Modern Day InfluenceAfter watching the Black Panther film, I discovered that the Dora Milaje, who were the military power in the fictional Kingdom of Wakanda, were inspired by real women. I was intrigued but also disappointed that I had no idea they existed. The Dora Milaje inspired me to focus on the Women Warriors of Dahomey and tell their story and reveal their contributions to the city. The Dora Milaje represent strong women who proved they were capable and intelligent; they were inspiring and different from the way women are usually portrayed. The Gbeto were the inspiration behind the Dora Milaje, and it is important to the community, especially women and women of color who have to live in a society in which gender and race barriers effect their everyday lives. These women broke the mold and are evidence that women have an immense impact on their communities. In my research, I saw many similarities between not only the Gbeto and the Dora Milaje, but also between Dahomey and Wakanda. The fictional nation of Wakanda has been untouched by colonizers, similar to Dahomey until the French conquered them in 1894. The views and beliefs between Dahomey and Wakanda are similar; there has been evidence that women had political freedoms. The Gbeto are evidence women are capable of combat which challenged the views of many European societies. #WAKANDAFOREVER The Dora Milaje and the Gbeto. |