‘Wakanda never felt right to me’ – Black Panther writer Nnedi Okorafor

Renowned Nigerian writer and New York Times bestselling author, Nnedi Okorafor, has opened up on why she initially hesitated to write for Marvel’s Black Panther, revealing deep concerns about the idea of Wakanda and what it represents about Africa.

Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera English, Okorafor said she did not immediately accept the offer to write Black Panther because the concept of Wakanda conflicted with her personal beliefs and understanding of African history.

According to her, one of her biggest issues was the portrayal of Wakanda as a super-wealthy, technologically advanced African society that chose to hide from the world, even during some of Africa’s darkest periods.

Okorafor questioned why such an advanced African nation would remain silent during colonialism and other historical crises on the continent, describing the idea as deeply problematic.

She also criticised Wakanda’s outward-facing relationships, noting that the fictional country appeared to engage more with the United States than with neighbouring African nations, a narrative choice she found troubling.

The award-winning author further revealed that she is uncomfortable with monarchies, which added to her reluctance to take on the project.

Despite her reservations, Okorafor said she eventually agreed to write Black Panther because she believed it gave her a rare opportunity to challenge and reshape the narrative from within.

“I felt maybe that was the reason — to fix some of these things from the inside,” she explained.

She cited her work Long Live the King as an example, revealing how she deliberately inserted symbolic moments to humanise power and leadership in Wakanda. One such scene features the king walking barefoot into a Wakandan community, a subtle but powerful rejection of distant, untouchable royalty.