culture of Wakanda

[wgreason]

Could we compile some info about what we know about the Wakandan people and their daily lives?  I would love to develop a few fictional profiles of every day citizens that illustrated the regular live of our favorite nation :-)


Religion: Black Panther (?) details of worship. Cult of white gorilla; any secular element?
Technology: High (?) transportation, communications, agriculture, industry, services, defense, space travel, time travel, dimension shift
Education: High (?) public schooling, free higher education
Health Care: Long life expectancy, free preventive care, holistic and mystical technologies?
Housing: Varied, uneven residential development.  Unclear private investment models.
Energy: Vibranium ... unlimited and clean.
Finance: State-owned, based on the dollar ... some connection to international system.
Demographics: total population, ethnic composition, linguistic groups
Economy: Employment profile, 30 hour work week (4 days), fair/equity based; vibranium-dependent or diversified?


any suggestions or insights are greatly appreciated.
walt

[Wise Son]

Ummm, well the Panther Cult is dominant and unifying, but there are several cults that seem to have been assimilated into it (I think that's where you get the White Tiger and Bronze Lion? names from). The Gorilla cult was the only one not assimilated, which is why they are separate from and antagonistic towards Wakanda and the Panthers. This also leads to the fact that being king and being BP are not necessarily the same. T'Challa inherited his throne, but had to fight to be BP.

[Vic Vega]

If I remember correctly, the actual Wakandans number in the low thousands and worship the Panther God (mostly).

They rule a number of smaller tribes like the Hill and Marsh people who are anti-modernity. Those are the guys you see in the huts still rocking loincloths. I know there's also a tribe of Fisher-people too.

Killmonger's N'jdaka village  I guess would be the second largest city in Wakanda next to the capital itself.

The tribes don't get along at all which is the reason for the Dora Miliage. To appease the two biggest tribes with access to the king as a ceremonial wife/bodyguard. 

Population- I'd guess to be around 80,000 total, all tribes included (Ross has said that Wankanda was roughly the size of New Jersey, but I'd think its about the size of Newark actually.

Religion-We only know of two the State sponsored Black Panther cult and the outlawed White Gorilla cult. There was also a Lion God but that cult seems to have few adhereants.

Education and Health Care would be provided by the State, but you would have to travel to the Capital to receive university level education or hospitalization.

Economy-The Wakandans have made themselves rich by controlled trading in Vibrainium. Internally, the various tribes trade with each other and the Capital. Hill and Marshfolk for example, trading in herbs and fish respectively. I'd also have to say that Wakanda seems to run on some kind of enlightend version of Socialism.
 
Culture-Xenophobic. Only members of the Royal Family (T'challa, Shuri and that race car driver guy from the Black Musketeers) seem to have travelled abroad.  Other than Wankanda's international responsiblities (U.N. Ambassadors, SHEILD Agents) or scientific ones, the average Wakandan knows little of the outside world and cares even less.

[Frostbite883]

Just so you, Vic, the race car driver's name is Khanata.

[KIP LEWIS]

Economy-The Wakandans have made themselves rich by controlled trading in Vibrainium. Internally, the various tribes trade with each other and the Capital. Hill and Marshfolk for example, trading in herbs and fish respectively. I'd also have to say that Wakanda seems to run on some kind of enlightend version of Socialism.
 
Culture-Xenophobic. Only members of the Royal Family (T'challa, Shuri and that race car driver guy from the Black Musketeers) seem to have travelled abroad.  Other than Wankanda's international responsiblities (U.N. Ambassadors, SHEILD Agents) or scientific ones, the average Wakandan knows little of the outside world and cares even less.

There have been other Wakandans outside of Wakanda.  Periodically we see them in schools.  In Avengers (during Kurt's run) I believe we had a factory that worked on the Quinjets that was staffed by Wakandans.

As far as monies go; I don't think trading vibranium would be the source of their wealth.  First, even within Wakanda, the supply is limited, so every time they sell some, their supply diminishes.  Second, as the basis of their technology, every time they'd share vibranium, the secret of their technology could be lost.  Third, their wealth isn't a recent development, so that would mean they've been selling it for centuries and that would put vibranium all over Africa and ultimately the world.  Since the stuff is so rare outside of Wakanda, I really doubt they often let it go all too often.  Their wealth would need to come from other sources.  Even limited controlled sales would upset their balance of power in order make enough wealth to generate the riches of multi-generations.

