The Woman King tells the story of the Agojie, an all female troop of warriors who fought for the kingdom of Dahomey. The Agojie serve under the rule of King Ghezo, played by British actor John Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and are revered transcontinentally for their skills in battle. Filmed in South Africa, the story takes place during the 19th century in the West African kingdom of Dahomey; General Nanisca (Davis) recruits and trains the next generation of Agojie warriors. General Nanisca (Davis) is a well respected member of the King’s retinue; this protagonist is seen as the backbone of the Agojie and the power behind King Ghezo (Boyega). The Agojie embody strength, beauty and perseverance in this harrowing story of navigating life during a time marred by slavery.

Audiences will be charmed by this ensemble cast including: daring and boisterous new recruit, Nawi (played by Thuso Mbedu of Amazon’s the Underground Railroad), who we see throughout her journey with the Dahomey army; fiercely brave and comical, Izogie (played by Lashana Lynch of Captain Marvel and 007: No Time to Die) who offers endless equips, while demonstrating unmatched vigor; and kind and valiant Amenza (played by Sheila Atim of Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Amazon’s The Underground Railroad) who is always ready with sage advice or ready for a battle. The Agojie find themselves in a rivalry with an enemy of the Dahomey kingdom, the Oyo empire. The Oyo work alongside Transatlantic slave traders, imprisoning and selling African citizens in the slave trade. This enthralling plotline is filled with twists, secrets, romance and revenge.

The plot of The Woman King is loosely based on the real life story of the all female Agojie army from West Africa, in the region known as modern day Benin. The Dahomey kingdom was seen as one of the most powerful of the time and the Agojie were seen as a major source of that power; their nation thrived from the 17th to 19th century.

This film sees Atim, Boyega, Davis, Lynch and Mbedu amplify the black voice through hilarious banter, emotive monologues and suspenseful fight sequences. The dialects and vernacular bring authenticity to this film, leaving audiences vulnerable to the raw emotions displayed throughout the movie. This film is rooted in themes of blackness and still manages to appeal to everyone.

The Woman King premiered at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). TIFF brings a slew of notable celebrities and must-see films to Toronto every September. This year was a return to an in-person experience and events took place across the downtown core. Take in this captivating experience at your local theatre or drive-in. The Woman King is in theatres now!

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Mademoiselle Raw Bar + Grill, located on King Street West, was the backdrop for this interactive and profoundly celebratory lens of dark skinned black women and men in film. The cast on-hand for this Q & A included actress and producer, Davis, who plays the head of the all female Dahomey warriors, Nanisca. Davis is a veteran actress, who has graced our screens for more than 20 years. Thuso Mbedu – who recently played Cora in the Amazon original mini series, The Underground Railroad, plays Nawi in The Woman King. Mbedu is a South African actress, making a name for herself, with acting, producing and directing credits. Lashana Lynch plays the warrior, Izogie. Lynch is everywhere! From Doctor Strange to Captain Marvel, she is taking over Hollywood. One of Lynch’s most iconic roles is as the quick witted, perfectionist and first Black female 007, in 007: No Time to Die – starring Daniel Craig. To round out the cast present, Sheila Atim, the Ugandan native, has had her fair share of success lately with her snagging memorable roles in Doctor Strange Multiverse of Madness (where she also played a badass warrior) and she worked alongside Mbedu, in Amazon’s The Underground Railroad. John Boyega, who plays King Ghezo, was the solo brotha! He is widely recognized for his role in Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens where he plays Finn. Boyega added an extra special layer of comical and personable quips.

The Woman King is one of a kind. It is not often that a big budget film features an all black, dark skinned cast of strong women. Considering this dynamic, The Woman King is resonating with audiences from all cultural backgrounds in its celebration of blackness and a perspective into black history which highlights more than the traumas of slavery. This story offers its audience a new perspective on the strength, beauty and integrity of African warriors, specifically, the Dahomey tribe.

The #TakeUpSpace event was unique in that it gave room for a necessary conversation about blackness in films. The panel discussed colourism and the benefits of having fellow cast and crew who racially identify with them working together on this film. Lynch offered the level of comfort on set far-reached what is typically customary; the cast and crew felt empowered by the bonds they developed on set. She noted, “scenes that are normally triggering became easier to handle, as we all understood the impact of the scenes as black people. It was just a different dynamic.” Davis further offered, director Gina Prince-Bythewood, often joined the cast during workouts which offered another level of synergy within the cast. Davis also noted the success of this movie fosters more space for stories where the hero/heroine are not the quintessential figures of colonial beauty standards. When they said they were here to take up space, they weren’t lying; Black is beautiful and the cast of The Woman King is here to declare, celebrate and honour that.

The Woman King is currently playing in theatres worldwide. Join in this important conversation with #TakeUpSpace #TheWomanKing #TorontoGuardian.

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