywood, starring actors MBEDU OLDAmandla Stenberg, Damson Idris and Tosin Cole in the main roles. Like many followers who prefer to read the book before they see the film, there is a strong desire to maintain the characters from Hollywood’s potentially glossy re -infliction and remain loyal to the novel. However, with Amandla Stenberg, an inter -charted actress who is cast in one of the main roles, the film has already triggered a discussion of coloring – threatening to overshadow a bigger discussion about the African narrative in mainstream.
Blood and bone children Author with many award -winning, writer, Nigerian-American Tomi Adeyemi It didn’t just create a magical world. He created one that was pulsating with the language, history and magic of a pre-colonial Nigeria that felt both fresh and deeply familiar.
The book follows Zélie Adebola, a young girl from a persecuted magical race, looking to restore the magic stolen by the king. Along with her brother and daughter of the king, Princess Amari, she is forced to tour a world of prejudice and political turmoil, where their magic makes goals. In his heart, this is the struggle for freedom in a divided world and the courage he needs to stand against tyranny.
While a fantastic fantasy story, Adeyemi is clearly based on the culture of Yuba and the mythology of West Africa to shape its world. Magic and religion, for example, are interconnected, with each of the ten magical abilities associated with a god or goddess who rules the Maji tribes. Every detail of Orïsha – places, clothing, battle styles and social structure – reflects this cultural influence of West Africa.
As one of the African Diaspora, my excitement was moderated by Hollywood’s long history of mistreating stories by Epirus, turning rich cultures into tired clichés that make many of us arguing. What made this work feel different, however, was the peculiarity of the book. To do it right, it seemed clear that they had to remain loyal and so we fans hoped to do so.
But then the Cast list fell. And let’s say, the The internet had a lot to sayWith a collective sigh, especially above the casting of Amandla Stenberg, an interracial actress, as princess Amari. The choice of South Africa actor Thuo Mbedu as Zélie Adebola – The protagonist is described to have dark onyx skin – has increased some eyebrows.
Hollywood often treats Africa as a monolith, with little attention to cultural and historical details, and this casting is concerned, it fits this repetitive trend.
Maybe I was naive, but a woman who didn’t have the one I pulled out as amari. While the dominant class in Blood and bone children It is lighter than the majority of the population, in a Nigerian -inspired world, I imagined it meant people with skin like this of thiso Mbedu. Having grown up in Ghana, I would argue that one of the Mbedu skin (darker than stenberg but lighter than someone who is considered “dark skin”) will be described as “more fair skin” and will fit the bill.
Amari, while in this dominant class, is a frustrated in her family, is punished by her mother to be too dark and very large. Coloring and flabby shape all its existence, pushed it into the margins and eventually led her to join the revolution.
Even if some readers imagined that Amari as a girl with light skin, because filmmakers didn’t get the opportunity to buck Hollywood’s long -term model for casting women with lighter skin in roles for black women?
This conversation is not new. For years, Hollywood’s choice for a “black girl” has often been a light, Biracial actress-someone who is considered more enjoyable while still hits the diversity box. What we say as fans we say is that when the opportunity comes to throw dark women who are more under -represented in Hollywood, it should be embraced. You do not do this in this particular example it feels like a real slap on the face.
In the past few days, Stenberg responded to criticism through a video of eight minutes Tiktokdefending her casting in the upcoming film and previous roles.
When he was molded in his film adaptation The hate you give; Stenberg faced a similar reaction to taking the leading role. In her long video, she shared that she was her online activism around the black lives that led the author to feel that she was suitable for the role, as she could talk about history issues.
Plans similar connection here by stating it racist abuse he recently encountered after his appearance The seal (Star Wars universe) and suggesting that because of the vibrant experience of racism, it is worth this role. According to Stenberg, such as KILLER; Blood and bone children The writer Tomi Adeyemi was willing to throw her, moved by racism she treated as a child actor after The hunger matches And how he got up in it. This experience, he says, led Adeyemi to write a story where black girls everywhere could feel they saw.
One thing we can all agree on is that Stenberg’s experience as a Biracial actor in Hollywood is valid and no one tries to take it away from it. But in this case, where coloring is central to the experience of a character, this was a low-suspension fruit opportunity to represent black women in prominent roles on the screen and also present a love story between two dark guides-something which we also don’t see enough.
Why aren’t our stories and experiences given the same level of commitment and respect? It’s a question that Hollywood must answer, not Amandla Stenberg.
Large budget movies, of course, need big names to design audiences and sell tickets. But with such a large cast and award -winning Actors like Cynthia Erivo and Viola Davis already on boardThere was plenty of room for the introduction of fresh talents. Blood and bone children It already has a built -in ghost that will undoubtedly appear in mice. And with what is likely to be a huge budget, this felt like the perfect mandate to take the risk of some new, talented faces in prominent roles.
These casting options are not only for coloring, though ironically, it is a factor. Hollywood often treats Africa as a monolith, with little attention to cultural and historical details, and this casting is concerned, it fits this repetitive trend.
First, there is a tendency to swim the whole continent together, leading to a mishmash of tones, clothing and traditions that do not belong to any place. The king of the woman, starring Viola Davis; It was a primary example. The film, which tells the true story of the military army that defended the kingdom of West Africa by Dahomey (now part of Benin), was widely praised for its performance. But where it soon fell, it was the same place so many western productions: precision. Instead of using Benin’s authentic intentions, the actors received an indefinite, general “African” pronunciation, leveraging a rich and specific culture in something unrecognizable. This may seem small. But when Hollywood does not bother to get the details correctly, it erases the diversity of languages, traditions and stories that make each country unique.
The industry has proven that it can get cultural representation with attention to detail. Look at CocoaThe Pixar movie that won the Oscar, for example. The group behind it is made up of Mexican talent, from animators to cultural advisers, securing The film authentically reflected Mexico’s culture. The result? It was a box-office blow. Children saw their families, traditions, tongue and tones on the screen, deepen their Link to their inheritance. It is clear that when the studios are committed, they invest time and resources – such as hiring accent and understanding cultural shades – to do it right.
Stories of or affected by the African continent do not get the same level of attention. Yes, Blood and bone children has done Open molding for Nigerian actorsBut we know that the main roles have gone to those who like Amandla Stenberg. Meanwhile, Nollywood (the Nigerian film industry) feels like this obvious, unused team of talent. of A billion -dollar movie industry Full of actors and filmmakers who are willing to collaborative opportunities that Hollywood are often so reluctant to offer.
It feels as if we are not good enough. Why aren’t our stories and experiences given the same level of commitment and respect? It’s a question that Hollywood must answer, not Amandla Stenberg.
I am not ready to completely delete the film, but this casting decision questions its ability to bring the life inspired by Yoruba with the authenticity it deserves. I’ll watch, but I’m nervous.
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