As the entire world waits impatiently for Black Panther (AKA what people are calling Marvel’s best movie ever) to open on February 16, one lucky city will get to see it before the rest of the public. That’s Kisumu, Lupita Nyong’o’s Kenyan hometown. (She plays Nakia in the film.)
Last month, Kenyan newspaper The Daily Nation reported that the critically acclaimed film (which is being referred to as the “Lupita movie” in local headlines) will hold two screenings — one private and one public — on February 13. According to the Sunday Nation, IMAX marketing manager Flora Njagi said they chose Kisumu for the advance screenings because Lupita is “a girl from that soil.”
There’s no word yet about whether Lupita herself will attend the screening, but considering that her dad, Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, is the governor of Kisumu County (and she was having a tiny bit of trouble getting opening-night tickets herself), it wouldn’t be too surprising if she did. Speaking to BuzzFeed on Thursday, Kisumu county spokesperson Aloice Ager said that Lupita’s starring role in the film was only one of the reasons Governor Nyong’o wanted to get the advance screenings.
“Gov. Nyong’o wants to make Kisumu the hub of performing arts, and what better way to hit the ground running than by screening this premiere?” Ager told BuzzFeed. “He wants people to be able to make a living out of performing arts. That is one of our key agendas, as well as bringing theatre, opera, and an integrated performing arts center to Kisumu.”
Ager also added that the Black Panther screening will allow the press to show another side of Kisumu, which has mostly been covered in regard to Kenya’s controversial elections. According to BuzzFeed, Kisumu is the “stronghold” of opposition leader Raila Odinga, who unofficially declared himself “People’s President of Kenya” and is largely supported by the western side of Kenya.
