Things The Woman King Got Factually Right & Wrong
video description
Date: 2023-11-21
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 30
Malo
The Woman King blatantly lied about everything that African tribe did.
The tribe DID exist and they DID have a woman as their leader, but they weren't poor helpless Black people who were genocided by the French like the movie claimed. In fact it was the tribe THEMSELVES who did the genociding. They would invade other tribes, kill as many as they could, and capture the rest and either sell them into slavery or enslave them themselves. They were actually an extremely important part of the West African/Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade back in the day.
And the only reason the war between them and the French started was because it was around the time that France was starting to outlaw slavery, and they demanded that the tribe stop enslaving and genociding other Africans at once, and the tribe refused so they launched an attack on the French and started the war in the first place. You heard me right. The only reason the events of The Woman King happened irl was because it was the European colonizers who wanted to stop slavery and it was the African tribe who didn't want to. I couldn't even make this shit up if I tried.
reply
The Woman King blatantly lied about everything that African tribe did.
The tribe DID exist and they DID have a woman as their leader, but they weren't poor helpless Black people who were genocided by the French like the movie claimed. In fact it was the tribe THEMSELVES who did the genociding. They would invade other tribes, kill as many as they could, and capture the rest and either sell them into slavery or enslave them themselves. They were actually an extremely important part of the West African/Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade back in the day.
And the only reason the war between them and the French started was because it was around the time that France was starting to outlaw slavery, and they demanded that the tribe stop enslaving and genociding other Africans at once, and the tribe refused so they launched an attack on the French and started the war in the first place. You heard me right. The only reason the events of The Woman King happened irl was because it was the European colonizers who wanted to stop slavery and it was the African tribe who didn't want to. I couldn't even make this shit up if I tried.
reply
Chris
Well i like the way you changed the words from slaves to prisoners. They raided and destroyed other villages to get slaves NOT prisoners. They scacrificed slaves not prisoners. Why are you trying to hide this. Why are you not saying that the Dahomey was one of the largest slave traders of Africa. To quote real history ( In 1851, the Royal Navy imposed a naval blockade against Dahomey, forcing Ghezo to sign a treaty in 1852 that immediately abolished the export of slaves. However, the treaty was broken and slave trading efforts resumed in 1857 and 1858 by the Dahomey. The Dahomey sent a letter to the royal Navy and that read as follows (The slave trade has been the ruling principle of my people. It is the source of their glory and wealth. Their songs celebrate their victories and the mother lulls the child to sleep with notes of triumph over an enemy reduced to slavery) in a plea to beg the Royal Navy NOT to stop the slave trade.
reply
Well i like the way you changed the words from slaves to prisoners. They raided and destroyed other villages to get slaves NOT prisoners. They scacrificed slaves not prisoners. Why are you trying to hide this. Why are you not saying that the Dahomey was one of the largest slave traders of Africa. To quote real history ( In 1851, the Royal Navy imposed a naval blockade against Dahomey, forcing Ghezo to sign a treaty in 1852 that immediately abolished the export of slaves. However, the treaty was broken and slave trading efforts resumed in 1857 and 1858 by the Dahomey. The Dahomey sent a letter to the royal Navy and that read as follows (The slave trade has been the ruling principle of my people. It is the source of their glory and wealth. Their songs celebrate their victories and the mother lulls the child to sleep with notes of triumph over an enemy reduced to slavery) in a plea to beg the Royal Navy NOT to stop the slave trade.
reply
fanjoy
Maria Bello probably knew what she was doing when she wrote this movie.
She likely understood what the social climate is for race relations, and figured that she'd make a movie that would seem uplifting, but would actually dispell a lot of facts that black advocacy groups conveniently omit regarding the atlantic slave trade. Specifically, having europeans as the reason for the entire slave trade. The movie has inaccuracies, but I think its purpose was to bring attention to the Dahmoney and west Africa's involvement in the trade.
Using Europeans as an excuse for why west Africans facilitated the slave trade is insane.