[wgreason]

Great stuff so far.

Does anyone think that Wakanda's xenophobia and its cultural tensions within the country are related?

[Vic Vega]

Economy-The Wakandans have made themselves rich by controlled trading in Vibrainium. Internally, the various tribes trade with each other and the Capital. Hill and Marshfolk for example, trading in herbs and fish respectively. I'd also have to say that Wakanda seems to run on some kind of enlightend version of Socialism.
 
Culture-Xenophobic. Only members of the Royal Family (T'challa, Shuri and that race car driver guy from the Black Musketeers) seem to have travelled abroad.  Other than Wankanda's international responsiblities (U.N. Ambassadors, SHEILD Agents) or scientific ones, the average Wakandan knows little of the outside world and cares even less.

There have been other Wakandans outside of Wakanda.  Periodically we see them in schools.  In Avengers (during Kurt's run) I believe we had a factory that worked on the Quinjets that was staffed by Wakandans.

The Wakandan Design Group. I should have included them as one of Wakanda's international intrestest. Since the Priest run shows that WDG is publicly traded (T'Challa holds controlling interest and is CEO),I'd say that building Quinjets for the Avengers must be a boom industry (not surprising considering how often the damn things get blown up). Maybe they make other stuff too.   

As far as monies go; I don't think trading vibranium would be the source of their wealth.  First, even within Wakanda, the supply is limited, so every time they sell some, their supply diminishes.  Second, as the basis of their technology, every time they'd share vibranium, the secret of their technology could be lost.  Third, their wealth isn't a recent development, so that would mean they've been selling it for centuries and that would put vibranium all over Africa and ultimately the world.  Since the stuff is so rare outside of Wakanda, I really doubt they often let it go all too often.  Their wealth would need to come from other sources.  Even limited controlled sales would upset their balance of power in order make enough wealth to generate the riches of multi-generations.

Well, you're right about that. It's not like the outside world would have had any use for Vibrainum at all until the atomic age.

On further thought, there's a real simple explanation for the source of the Wakandans' weath.

Check out that goofy old map of Wakanda and notice that KING SOLOMON'S MINES are within a two days march of Wakanda.

They've (the Wakandans) been very likely rolling in gold (and/or diamonds) for centuries. This would also be the other reason for the constant aggresion from the outside world. They were seeking the mines.

They'd probably trade the gold thru proxies (servants of the king) to the outside world who would have no idea where the gold really came from. Occasionally somebody'd get greedy and Black Panther'd have smack up a fool, but otherwise the system's workable. 

 

[KIP LEWIS]

On further thought, there's a real simple explanation for the source of the Wakandans' weath.

Check out that goofy old map of Wakanda and notice that KING SOLOMON'S MINES are within a two days march of Wakanda.

They've (the Wakandans) been very likely rolling in gold (and/or diamonds) for centuries. This would also be the other reason for the constant aggresion from the outside world. They were seeking the mines.

They'd probably trade the gold thru proxies (servants of the king) to the outside world who would have no idea where the gold really came from. Occasionally somebody'd get greedy and Black Panther'd have smack up a fool, but otherwise the system's workable. 

 

King Solomon's Mines?  But how did they get pass those gray (or where they white?) killer Gorillas that Solomon's men trained and raised and which eventually overthrew and killed their human masters?     (Of course, this would explain the "Cult of the White Gorilla". ) 

[wgreason]

They rule a number of smaller tribes like the Hill and Marsh people who are anti-modernity. Those are the guys you see in the huts still rocking loincloths. I know there's also a tribe of Fisher-people too.

Killmonger's N'jdaka village  I guess would be the second largest city in Wakanda next to the capital itself.

The tribes don't get along at all which is the reason for the Dora Miliage. To appease the two biggest tribes with access to the king as a ceremonial wife/bodyguard. 

Achebe was a great concept from Priest to explore these points.  The Ghudazi border conflict affecting the rural parts of the country along with Achebe's escape to the frontier where he created Malice were just two of the fascinating story elements I enjoyed using the diversity of the countryside.

