‘Black Panther’ and ‘Bagani’
Black America is celebrating “Black Panther,” a movie about African roots and power. Meanwhile, an upcoming TV series called “Bagani,” is getting all the flak. So what went wrong with “Bagani,” and what did “Black Panther” get right?
“Black Panther” is about Africa. It casts Black actors. It tells of an African king and warrior (T’Challa, protector and symbol of Wakanda). It is layered with costumes appropriate for real African royalty and warriors. It has a soundtrack that boasts of Black awareness.
“Black Panther” imagines the utopian African country of Wakanda free from the shackles of colonialism. It imagines what happens when a country can harness its own mineral resources (called vibranium, the metal used for Captain America’s shield) for its own development. Contrast that to the reality of exploitation that has been happening in Africa, such as black diamond mining.
“Black Panther” is a film that connects to current issues and injects there the ideal of Black consciousness and pride and its struggle for equality and justice.
As for “Bagani,” it’s still premature to shut down the series, but we have to note the criticisms raised by netizens and celebrities who point out why this series is casting Filipino actors of mix descent, such as Fil-American Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil, who is of German-Spanish descent.
It indeed looks awkward to have fair-skinned actors with mestizo and mestiza features and who are baked in brown make up to make them fit their roles. Here is an example of the state of our culture, wherein tisoy and tisay bankable actors are cast to make a TV series click.
Another issue. How do we compare these “baganis” on screen with the real baganis or Lumads? How truly representational would this series be to the culture, tradition and plight of the indigenous peoples?
We have to note the real Lumads’ complaint on how their culture is being “bastardized” by the armed forces who recruit paramilitary Lumads and name them as “Bagani Force” or “Alamara” (the Manobo term for warrior). They also lament how indigenous culture has been reduced into a cultural tourism attraction.
The “Bagani” series is produced by ABS-CBN, and I’m reminded years ago that this same station produced the reality show Pinoy Big Brother, where male contestants naively made fun of a contest in wearing the Igorot bahag. After that, the indigenous organization Katribu wrote the station to point out how such actions diminished the cultural symbolism and importance of the indigenous garb, and the integrity of customs and traditions that the Igorots defend along with their ancestral domain and self-determination.
Lumads are always in the margins. Yet there are efforts through Mindanao movies such as “Tu Pug Imatuy” that strive to represent the Mindanao Lumads and Moro peoples’ struggles and aspirations. There are also efforts to build Lumad schools to preserve their pride on their cultures and traditions.
I do not have high expectations for this TV series anyway, but let this incident teach us the value of accurate cultural representation in films, schools and other forms of arts to popularize and elevate indigenous culture and stories.--from SunStar Davao
‘Bagani’ is casting Filipino actors of mix descent, such as Fil-American Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil, who is of German-Spanish descent