They sold their own, regardless of the competition that's a moral decision that they made, and they got rich off of it. I don't want to hear black ppl, specifically west Africans talk about racism or slavery via whites ever again. It's wildly disingenuous.
Take some goddamn responsibility.
reply
Maria Bello probably knew what she was doing when she wrote this movie.
She likely understood what the social climate is for race relations, and figured that she'd make a movie that would seem uplifting, but would actually dispell a lot of facts that black advocacy groups conveniently omit regarding the atlantic slave trade. Specifically, having europeans as the reason for the entire slave trade. The movie has inaccuracies, but I think its purpose was to bring attention to the Dahmoney and west Africa's involvement in the trade.
Using Europeans as an excuse for why west Africans facilitated the slave trade is insane.
They sold their own, regardless of the competition that's a moral decision that they made, and they got rich off of it. I don't want to hear black ppl, specifically west Africans talk about racism or slavery via whites ever again. It's wildly disingenuous.
Take some goddamn responsibility.
reply
FxCKING
So I think that as a movie, this was a good movie. But when it comes to historical accuracy it's definitely kinda questionable. But at the end of the day, the history was just a backdrop for a cool story. They DID have advanced women warriors. And it's not like at every point in time was the whole nation willfully selling their people into slavery. A theme of the movie was that the King of Dahomey was purposely moving away from slavery. I think that's perfectly fine for a fantasy movie honestly.
We all know damn well that many movies about the American military and colonial period are very whitewashed too. I think we can enjoy media while critiquing it, in fact it's our job to critique the media we enjoy.
reply
So I think that as a movie, this was a good movie. But when it comes to historical accuracy it's definitely kinda questionable. But at the end of the day, the history was just a backdrop for a cool story. They DID have advanced women warriors. And it's not like at every point in time was the whole nation willfully selling their people into slavery. A theme of the movie was that the King of Dahomey was purposely moving away from slavery. I think that's perfectly fine for a fantasy movie honestly.
We all know damn well that many movies about the American military and colonial period are very whitewashed too. I think we can enjoy media while critiquing it, in fact it's our job to critique the media we enjoy.
reply
Tijan
The fact that people are complaining about accents, when no one in Africa spoke English at that time shows how much people are still fully colonized!
That the film, which esenttially celebrates slave traders just because they are women, doesn't even portray any of the originally spoken African languages, which exist today obviously, is a testament to how little they know or care about african cultures and the people who were devastated by murderous human trafficking that plagued the African continent for decades and is a holocaust.
reply
The fact that people are complaining about accents, when no one in Africa spoke English at that time shows how much people are still fully colonized!
That the film, which esenttially celebrates slave traders just because they are women, doesn't even portray any of the originally spoken African languages, which exist today obviously, is a testament to how little they know or care about african cultures and the people who were devastated by murderous human trafficking that plagued the African continent for decades and is a holocaust.
reply
Mr.
One minor issue is at the end of the movie, when the King issues a warning to the Europeans and Americans. Being self-centered, most viewers no doubt assumed he meant the United States. However, the US outlawed the international slave trade in 1808, when the king was at most a toddler. The movie is right showing Portuguese slavers, as Brazil, the main importer of slaves by a huge margain, was founded by Portugal. Cuba was the other important slave market at this time.
reply
One minor issue is at the end of the movie, when the King issues a warning to the Europeans and Americans. Being self-centered, most viewers no doubt assumed he meant the United States. However, the US outlawed the international slave trade in 1808, when the king was at most a toddler. The movie is right showing Portuguese slavers, as Brazil, the main importer of slaves by a huge margain, was founded by Portugal. Cuba was the other important slave market at this time.
reply
edna
I understand that it's a historical fiction but this was done all wrong! You create a fictional story around the historical happenings of a time. You don't alter the happenings itself to suit some fantasy story or to get some feel-good effect. Nobody's asking for a documentary but you have to respect the truth of history and this movie didn't at all. And the title? Woman king? Why? I sense some feminist agenda here which isn't necessary. Quite disappointed tbh.
