An African superhero should speak an African language, John Kani believes. And so the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Black Panther does.
Dr John Kani’s strict attention to detail was the reason he and the Black Panther speak Xhosa in Captain America: Civil War — and it will be adapted as the Marvel character’s official language in his upcoming solo film.
story_article_left1
The exchange between Kani’s character, King T’Chaka of Wakanda, and his son, T’Challa, played by Chadwick Boseman, was originally scripted in English.
“I asked the directors why am I speaking English to my son? We are supposed to be from Africa.”
They agreed to try the dialogue in Xhosa. Kani taught Boseman to say: “Ndiyaxolisa, baba (I am sorry, Dad).”
“There was so much excitement from the directors box, because they liked the clicks!” the theatre legend told the Sunday Times this week.
He said the African connection made the language “acceptable” even though the fictional country is meant to be in central Africa.
Director Joe Russo confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that they had chosen Xhosa for the characters’ language in the upcoming Black Panther movie, due out in 2018.
Listen to Kani describe how he got the role, the self-destructing script and how he taught Boseman to say “Mxolisi”.
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.