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blackchildrensbooksandauthors · 7 years ago

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What’s Your Story?: Anna Nyakana

“What’s Your Story?” is a new, guest post feature on BCBA web. Authors-traditional and self-published-are invited to write about their books, writing journey, creative process, inspiration, rewards and challenges of publishing, etc. They can go in whatever direction they choose. We are excited and grateful for their willingness to share, and we hope you enjoy our guests’ stories.

There I stand in my elementary school's library trying to choose a novel to check out. I walk from one bookcase to another in search of finding a story similar to my own or a character that I could relate to. I board the school bus empty-handed. The next week, my homeroom teacher Mrs. Ridley asks what adventures I read about over the weekend, and I tell her that I couldn't find a book with anyone on the cover that looked like me. She wrinkles her brow, lifts my chin with her hand, and says, "Then you should write it."

Now, here I stand in my local Barnes & Noble thinking of those simple words from my second-grade teacher. She had no way of knowing that I would spend years writing several versions of a manuscript until perfected and that I would receive responses from uninterested publishers who felt my story didn't align with their market or interested agents who suggested my heroine would captivate more young readers if she were “less Urban.” I stretch my hand and grab a copy of Niyah Zuri and the Pharaoh's Throne, turning it over to read the back. Suddenly, a young girl's voice startles me, "You look like her!" she shouts, pointing her finger at the front cover. I quickly compose myself, smile down at her, and say, "So do you."

Anna Nyakana, the author of Niyah Zuri and the Pharaoh's Throne, is also an accomplished musician and singer. She was born in Berlin, Germany and now resides in Connecticut with her family.

Connect with Anna Nyakana Website | YouTube | Twitter | Instagram

Find more “What’s Your Story?” features by Black authors here

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#Black children's books and authors #anna nyakana #what's your story?#kidlit #niyah zuri and the pharaoh's throne

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wakandaiscoming · 7 years ago

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Commentary Facts part one

Got my blu ray today. Very excited to listen to the commentary which does not just have Ryan Coogler, it also has Hannah Beachler (production designer) so that’s super bonus.

Some things I’ve learned:

Hannah made a 515-page “Bible” of the world.

The basketball court and apartment complex that N’Jobu and young Killmonger live in is a real location in Atlanta. It is near the Dr. King Memorial. Coogler says when they were filming, Dr. King’s daughter (I assume Bernice King, because I love her) came and gave them all hugs and wished them well. (Me: SOBS UNCONTROLLABLY. They were blessed.) In fact, in the scene where young Killmonger sees the Wakandan plane leave, they had to touch up the background with CGI to remove the King Memorial.

The color that represents colonization in the film is BLUE.

Zuri wears purple in the past and at Warrior Falls. Many of the characters were color coordinated, to help the viewer keep track of them. The purple represents both spirituality and a high rank/royalty.

Ruth Carter had a story with the necklaces. The three men in the apartment all wear gold necklaces because they are all Wakandan royalty, but N’Jobu’s is also based on 2Pac.

I will cut now because this is only going to get longer.

Nakia’s mission was inspired by the kidnappings going on in Nigeria. It’s set in the Sambisa Forest but was shot in Atlanta.

Coogler notes that Bambadjan Bamba plays the leader of the convoy and that he is a DREAMer.

Nakia’s color is green, but the women in the back of the truck are also dressed in green. This is because Nakia sees herself as part of the outside world as well as Wakanda. He also mentions that Nakia knows about the young boy and that if she didn’t have Panther’s back, that boy would be dead.

The shot of “Wakanda” as they return are actually shot mainly South Africa and Lesotho.

Ayo is second-in-command of the Dora Milaje.

Ramonda is hiding her grief. She wants to move forward and be there for her son.

The Museum set was built by Hannah in Atlanta. Everyone in London (especially Killmonger) wears blue and there is a blue tint to the film.

The mask Killmonger steals has a simian face, antelope horns and a lion mane. Because he is an amalgamation of many things.

Zuri’s face paint was inspired by warriors in Papua New Guinea. (Definitely listen to Ruth Carter’s video on the Warrior Falls costumes because Cooger doesn’t have time to call it all out.)

He says the fake out where Shuri raises her hand to challenge was suggested by Donald Glover (Atlanta) aka Childish Gambino, who was also in Spider-man: Homecoming.

Coolger says one inspiration for Winston Duke’s speech as M’Baku was the film Lincoln. He thought political speeches in that were cool. He is challenging T’Challa both physically and politically.

“We wanted to make his character one of dignity,” says Coogler of how he didn’t like M’Baku in the comics. He also says M’Baku is “sexy” but that is “all Winston.” He wears white paint on his back to symbolize the silverback gorilla. The Jabari do not have an elder (possibly due to their hard life?--this is speculation from me); M’Baku is the same age roughly as T’Challa and he speaks for himself.

The composer, Ludwig Göransson, picked up and moved to Senegal when he got the job so he’d be seeped in the music of Africa.

T’Challa wins the fight because he gains worth from his identity. His mother yells to show him who you are. He is T’Chaka’s son, and he believes T’Chaka was a great king. He gains strength from his mother and sister’s support.

T’Challa is merciful and doesn’t enjoy taking people’s lives that is why he spares M’Baku, in addition to the fact that he believes M’Baku is a good leader and that the Jabari need him. Coogler hints that it is T’Challa’s mercy that saves his life in the end. (Spoiler alert!) And, if I may editorialize for a moment, this is a good reminder of T’Challa’s arc in Captain America: Civil War. That he is not consumed by the need for vengeance against Zemo or M’Baku.

The necklace Zuri places on T’Challa (again with the necklaces) is supposed to belong to Bashenga.

Coogler and Beachler refer to the caverns where the heart-shaped herb grows as “The City of the Dead.” I did not realize this was supposed to be the Necropolis. I thought it was the Temple of Bast. For those of you who don’t know, in the comics T’Challa becomes King of the Dead and the Necropolis is his seat. I’ve actually wondered if we might see such a storyline given the ending of Infinity War. (Guys, don’t worry about T’Challa. He’s King of the Dead. An argument could be made that Thanos actually increased T’Challa’s power and reach. If it had been Shuri, I would’ve cried. Oh, who am I kidding, I cried anyway.)

T’Challa is buried in a position many people on the continent (pharaohs, etc) are buried and it is also like the Wakanda Forever salute. And it means “love” in American Sign Language. You guys, there are ASL references in this film. It is for EVERYONE.

Coogler says T’Challa has taken the herb and experienced these visions before but this is the first time he’s done it since his father has been dead, so he’s looking for him.

They had a lot of concepts for what the Spirit World would look like. Some more fantastical than others. They decided to go with the Acacia tree (which is often seen in movies about Africa, like the Lion King). It represents Africa. The color in the background is purple because he is still feeling the effects of the Heart-Shaped Herb.

Here T’Challa’s idea of being a “good king” is being like his father. That remains T’Challa’s goal throughout the film but he must stop being so rooted in the past.

I think I need to take a break now. There is more information than I can write about.

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theexpecteffectpodcast · 4 years ago

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