Black is King: Compiled Companion Guide
On July 31st, Beyonce released “Black is King” on Disney+. A project that gathered a diverse group of actors, directors and creatives to reimagine the story of “Lion King.”
“My hope is that it shifts the global perception of the word black, which has always meant inspiration, love, strength and beauty to me. “Black is King” means Black is regal, rich in history, purpose and lineage.” — Beyonce on the project’s intention
I am a major fan of Beyonce and remain inspired by her love of black people and the diaspora. I enjoy learning as much about the diaspora as possible from culture to people to history. I thought the best way I could contribute is to compile some of the existing resources from others and to put in a few days of my own research to bring you more information on the folks who were behind the scenes from directors to writers to choreographers (find me on Cash App). I focused my research on members of the diaspora given limited time (no disrespect intended).
My hope is that you and the young black people in the diaspora see themselves in front of and behind the camera for a work that was clearly a massive endeavor. View their pictures, follow them on Instagram and read about their other works. The cities listed are their hometowns, but I encourage you to research more about them to find their specific connections to the diaspora if the names or linked articles don’t make it 100% clear.
Here’s what is included in this reader:
- Cultural References Threads on Twitter / YouTube re: Symbolism
- Main Cast & Special Guests
- Credited Directors, Producers, Cinematographers, Editors, Writers, Choreographers, Casting, Costume & Glam Leads (Pictures, Social Links)
- Major press reference material for fashion designers and praise for quotes
BEYONCE: Houston, TX, USA. Instagram | Spotify
FOLAJOMI AKINMURELE: Nigeria | Instagram
CONNIE CHIUME: Welkom, South Africa|Instagram | Acting Credits
NYANISO DZEDZE: Johannesburg, South Africa | Instagram
NANDI MADIDA: Maphumulo, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Instagram | Spotify
WARREN MASEMOLA: Garankuwa, Gauteng, South Africa | Instagram | Acting Credits
STEPHEN “PAPI” OJO: Lagos, Nigeria | Instagram | Spotify
MARY TWALA: Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa | Acting Credits
SPECIAL GUESTS
KELLY ROWLAND: Houston, TX, USA | Instagram | Spotify
LORD AFRIXANA: | Instagram | Spotify
YEMI ALADE: Abia State, Nigeria| Instagram | Spotify
JESSIE REYEZ: Toronto, Canada| Instagram | Spotify
SHATTA WALE: Accra, Ghana| Instagram | Spotify
SALATIEL: Tiko, Cameroon| Instagram | Spotify
PHARRELL WILLIAMS: Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA| Instagram | Spotify
WIZKID: Lagos, Nigeria| Instagram | Spotify
NAOMI CAMPBELL: Streatham, London, UK | Instagram | Model Profile
ADUT AKECH: South Sudan | Instagram | Model Profile
AWENG CHUOL: South Sudan| Instagram | Model Profile
LUPITA NYONG’O: Mexico City, Mexico | Instagram | Acting Credits
TIWA SAVAGE: Isale Eko, Lagos State, Nigeria| Instagram | Spotify
MR EAZI: Kumasi, Ghana | Instagram | Spotify
NIJA: Union, New Jersey, USA| Instagram | Spotify
TIERRA WHACK: Philadelphia, PA, USA| Instagram | Spotify
BUSISWA: Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa | Instagram | Spotify
MOONCHILD SANELLY: Port Elizabeth, South Africa| Instagram | Spotify
DIRECTORS
KWASI FORDJOUR: Ghana | Instagram | Decider Profile | Ghana Web Profile | Genius Profile
EMMANUEL ADJEI: Netherlands & Ghana | Instagram | Compiled Works | The Drum Profile
BLITZ BAZAWULE: Accra, Ghana | Instagram | IndieWire Profile | Ted Fellow
JENN NKIRU: Peckham, London, UK | Instagram | Black Women Directors Profile| Bomb Magazine Profile | Vice Profile
IBRA AKE: USA & Nigeria | Instagram | Compiled Works | Grammy Award Music Video
DAFE OBORO: Lagos, Nigeria | Instagram | Compiled Works | Dazed Profile
DEREK MILTON (2nd Unit Directors): Denver, CO, USA | Instagram | Compiled Works |
MEJ ALABI (2nd Unit Directors): London, UK & Texas, USA | Instagram | Compiled Works | It’s Nice That Profile | Director Credits
JOSHUA KISSI (2nd Unit Directors): Bronx, NY, USA | Instagram | Compiled Works | Essence Profile | GQ Profile
Additional Directors: Dikayl Rimmasch, Jake Nava, Julian Klincewicz, Alexandre Moors & Deon Van Zyl
PARKWOOD ENTERTAINMENT / EXECUTIVE PRODUCER TEAM
ERINN WILLIAMS: USA | Emmy Nominations | Clio Award | Webby Awards
STEVE PAMON: USA | Black Enterprise Profile | Billboard Profile
JANET ROLLE: NY, USA | Ad Age Profile
CINEMATOGRAPHERS & EDITORS
MOHAMMED ATTA AHMED (Cinematographer): Lagos, Nigeria | Twitter | Instagram | Compiled Works
DAVID BOANUH (Cinematographer): Ghana | Instagram | Ghana Web Profile | Ashesi University Praise
KENECHUKWU OBIAJULU (Cinematographer): Lagos, Nigeria | Twitter |
MALIK SAYEED (Cinematographer): New York, NY, USA | Compiled Work | Music Video Credits | Washington Post Profile
Additional Cinematographers: Ryan Marie Helfant, Santiago Gonzalez, Michael Fernandez, Erik Henriksson, Dany Hiele, Laura Merians, Nicolai Niermann & Benoit Soler.