reply
I understand that it's a historical fiction but this was done all wrong! You create a fictional story around the historical happenings of a time. You don't alter the happenings itself to suit some fantasy story or to get some feel-good effect. Nobody's asking for a documentary but you have to respect the truth of history and this movie didn't at all. And the title? Woman king? Why? I sense some feminist agenda here which isn't necessary. Quite disappointed tbh.
reply
Jeff
This movie ignoring slavery os a huge mistake. People will think it's true. It was literally this region that taught Europe that you could enslave people this way. It was a brutal type of enslavement. Capturing other tribes to expand their land. Then selling off or killing all the strong warriors off. I don't think we've had an honest history through movies of how disgusting this was and how it actually happened. And you can't simply blame one group.
reply
This movie ignoring slavery os a huge mistake. People will think it's true. It was literally this region that taught Europe that you could enslave people this way. It was a brutal type of enslavement. Capturing other tribes to expand their land. Then selling off or killing all the strong warriors off. I don't think we've had an honest history through movies of how disgusting this was and how it actually happened. And you can't simply blame one group.
reply
Paddok
He ruled over the kingdom during a tumultuous period, punctuated by the British blockade of the ports of Dahomey in order to stop the Atlantic slave trade.
Ghezo ended Dahomey's tributary status to the Oyo Empire. Afterwards, he dealt with significant domestic dissent, as well as pressure from the British Empire, to end the slave trade. He promised to end the slave trade in 1852, but resumed slave efforts in 1857.
reply
He ruled over the kingdom during a tumultuous period, punctuated by the British blockade of the ports of Dahomey in order to stop the Atlantic slave trade.
Ghezo ended Dahomey's tributary status to the Oyo Empire. Afterwards, he dealt with significant domestic dissent, as well as pressure from the British Empire, to end the slave trade. He promised to end the slave trade in 1852, but resumed slave efforts in 1857.
reply
Salva
The accent criticism is foolish because this was in the past at a time English was not a secondary language spoken by most people of this region This was Just silly. Afro accented English or French was not settled in yet at this time. Very bad example. The ladies here are supposed to be speaking Their native language so obviously the actors are just going to try to be a kind of African.
reply
The accent criticism is foolish because this was in the past at a time English was not a secondary language spoken by most people of this region This was Just silly. Afro accented English or French was not settled in yet at this time. Very bad example. The ladies here are supposed to be speaking Their native language so obviously the actors are just going to try to be a kind of African.
reply
Nkosi
Too many Americans stll keep calling this movie historical film. I can't belive my eyes. They probably think Princess Mononoke is a Japanese historical movie too. Even Netflix's Queen Cleopatra is called historical documentary in America. As an African, stll don't get their definition of historical movie. :/ For my eyes, this movie is an American fantasy of Africa.
reply
Too many Americans stll keep calling this movie historical film. I can't belive my eyes. They probably think Princess Mononoke is a Japanese historical movie too. Even Netflix's Queen Cleopatra is called historical documentary in America. As an African, stll don't get their definition of historical movie. :/ For my eyes, this movie is an American fantasy of Africa.
reply
fanjoy
Are a lot of the wealthier class in west Africa of Dahomneian descent? Asking the west Africans in this chat.
Knowing how WIDE wealth disparities are, if you're wealthy chances are your family lineage has gotten up to some wildly unethical things.
Ppl like to put race at the forefront of social disparities, but ppl need to start focusing on class.
reply
Are a lot of the wealthier class in west Africa of Dahomneian descent? Asking the west Africans in this chat.
Knowing how WIDE wealth disparities are, if you're wealthy chances are your family lineage has gotten up to some wildly unethical things.