[Vic Vega]

I think the one of reasons the Panther's ritual of ascension is so spartan and demanding is because of the internecine squabbles among the tribes.

If you see ol' boy take on the 5 TOUGHEST WARRIORS IN THE COUNTRY in hand to hand beat them down and then take the heart shaped herb after that for a further ability boost, you as a insurrectionist are just going to give up and go home.

The ceremony we see in the first issue of Reggie's run cements it further. One day each year ANYBODY can challenge the Panther to trial by combat for leadership.

In a very organised manner the Black Panther's have been proving thier fitness to rule over and over again.

No matter how tough or smart you are as a Wakandan , you for a FACT KNOW the guy who's running things is a lot tougher and smarter then you are.

But, it says something about the colllective WILL of the Wakandans that despite the fact that B.P. is effectively the KING and POPE and HEAD ASSKICKER, there are still insurrection attempts by rival trbes (even though they usually wait until T'Challa's out of the country to start @##$ up) .   

[supreme illuminati]

I think the one of reasons the Panther's ritual of ascension is so spartan and demanding is because of the internecine squabbles among the tribes.

If you see ol' boy take on the 5 TOUGHEST WARRIORS IN THE COUNTRY in hand to hand beat them down and then take the heart shaped herb after that for a further ability boost, you as a insurrectionist are just going to give up and go home.

The ceremony we see in the first issue of Reggie's run cements it further. One day each year ANYBODY can challenge the Panther to trial by combat for leadership.

In a very organised manner the Black Panther's have been proving thier fitness to rule over and over again.

No matter how tough or smart you are as a Wakandan , you for a FACT KNOW the guy who's running things is a lot tougher and smarter then you are.

But, it says something about the colllective WILL of the Wakandans that despite the fact that B.P. is effectively the KING and POPE and HEAD ASSKICKER, there are still insurrection attempts by rival trbes (even though they usually wait until T'Challa's out of the country to start @##$ up) .   

These are all very very very important points that are made here...and I'd like to add something that ERIC JEROME DICKEY wrote that is actually backed up  by cannon in PANTHER'S PREY BOOK 1:

The heart shaped herb may not actually enhance BP's powers in the way that we assume it does.

In PANTHER'S PREY,Wakandan scientists speculated that the heart shaped herb's poultice enhanced among other things TCHALLA'S kinesthetic sense,his proprioceptive system and other things so that he has incredible pantherine grace,and knows EXACTLY where a ledge, a tree limb, or whatever is so that he can leap for it and never have an instant's doubt that he knows exactly where it is and exactly how to get to it. This same book's narrative indicated that TChalla felt that his spiritual connection with the Panther God was what the heart-shaped herb REALLY enhanced,and allowed his human and great hunting cat instincts to be merged into one. It also allowed him to consort with real prides of panthers without upsetting them (almost all of the time, anyway).

This goes hand in hand with ERIC JEROME DICKEY having young TChalla say that TCHAKA defeated CAPTAIN AMERICA while knowing tha CAPTAIN AMERICA was enhanced by the SSS, whereas TCHAKA wasn't artificially physically enhanced AT ALL. We can still be looking at that exact occurrence for all the BPs...and I personally greatly prefer this interpretation. This would mean that FIRST AND FOREMOST the TRULY INCREDIBLE HOLISTIC CHARACTER OF EACH BP (mind body and spirit combined,gifted to them at birth) IN ADDITION TO the rigors and disciplines and sciences and spiritual connection to THE PANTHER GOD is what's primarily the root and the cause of the BPs becoming the BPs.

I wonder if the White Gorillas have their religious equivalent to the BP. I wonder what specifically encouraged MBAKU to wear that damn White Gorilla fur thing? I remember that PRIEST made him TRULY FORMIDABLE, and that was a true true feat because I swear all the way up until PRIEST got him,I HATED that guy. He seemed the personification of many racist stereotypes that I abhored the most.

Hey,in RH BP's first arc...wasn't it pointed out that Wakanda is a land of many many riches? A land so incredibly rich in resources that they didn't mine oil and the various other resources that their land abounded with, and they had centuries of green technology that powered their civilization in a way that no other country could even fathom?