Additional Editors: Maria-Celeste Garrahan, Haines Hall & Tom Watson.
MUSICIANS & WRITERS
DEREK DIXIE (Music Director, Score): Youngstown, Ohio, USA | Instagram | Genius Profile | Music Credits |Grammy & Emmy Nominee
MELO-X (Score): East Flatbush (Brooklyn), NY, USA | Instagram | Spotify | Pitchfork Profile | Genius Profile |
YRSA DALEY-WARD (Writer): Lancashire, England, UK | Instagram | Books | Audible Profile | Poetry Foundation Profile | PEN Ackerley Prize
CLOVER HOPE (Writer): Guyana & Queens, NY, USA | Instagram |Compiled Works| Cosmopolitan Articles | The Root Articles
ANDREW MORROW (Writer, Editor): Cleveland, Ohio, USA |Instagram | Compiled Works
WARSAN SHIRE (Featured Poet): Poetry Foundation Profile
Additional Scoring: James William Blades.
COSTUME & CASTING
ZERINA AKERS (Costume Designer): USA| Instagram | LA Times Profile | Forbes Profile | Hype Bae Profile | Fashionista Profile | Founder of Black Biz Directory
ANISSA WILLIAMS (Casting Director): USA| Instagram | Compiled Work | Casting Credits
CHOREOGRAPHY
JAQUEL KNIGHT: North Carolina & Atlanta, USA |Instagram | Forbes 30 under 30 | MTV VMA Winner
CHRIS GRANT: Bronx, NY, USA| Instagram | Broadway Dance Center Faculty | GQ Magazine Profile | MTV VMA Winner
DENEE “DNAY” BAPTISTE: Harlem, NY, USA | Instagram | Vogue Profile
EBONY WILLIAMS: Boston, MA, USA | Instagram | Broadway Dance Center Faculty | Boston Magazine Profile | Berklee Alumni Achievement Award Profile
KANEY DIABATE: Senegal| Instagram | Muve Profile
STEPHEN “PAPI” OJO: Lagos, Nigeria | Instagram | Spotify | One Tribe Magazine Profile | Voyage Houston Profile
IVAN BLACKSTOCK: Peckham, South London, UK | Instagram | Hip Hop Dance Almanac | BBC Young Dancer Profile |
SEDRIG VERWOERT: Paramaribo, Suriname | Instagram | Berlin Art Link Profile
CHRISTIAN YAV: Congo | Instagram
Additional Choreographers: Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui & Dana Foglia,
HAIR & MAKEUP SQUAD
NEAL FARINAH (Hair): Trinidad | Instagram | Elle Profile | Essence Profile
KIM KIMBLE (Hair): Chicago, IL, USA | Instagram | Forbes Profile | Chicago Tribune Profile | B.A.P.S.
NAKIA COLLINS (Hair): Sacramento, CA, USA | Instagram | Refinery29 Profile
SIR JOHN BARNETT (Make Up): Upstate NY, USA| Instagram | Pop Sugar Profile | InStyle’s 2016 Makeup Artist of the Year
Additional Makeup Squad: Rokeaal Lizama, Francesca Tolot &Wendy Miyake
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MORE RESOURCES: Fashion: Fashion Bomb Daily | Allure | Page Six | Teen Vogue Writing: Pop Sugar Beauty Looks: The Cut
Last Updated 11:54 pm ET Aug 4, 2020. If your name should be included, fill out this form.
