Viola Davis’ ‘Woman King’ Facing Boycott Amid Slave Trade Controversy

Viola Davis’ is receiving praise for her excellent portrayal of Nanisca in “The Woman King.” That doesn’t mean the historical epic has managed to keep itself free from controversy.

According to TMZ, Sony’s latest release has stirred a new debate about slave trade and has led to some calling for a boycott of the movie. Apparently, some people aren’t happy about the way the Dahomey and the Agodjie are depicted in the movie.

“The criticism … the African tribe shown on screen, the Dahomey, as well as their all-female military regiment, the Agodjie, are presented as righteous, empowering liberators in all the marketing thus far … when in reality, they were knee-deep in the Atlantic slave trade.

“The record isn’t pretty … Dahomey was one of a handful of tribes in the 17th/18th/19th centuries that captured and sold off Black slaves to Europeans — a means of trade they continued for a good while … until the Brits actually forced them to stop in the mid-1800s.”

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Viola Davis portrays the role of Nanisca, a general who trains the next generation of warriors to fight their enemies. Check out some of the reactions to the movie below.

Have you watched “The Woman King?” Tell us in the comments!