EAT • SLEEP • REVIEW • REPEAT
BLACK IS KING
Queen Bey’s sumptuous ode to Blackness.
This may sound weird for a movie that grossed well over a billion at the box office, but Disney’s 2019 live-action version of The Lion King kind of just came and went. While undoubtedly technically impressive, as a lacklustre scene-for-scene rehash of the classic animation, it was left severely wanting, consequently fading from view as quickly as it came.
Likewise, the accompanying Beyoncé album - ‘The Lion King: The Gift’ - came and went to relatively little fanfare (particularly in comparison to her usual blockbusting efforts). It’s something of a relief then that Beyoncé herself has returned to put things straight with a startling repurposing of said album, keeping it irrevocably tethered to The Lion King, yet giving it a new lease of life as a bold, singular piece of visual art, positively bursting with Black pride.
Using the narrative of The Lion King as its guiding light, Black is King reimagines the lessons of Disney’s classic tale for a thoroughly contemporary reciting. Telling the story of a young king’s journey through betrayal, love, and self-identity, the visual album recounts the voyages of Black families throughout time, as the king’s ancestors, together with his father’s wise words and the guidance of his childhood love, help guide him towards his destiny.
While certainly meriting its credentials as a fully-fledged film, Black is King is, essentially, an 85-minute-long string of music videos. Those looking for a concise plot and a clear narrative structure are probably best off looking elsewhere, however, there’s more than enough to the visual and musical storytelling to mark Black is King out as an utterly unique piece of cinematic art, one with a powerful current of Black pride running straight through it.
Black is King’s music is of course its biggest selling point, and it’s in this that the film’s unwavering love of Black culture comes shining through. Although its undoubtedly a feature-length piece of Beyoncé publicity, with the star quite understandably front and centre throughout, there’s an unmistakable pan-African flavour to the entire film that lifts it up to a whole new level.
Drawing influence from the likes of Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, and Cameroon, Black is King’s music is a wide-ranging reflection of the continent at its heart, with artists such as Tekno, Yemi Alade, and Mr Eazi bringing their Afrobeat swagger, while Shatta Wale and South African singer Busiswa mingle with traditional elements in a dazzling showcase of African music both past and present. Oh, and Jay-Z gets in on the act too, obviously.
While this could easily feel like a cynical way to milk just that little bit more from the Lion King brand, Black is King feels like a genuine upgrade for songs that hadn’t originally found their home. As a prime example, ‘Spirit’ - the only track from ‘The Lion King: The Gift’ to feature in the 2019 movie - is taken up a notch thanks to the powerful pairing Beyoncé’s vocals with a full-blown choir, allowing a track that originally felt a little lost to finally find itself and find a purpose.
It also helps that the film manages to pair its musical elements with truly awe-inspiring imagery. Whether it’s the grand, sweeping shots of Johannesburg or Beyoncé’s impressive array of extravagant costume changes, Black is King’s music is bolstered by stunning visuals as each segment looks to outdo its predecessor in grandeur, colour, and opulence.
In short, the film is a true feast for the eyes, and while the flow of the visual storytelling doesn’t always click, conceptually and creatively, Black is King is a powerful piece of filmmaking. As a concept, reimagining the story of The Lion King on a contemporary, human scale works very well, as key moments from the original (and, by extension, the live-action remake) are given interesting twists, grounded in the realities of the Black experience.
Iconic moments such as the pivotal Mufasa-killing stampede are reinvented - in this case as a biker gang - and given a whole new perspective. Complementing this, the film weaves music and spoken word soundbites to concoct a potent and intoxicating viewing experience.
To this end, Beyoncé must take a huge slice of the credit for just how effective Black is King is. As director, star, and all round creative hub of the film, Beyoncé has stepped up to the plate and shown that she’s far more than just an entertainer, as she clearly takes the responsibility of telling such a powerful, overtly Black, story as seriously as it warrants.
And this is where the true power of Black is King lies. While no one could’ve envisioned the film carrying quite the poignancy it now does back when Beyoncé released ‘The Lion King: The Gift’, in the wake of the George Floyd murder and the continuing Black Lives Matter protests, Black is King has attained a whole new level of significance.
As lyrics like “If you think you are insignificant, you better think again” echoing throughout the film as a powerful and aspirational reminder of the true potential of Black people everywhere, Beyoncé has struck upon a deeply moving sentiment that’s as empowering and inspiring as it is entertaining.
As she did with ‘Lemonade’, Beyoncé has once again proven herself the queen of the visual album, with a pertinent, evocative, unapologetic rumination on Black empowerment. Showcasing talent from across the continent, Black is King pairs the vibrant, diverse sounds of Africa with Beyoncé’s distinctive delivery and an eye-catching visual style for an enthralling, mesmerising trip through the Black experience. While the film that birthed it is certainly forgettable, Black is King is anything but, as it steps into the spotlight as an unexpectedly vital moment in an urgent ongoing conversation.
