Long Live Zamunda! (Coming 2 America)

Both of my parents were Chicago Public School teachers with Master degrees in Education. In a nut shell, they could teach anything. They taught my sisters and me to be proud of being Black. They often encuraged us to celebrate our heritage and made us feel comfortable about expressing that love. We wore African garments indicative of that love. No, its not Black History Month, but Eddie Murphy's Coming 2 America came out this month so let's talk about it. Zamunda is real!

This movie is a comedy, but it's also a celebration of everything Black! It's Black culture from our style of dress, to our music, our comedy and fascination with our African heritage. Some people didn't care for this sequel, but I thought that it was hilarious. Can you imagine an African prince (who comes from a country with their own money, values, and money) travels to Queens, NY-- Ameica to find his bride?  Then they get married and have children? We did it before in 1988 and we're doing it again in 2021. That is what this movie is all about: love, laughter and legacy.

The idea of an African Prince from Zamunda coming to America to find a bride was revolutionary. I had never seen a modern day African royal family. So I believed in Zamunda. We all did. I wanted to marry a prince too and live in a mansion with personal assistants. Why? Because in my mind all of this was possible. To have an African country run by Africans and no colonial influence, with plush green grass, mansions, maids, personal assistants and exotic animals that lived in my back yard was my dream. This life was possible! 

Coming 2 America may not be what you expected, but its a love story and a comedy. It's loaded with funny commentary about life in America, Black stereotypes, Feminist perspectives and a host of new comedic talent. It is the predecessor to marvel's Black Panther of 2018. (You can disagree if you want.) But it's true! The original Coming to America released in 1988 helped us to imagine that Wakanda was possible. You know-- a country with superior powers that celebrates African culture and has a royal dynasty. We learned that this was possible because of the comedic genius of Eddie Murphy and his royal cast. King Joffery Jafar ruled Zamunda and Prince Akeem would marry his family's arranged royal bride, except he cose American royalty instead. The McDowells were the American royalty and Lisa was the heir to the throne. It's only perfect that she would be chosen by an African prince who married for love and not because it was what his parents wanted. This reminds me of my family.

My mom was an elementary school teacher who loved being a Chicago Public School educator. She could take a topic from The View or the Oprah Winfrey Show and create a lesson plan. Evang Verneda Stephens made everything a lesson. In the 90s we studied Black History facts for fun and we dressed in African garb when it was unpopular to do so. (I have the pictures.) We learned about the Kings and Queens who ruled in Africa like Hatsheput, Queen Sheba, Queen Candace and Sudiata Keita, Amenhotep II, and King Solomon. They were real. If she heard something inspiring, you would find her with a notepad and pen taking notes. Then it became something applicable for her students with class discussions. I loved that about mom. In our eyes, Zamunda was the modern day depction of royalty, although it was fictitious.

Now my dad, also know as the Coach, made his lessons about sports. He created bulletin boards with sports facts and quotes of notable Black athletes. We learned about Bill Russell, Bo Jakson, Michael Jordan, Florence Giriffith Joyner, Wilma Rudolph, Sheryl Miller and Muhammad Ali just to name a few. If you came to his gym, or sat down to chat with him, you wouldnt leave without learning something new. We always heard I Pet 2:19 "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people"... referenced in our home so we knew that we were special.

Coming to America is about family conflict, growing up and preserving legacy. The first version of this movie starring Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Sherri Headley, James Earl Jones and John Amos is and will always be a classic. It can never be replaced. It's revolutionary nature is still echoed in this sequence.  The costumes were extrordinary, the cast was legendary and funny, and the storyline was entertaining. It made you believe in family and Zamunda too.

Now let's fastforward to Coming 2 America of 2021. We have an entertaining movie with most of its original cast, new comedians, more fantastic costumes and a crazy plot. