Disney, please leave Shuri a leader. Wakanda Doesn’t Need a Prince.

poster of "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" by Disney (IMDB)

Black Panther, the Disney-owned film franchise about a mighty king with power and dignity, is my favourite Marvel film. It goes beyond a fun action film and becomes a redefined representation – especially Africans (AfroFuture) and women.

What made me extremely interested was its portrayal of women in the country. Wakanda, which has amassed a jaw-dropping level of intellects and wealth that realized the world’s most advanced technology, was filled with strong women. From Queen Ramonda, the mother of the protagonist T’challa, to his sister and tech genius Shuri, as well as the amazing Dora Milaje, the all-female special royal guards, the country has great women. This stands out amongst Marvel films where the absolute majority of lead heroes are male with tiny exceptions.

In the movie, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” which was shot sans T’challa, after the tragic death of actor Chadwick Boseman (which I still feel extremely sad about), Wakanda is driven by even stronger female power. The Queen and the princess together aim to save the country from a marine, or underwater people (which also introduces and familiarizes central American culture to people like me). A few men collaborate in the national defense, but it is the women squad that keep Wakanda safe.

The powerful special royal guard (left), and the mighty Shuri show that women can be equally talented to lead a country. (IMDB)

The most attractive character of all is Shuri, the tech prodigy, who apparently finds herself in the middle of the national defense crisis. Whilst she initially limited her role as a scientist and supporter to reinforce her brother’s regime and heroic performances, now, with her brother and mother dead, she is left with leadership responsibility. She struggles to cope with the newly found burden for a while, but at the end steps up to lead Wakanda and protect her people, like her brother did. She uses her technological aptitude in reinforcing her suit, and fights off the intruders, and seals a peace deal. And yes, apparently won over some of the male challengers who vied the throne.

This all was very much empowering and inspirational, showing a growth arc of a strong female leader of the world’s most advanced country.

Then, at the very last part, in a cookie clip, after Shuri embraced her identity, capabilities and duties, she has another finding – her dead brother’s son. The heir…

The film shows that both parents of the boy wanted the baby to be out of the limelight, and that the baby is likely to remain unknown for the foreseeable future.

But here, But here, a familiar pattern emerges: the possibility of a male heir returning to claim the crown simply by bloodright.

Let’s see: Perseus of the Greek myth became King by killing an old King, who was later found to be his own grandfather. The grandfather ordered Perseus to be killed off, following an oracle that he would be dethrone by his own grandchild. But the baby got lucky and after a great ordeal became King and executed the grandfather.

This familiar narrative is not limited to myths. I have seen many of these cases.

Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Archaemenid Empire was ordered to be murdered by his own grandfather as an infant. He was survived by a shepherd, and after many shocking incidents, came back home, sought vengeance, claimed his crown, and even created an empire that even I get to know who he is. Jumong, the founder of Goguryeo kingdom in Korea shows similar path, with his mother exiling to keep him alive and safe. Whilst his mother wanted Jumong a modest life, fate brought him to be a hero to establish his own kingdom.

Disney also loves this story line. There was Simba from The Lion King. Whilst the baby lion even thought he was responsible for the death of his own father (which was not true: his uncle, who took the crown, was the real murderer), he returns to claim his seat.

These are just fractions of the very familiar plot that adds extra drama and legitimacy to heroes.

And whilst Wakanda Forever did not suggest anything at this point, it gives me grave concern that Shuri, the one who had proven her ability and capability as King, will be used as a link between the baby and the throne.

Keeping the heritage until the “legitimate heir is ready,” then forward the seat to the young man. There have been historical cases of queens “mentoring (masterminding) younger male” and then inheriting the crown in Korea and China. In Europe, regentship was quite common. There are probably more in the rest of the world.

In media, this pattern is often seen, where women lead crisis, prove themselves competent but yield, are sidelined or die when a male heir appears or returns. We find that in the cases of Eowyn in the Lord of the Rings, Daenerys Targaryen in the Game of Thrones, or even by Shakespeare -- Miranda in The Tempest, where she is used as a mere link to the new king.

But time has passed, and it is a new world.

Shuri has earned her crown — not as a placeholder, but as a rightful leader. Let her lead Wakanda with brilliance, compassion, and physical strength. Let the world’s most powerful and advanced country continue to thrive under the reign of a woman who has proven herself time and again. Disney, if you choose to sideline her for a child heir — simply because of his bloodline (Shuri is also a sibling, and the baby’s blood ties to the father are no stronger than Shuri’s!) — you’re perpetuating the same old male-centered narrative. Shuri is not a bridge to someone else’s destiny. She is the future. Let her reign.

#LetShuriReign, #Blackpanther, #womeninpower, #disneyneedsmorepowerfulwomen