Ppl like to put race at the forefront of social disparities, but ppl need to start focusing on class.
reply
Erica
There are so many different languages in so many other countries. The USA is the only one who expects everyone to speak one. The different accents in movies can be different because their country has been taken over by so many people. They have French, Sawhi, English. Just to name a few. Please don't be so ignorant to judge off language or accent.
reply
There are so many different languages in so many other countries. The USA is the only one who expects everyone to speak one. The different accents in movies can be different because their country has been taken over by so many people. They have French, Sawhi, English. Just to name a few. Please don't be so ignorant to judge off language or accent.
reply
Taneshia
Ghezo did go against Oyo but only to become just as bad if not worser than Oyo itself when it came to the slave trade, and its sad because even the slavers of Britain had to beg king Ghezo to stop selling slaves smdh! I didnt see any of that in the movie it made Ghezo a hero and as a descendant of the sold, I have a huge problem with that!
reply
Ghezo did go against Oyo but only to become just as bad if not worser than Oyo itself when it came to the slave trade, and its sad because even the slavers of Britain had to beg king Ghezo to stop selling slaves smdh! I didnt see any of that in the movie it made Ghezo a hero and as a descendant of the sold, I have a huge problem with that!
reply
Paddok
hm this was odd due to this is a comment that Ghezo did make
The Slave Trade is the ruling principal of my people. it is the source and its glory of their wealth. the mothers lulls the child to sleep with notes of triumph over a Enemy reduced to Slavery and the fact that he did fight the British blockade of the slave trade
reply
hm this was odd due to this is a comment that Ghezo did make
The Slave Trade is the ruling principal of my people. it is the source and its glory of their wealth. the mothers lulls the child to sleep with notes of triumph over a Enemy reduced to Slavery and the fact that he did fight the British blockade of the slave trade
reply
Natalie
The Minos aka Dahomey Amazon were not taken because of bad behavior instead to be a woman soilder u couldnt have any family its part of agreement to the king Ghuza. This way the queen soilders could focus only on battle. white lie and add propaganda please read between their lies and do ur research
reply
The Minos aka Dahomey Amazon were not taken because of bad behavior instead to be a woman soilder u couldnt have any family its part of agreement to the king Ghuza. This way the queen soilders could focus only on battle. white lie and add propaganda please read between their lies and do ur research
reply
Thorium
The problem with people being upset is the fact that no where in the movie did it say it was based 100% on a true story, the producers and actors have all said its a fictional film that if they tried to make it 100% true to what happen, it would literally be a documentary, not a movie.
reply
The problem with people being upset is the fact that no where in the movie did it say it was based 100% on a true story, the producers and actors have all said its a fictional film that if they tried to make it 100% true to what happen, it would literally be a documentary, not a movie.
reply
CLOCKWORK-DARKTYME
It's amazing! Truly anything must be possible in this day and age, because if it wasn't, I have no idea how it would have been allowed for a movie that praises murderers, slavers, psychopaths, and sickening, selfish people who were not at all human, to be made.
reply
It's amazing! Truly anything must be possible in this day and age, because if it wasn't, I have no idea how it would have been allowed for a movie that praises murderers, slavers, psychopaths, and sickening, selfish people who were not at all human, to be made.
reply
Mr_Reborn
They're portrayed as wanting to end slavery - in fact they profited from it and loved it. This is maoistic rewriting of history, it should be talked about. Absolute insanity being legitimized because you need to create fake black heroes out of absolute friggin savages.
reply
They're portrayed as wanting to end slavery - in fact they profited from it and loved it. This is maoistic rewriting of history, it should be talked about. Absolute insanity being legitimized because you need to create fake black heroes out of absolute friggin savages.
reply
Look
I really liked this movie and to all the haters, its a work of fiction. It was never meant to be about historical facts. As a black American, Im celebrating for other people who look like me and the fact that these actors did their best and gave a beautiful performance.
reply
I really liked this movie and to all the haters, its a work of fiction. It was never meant to be about historical facts. As a black American, Im celebrating for other people who look like me and the fact that these actors did their best and gave a beautiful performance.
