The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Residents of a small American village have been left baffled and puzzled by prank calls from people claiming to have discovered the home of Black Panther superhero, T’Challa the Marvel.
The hero is king of a fictional African country of Wakanda – outwardly ordinary, but secretly home to an El Dorado- esque kingdom, hidden from the outside world and rich in a fantastical mineral called Vibranium.
The village of Wauconda (pronounced “Wakanda”), Illinois, certainly fits the “outwardly ordinary” part. Until now, the village was best known for its swampy bog (a nature park) and its annual two-day rodeo.
But since the new Black Panther movie hit cinemas, fans have been calling up to ask where they can get their hands on some Vibranium. “At first, I was like, is there a full moon out?”
Alise Homola, an assistant to the village mayor, told the Hollywood Reporter. “Someone called and asked how we pronounced the village name and when I told him, he began yelling, ‘Wakanda forever!’ which I am guess – ing is from the film,” she said.
Dan Klett, principal of the local high school, told the office there had also been requests to change the school mascot from a bulldog to a Black Panther. A Wikipedia editor recently updated the online encyclopedia to include King T’Challa among a list of famous local residents.
What’s even more remarkable about Black Panther’s success is that it has annihilated all other superhero movies not only in a few days but also without releasing in one of the major markets, China. Amazing its yet to release in China yet its still broken box worldwide office records.