Wasn't Wakanda--in its earlier runs--referred to as a land with a multiplicity of ores and riches? Diamonds and gold and precious minerals and ore that was so rich that many of these resources that the outer world coveted were left undisturbed and unexploited because they'd developed a far more environment friendly and far more potent technology that also had fusion empowerment and other elements involved? "A land of rich mystery,science and magic."  I'm pretty sure that this was the phrase I read while I was a kid. This was back when BP was being written like he was Junta,Conan the Barbarian's close homeboy who was basically a Black Conan with better education.

[wgreason]

In a very organised manner the Black Panther's have been proving thier fitness to rule over and over again.

No matter how tough or smart you are as a Wakandan , you for a FACT KNOW the guy who's running things is a lot tougher and smarter then you are.

Except for that Erik guy who beats T'Challa every 2-3 years.

[wgreason]

Hey,in RH BP's first arc...wasn't it pointed out that Wakanda is a land of many many riches? A land so incredibly rich in resources that they didn't mine oil and the various other resources that their land abounded with,and they had centuries of green technology that powered their civilization in a way that no other country could even fathom?

Wasn't Wakanda--in its earlier runs--referred to as a land with a multiplicity of ores and riches? Diamonds and gold and precious minerals and ore that was so rich that many of these resources that the outer world coveted were left undisturbed and unexploited because they'd developed a far more environment friendly and far more potent technology that also had fusion empowerment and other elements involved? "A land of rich mystery,science and magic."  I'm pretty sure that this was the phrase I read while I was a kid. This was back when BP was being written like he was Junta,Conan the Barbarian's close homeboy who was basically a Black Conan with better education.

This point about the combined resources of Wakanda (mystery, science, magic) speaks to me about how truly powerful T'Challa (or any Panther can be) ... similar to how the Fantastic Four had a storyline about Doom making a deal with demons to realize his mystic potential, I think Black Panthers have mystical powers that are too often overlooked.

In Priest's run the stories with Moon Knight and Mephisto illustrated this dimension ... I still think T'Challa has the specific ability to immunize humanity against Mephisto based on the demon's defeat in "The Client" ... but RH also showed some of this during the wedding ceremony.

Priest once had Omoro (not Ororo) say that T'Challa didn't have a mighty suit of armor because he CHOSE not to -- and cautioned Iron Man (??) to reflect on what that said about the King's character.  I think we could extend this discussion about the resources of Wakanda to state that T'Challa could conquer the world and establish a galactic empire at any time, but he CHOOSES not to.

Perhaps he is not individually as powerful as the Hulk, as great a fighter as Steve Rogers, or as much a genius as Reed Richards, but because of his cultural heritage and the ancestry of his nation ... he is simply the most advanced and important human being on the planet.

hmmmm...

[supreme illuminati]

Hey,in RH BP's first arc...wasn't it pointed out that Wakanda is a land of many many riches? A land so incredibly rich in resources that they didn't mine oil and the various other resources that their land abounded with,and they had centuries of green technology that powered their civilization in a way that no other country could even fathom?

Wasn't Wakanda--in its earlier runs--referred to as a land with a multiplicity of ores and riches? Diamonds and gold and precious minerals and ore that was so rich that many of these resources that the outer world coveted were left undisturbed and unexploited because they'd developed a far more environment friendly and far more potent technology that also had fusion empowerment and other elements involved? "A land of rich mystery,science and magic."  I'm pretty sure that this was the phrase I read while I was a kid. This was back when BP was being written like he was Junta,Conan the Barbarian's close homeboy who was basically a Black Conan with better education.

This point about the combined resources of Wakanda (mystery, science, magic) speaks to me about how truly powerful T'Challa (or any Panther can be) ... similar to how the Fantastic Four had a storyline about Doom making a deal with demons to realize his mystic potential, I think Black Panthers have mystical powers that are too often overlooked.

In Priest's run the stories with Moon Knight and Mephisto illustrated this dimension ... I still think T'Challa has the specific ability to immunize humanity against Mephisto based on the demon's defeat in "The Client" ... but RH also showed some of this during the wedding ceremony.