reply
James
You see, on the internet, black men and women hating each other, this movie is deviation sick of program black hate so basically this movies maid to say black men are week and black woman best there ass decapitation of black men's masculine let's show them in dresses
reply
You see, on the internet, black men and women hating each other, this movie is deviation sick of program black hate so basically this movies maid to say black men are week and black woman best there ass decapitation of black men's masculine let's show them in dresses
reply
Goblin
5: 56 this movie is basically like making a movie where the Germans are trying to save the Jews from the French. And the filmmakers are upset they were snubbed by the Oscars. Like, yeah, no shit. Your message is horrifying. Thank god for the British.
reply
5: 56 this movie is basically like making a movie where the Germans are trying to save the Jews from the French. And the filmmakers are upset they were snubbed by the Oscars. Like, yeah, no shit. Your message is horrifying. Thank god for the British.
reply
Safir
Y'all have got to be kidding! how about every African or Egyptian or biblical movie with these about Hebrew and Egyptians and mites and shemites that always played by Charleston Heston and Elizabeth Taylor's or two types of people are you kidding me!
reply
Y'all have got to be kidding! how about every African or Egyptian or biblical movie with these about Hebrew and Egyptians and mites and shemites that always played by Charleston Heston and Elizabeth Taylor's or two types of people are you kidding me!
reply
Kameraden
Imagine if someone made a film about the Nazis and then portrayed them as trying to save the Jews. That is how historically inaccurate this film actually is. It's quite shameful. I'd argue it's even worse than Gods and Generals.
reply
Imagine if someone made a film about the Nazis and then portrayed them as trying to save the Jews. That is how historically inaccurate this film actually is. It's quite shameful. I'd argue it's even worse than Gods and Generals.
reply
Jace
Such criticism of the accuracy or inaccuracies of the film to justify absolutely not one consideration this awards season instead of rejoicing another brilliant performance by Viola Davis is Elvis by Baz totally accurate?
reply
Such criticism of the accuracy or inaccuracies of the film to justify absolutely not one consideration this awards season instead of rejoicing another brilliant performance by Viola Davis is Elvis by Baz totally accurate?
reply
An
The slave trade is the ruling principle of my people. It is the source and the glory of their wealththe mother lulls the child to sleep with notes of triumph over an enemy reduced to slavery. - Ghezo, the Slave King
reply
The slave trade is the ruling principle of my people. It is the source and the glory of their wealththe mother lulls the child to sleep with notes of triumph over an enemy reduced to slavery. - Ghezo, the Slave King
reply
Capital
I feel too woke what was the purpose of the lbgtq+ scribe. thats a no no in African culture. and what is a woman kingspent the whole time proving
they were better than man why not the woman Queen
reply
I feel too woke what was the purpose of the lbgtq+ scribe. thats a no no in African culture. and what is a woman kingspent the whole time proving
they were better than man why not the woman Queen
reply
JUAN
I LOVED this movie. I couldn't care less about their accent; they are actors and try their best to mimic the accents. blah blah. Every movie always has some fiction in it regardless of the true story.
reply
I LOVED this movie. I couldn't care less about their accent; they are actors and try their best to mimic the accents. blah blah. Every movie always has some fiction in it regardless of the true story.
reply
Miguel
Imagine the all powerful warriors woman, that not only were the primary forces that enforce enslavery, but we're so powerful that the french wipe the floor with then AT MELEE in record time
reply
Imagine the all powerful warriors woman, that not only were the primary forces that enforce enslavery, but we're so powerful that the french wipe the floor with then AT MELEE in record time
reply
Charlene
Regardless of what's going on Davide and whatever ties to have with anyone, including the Bassettee-Kennenndy, I'm asking you to respectfully go your seperate way and I will do the same.
reply
Regardless of what's going on Davide and whatever ties to have with anyone, including the Bassettee-Kennenndy, I'm asking you to respectfully go your seperate way and I will do the same.
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
