Memories of Chadwick Boseman stay fresh at Wakanda Forever premiere
As Wakanda Forever, the second instalment in the Black Panther franchise premiered, the event had memories of Chadwick Boseman writ all over.
It’s been two years since actor Chadwick Boseman left this earth. He died after a four-year battle with colon cancer. But then, he left the world with an irreplaceable superhero, the Black Panther, whom even death could not erase. Black Panther has been etched in people’s minds that the character would stay on forever.
As Wakanda Forever, the second instalment in the Black Panther franchise premiered a day ago, the stage had memories of Chadwick Boseman’s writ all over. At the premiere, the characters and the crew walked in with glowing memories of Boseman. The spirits were lifted by an astounding tribute in the form of pop star Rihanna’s brilliant Lift Me Up single that would be part of the Wakanda Forever soundtrack.
Lift Me Up is co-written by Rihanna, Tems, Ludwig Göransson and Wakanda Forever director Ryan Coogler. The applause the song generated still reverberates, promising that the Rihanna number will stay on for years to come.
Wakanda Forever cast and crew pay rich tributes to Boseman
Director Ryan Coogler arrived at the premiere wearing a necklace etched with Chadwick’s face. The necklace that he wore during the course of the shooting of the film spoke volumes on the impact Boseman had left him with. The wearing of the necklace was in fact a gesture that elaborated much on Coogler’s fondness for Bosemen. Coogler had been devastated at Boseman’s passing and even had mulled over ending his film career.
Other members of the cast and crew arrived showering much love on their departed colleague. Leticia Wright, who plays Boseman’s sister-in-law, arrived in the film wearing a dress modelled after the one worn by Boseman at the 2018 Academy Awards.
Boseman’s absence leaves everyone pained
Meanwhile, Ryan Coogler and his wife Cincy Evans, Chadwick’s wife Taylor Simone Ledward, Lupita Nyong’o and Tessa Thompson were all in white for the event. In many parts of Africa, white clothing is worn to signify mourning and attend funerals. In the trailer of the movie, one gets to see scenes where the characters wear white clothes.
Geneshia Adams-Ginyard arrived at the event with a picture of Chadwick painted on the back of her body. Everyone expressed their love from their hearts in many ways when they arrived at the premiere. For them, Chadwick Boseman was never just a movie actor. Rather, he was a brave man who forgot his pains and gave life to his dreams of cinema. Chadwick Boseman’s absence will surely be felt in the film.
