In the movie The Black Panther, Erik Killmonger wore a very distinctive mask that he had taken from the British Museum. Additionally, Killmonger uttered the most famous words of the movie when he said, “just bury me in the ocean with my ancestors who jumped from the ships because they knew that death was better than bondage”. There is a deep connection between those words and the mask that Killmonger wore.
The mask of Killmonger is from the Igbo people who are from Eastern Nigeria Experts Say
Reportedly In May of 1803, a significant event took place known as the Igbo Landing. After crossing the Middle Passage, a slave ship arrived in Georgia with a cargo of slaves. 75 of those people were Igbo people and they were sold for roughly $100 each. They were then transferred to another ship to be moved to their destination. Once upon the new ship, the Igbo people rebelled. During the rebellion, the Igbo people killed their captors and took control of the ship. With no way of returning home and facing the likelihood of being recaptured into slavery, the Igbo people agreed to commit suicide…together. They all jumped into the ocean and drowned.
This is what Killmonger was referring to when he said, “just bury me in the ocean with my ancestors who jumped from the ships because they knew that death was better than bondage”.
Although The movie Black Panther itself doesn’t directly feature a story rooted in Igbo culture. Wakanda, the fictional nation in the film, draws inspiration from various parts of Africa, but not specifically Igbo land.
However, there are interesting connections between the movie and the Igbo people:
Erik Killmonger’s quote: His line ” Bury me in the ocean with my ancestors that jumped from the ships, because they knew death was better than bondage” references the Igbo Landing of 1803, a historical event where enslaved Igbo people chose death over slavery.
Igbo names: Some characters have Igbo names, like General Okoye (which translates to “born on Oye market day”).
Cultural references: The movie’s design elements like beadwork and some costuming have incorporated broader African aesthetics, which may share similarities with Igbo traditions.