Priest once had Omoro (not Ororo) say that T'Challa didn't have a mighty suit of armor because he CHOSE not to -- and cautioned Iron Man (??) to reflect on what that said about the King's character.  I think we could extend this discussion about the resources of Wakanda to state that T'Challa could conquer the world and establish a galactic empire at any time, but he CHOOSES not to.

Perhaps he is not individually as powerful as the Hulk, as great a fighter as Steve Rogers, or as much a genius as Reed Richards, but because of his cultural heritage and the ancestry of his nation ... he is simply the most advanced and important human being on the planet.

hmmmm...

This post is VERY well written wgreason (which is typical of you,brah).However,I think it was HUNTER who made the comment to IRON MAN who cautioned Iron Man to reflect upon that fact.I never saw the BP/MOON KNIGHT issues...and would loove to find and buy them.These two guys are natural fits,I would think.I utterly agree with you in regards to the mystic potential of BP,having made a similar point awhile ago (but I didn't know that Doom made a deal with demons to maximize his mystic potential...)

I think that BP is a SUPERIOR combatant to CAPT. AMERICA.I have gone into great length and detail as to why I think so in another thread.I am very much of the opinion that BP is at least REED RICHARDS' intellectual equal.He is certainly and beyond question either the absolute richest superhero or in a triumvirate of the Top 4 richest superheroes in the MU (Thor,Black Bolt,Sub-Mariner,Black Panther...not in any particular order).Of the 4....I would say that Thor--with the resources of "eternal" Asgard--is very likely richer than BP...but BP is probably second,as I don't see THE INHUMANS being  more stupendously rich (unless they've been harnessing wealth longer than Wakanda has existed) than BP,and I see the same in regards to Namor.I think Namor is very close to a tie with BP or tied with BP...but not richer than BP.

BP is CERTAINLY not as powerful as THE HULK.Nobody is...but there are several people whom can harm or kill or check the Hulk in a serious way.Especially if they work in concert.But I'm thinking that the same guy who has contingency plans for GALACTUS and who can contain the Avengers and swap mind blowing brain-gasms with Reed Richards and can survive the Zombies in the Zombieverse...and can warn THE ILLUMINATI against the path of ruin that they considered....that guy? Yeah,he has a trick or two for the rampaging Hulk.

That guy? That BP feller? He's GOT to be the most important human on the planet.IMHO.

[wgreason]

This post is VERY well written wgreason (which is typical of you,brah).However,I think it was HUNTER who made the comment to IRON MAN who cautioned Iron Man to reflect upon that fact.I never saw the BP/MOON KNIGHT issues...and would loove to find and buy them.These two guys are natural fits,I would think.I utterly agree with you in regards to the mystic potential of BP,having made a similar point awhile ago (but I didn't know that Doom made a deal with demons to maximize his mystic potential...)

I think that BP is a SUPERIOR combatant to CAPT. AMERICA.I have gone into great length and detail as to why I think so in another thread.I am very much of the opinion that BP is at least REED RICHARDS' intellectual equal.He is certainly and beyond question either the absolute richest superhero or in a triumvirate of the Top 4 richest superheroes in the MU (Thor,Black Bolt,Sub-Mariner,Black Panther...not in any particular order).Of the 4....I would say that Thor--with the resources of "eternal" Asgard--is very likely richer than BP...but BP is probably second,as I don't see THE INHUMANS being  more stupendously rich (unless they've been harnessing wealth longer than Wakanda has existed) than BP,and I see the same in regards to Namor.I think Namor is very close to a tie with BP or tied with BP...but not richer than BP.

BP is CERTAINLY not as powerful as THE HULK.Nobody is...but there are several people whom can harm or kill or check the Hulk in a serious way.Especially if they work in concert.But I'm thinking that the same guy who has contingency plans for GALACTUS and who can contain the Avengers and swap mind blowing brain-gasms with Reed Richards and can survive the Zombies in the Zombieverse...and can warn THE ILLUMINATI against the path of ruin that they considered....that guy? Yeah,he has a trick or two for the rampaging Hulk.

That guy? That BP feller? He's GOT to be the most important human on the planet.IMHO.

You and I certainly don't disagree on the nature and stature of the Black Panther.  I just used some phrasing to invite some nonbelievers to convert.