On the “wrong” side of history: fabulating history in the Woman King (2022)

Abstract

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.Notes1 The Woman King, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (Sony Pictures Releasing, Citation2022).2 Rachel Ulatowski, “‘The Woman King’ Controversy, Explained,” The Mary Sue, February 13, Citation2023. https://www.themarysue.com/the-woman-king-controversy-explained/#:∼:text=Why%20is%20The%20Woman%20King%20controversial%3F&text=The%20major%20reason%20for%20the,film%20about%20Black%20women's%20empowerment. 1. Viola Davis, who plays General Nanisca in the film as well as being one of the film’s producers, has openly admitted that many parts of the film were deliberately fictionalised for the “sake of entertainment and art”.3 Tafi Mhaka, “The Woman King: The truth about slavery matters,” Aljazeera, October 7, Citation2022. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/10/7/the-woman-king-the-truth-about-slavery-matters.4 Ibid.5 Ibid.6 Ibid.7 Nyong’o, Afro-fabulations.8 Ibid., 166.9 Saidiya Hartman, “Venus in Two Acts,” 11.10 Ibid., 8.11 Ibid., 11.12 Ibid., 1–14; Rosner, Critical fabulations; Nyong’o, Afro-fabulations.13 Rosner, Critical fabulations.14 Ibid.15 The Woman King, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (Sony Pictures Releasing, 2022).16 Campt, Listening to Images, 17.17 Keeling, The Witch’s Flight, 2.18 The Woman King, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (Sony Pictures Releasing, 2022).19 Ibid.20 Ibid.21 Keeling, The Witch’s Flight, 15.22 The Woman King, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (Sony Pictures Releasing, 2022).23 Ibid.24 Ibid.25 Hartman, “Venus in Two Acts,” 14.Additional informationNotes on contributorsObakeng KgongoaneObakeng Kgongoane is a lecturer in Visual Studies at the University of Pretoria.