Since Coming 2 America’s release last Thursday, reactions to the film have varied on social media. But one Ghanaian filmmaker wasn’t impressed with the highly-anticipated sequel.
Leila Djansi thought the movie, starring an all-star cast, was slightly offensive, according to her post on Facebook. The California-based woman felt the sequel to the classic insulted her and fellow Africans.
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“As an African, I found #Coming2America mildly offensive. Jungles, wild animals, child warriors and war. Come on, Hollywood, these tropes show how discriminatory and disrespectful y’all are. Enough! There’s more to Africa, and please don’t try hiding ‘em within wealth,” she wrote.
As an African, I found #Coming2America mildly offensive. Jungles, wild animals, child warriors and war. Come on…
Posted by Leila Jewel Djansi on Thursday, March 4, 2021
Coming 2 America picked up where the original left off– Prince Akeem Joffer, played by Eddie Murphy, is living the married life in Zamunda, a fictional African country, with his wife and now daughters. The film contained two conflicting leaders on the verge of war and a lion– two things that seemingly chapped Djansi’s ass.
“There’s more to Africa, and please don’t try hiding em within wealth,” she expressed. “I don’t understand this unwillingness to change and accept that these images and ideas are wrong, mostly lies. Spent 15 years of my life in Ghana and never even seen a squirrel.”
“Child soldiers? Chicago gun-toting gang kids? Can we talk about that? STOP!! Africans are regular people. African cities are cosmopolitan,” Djansi continued. “African villages are what they are based on culture and geography. Let’s not discuss villages in the South. Georgia?”
Coming 2 America’s original concept is over 30-years-old. Maybe, the movie didn’t age well. However, it is fictional, just like Wakanda, and it brought back nostalgic moments for many.
