In its opening weekend on Sept. 19th, Gina Prince-Bythewood’s new action/drama The Woman King debuted at No. 1, grossing $19 million. This film is based on the extraordinary story of the Dahobe Kingdom in Africa, centering around their fearless all-female military group, the Agojie. The Dahobe Amazons also inspired the Dora Maje warriors in Black Panther, so think of The Woman King as an extension of Okoye’s story which we never got to see.
Danai Gurira in Black Panther (Vanity Fair)
Viola Davis in The Woman King (Slate)
The Dahobe Kingdom was at its height during the 1840s, with much of its military prowess credited to the Agojie. They were known to fight with “extreme valor” and “prodigious bravery,” specifically composed of “blunderbuss or artillery women, elephant hunters, musketeers, razor women, and archers.” These women devoted their lives to the military, commiting to be celibate, single, and live permanently in the palace. They trained extensively in agility and weaponry, equipped to defeat men twice their size and operate ruthlessly “under cover of darkness”. The Agojie was also known to break out enslaved people, although the Dahobe Kingdom was involved in the slave trade. The Woman King meticulously displays these circumstances.
As lead actress Thuso Mbedu explains in a Vanity Fair interview, to be able to play the role of an Agojie warrior, all of the actors completed a strenuous physical training regimen. Mbedu trained in Muay Thai prior to the official pre-production training for the film and once the official training started, all actors practiced for three hours per day. They all performed their own stunts in the film and researched extensively about the Agojie to represent them accurately.
Thuso Mbedu as Nawi (Courtesy Photos)
The Agojie show a stunning instance of female power in history, but are not well-known or discussed. The Woman King explores the nuances of this power and lifestyle in an action-filled entertaining storyline. It’s definitely a must-watch!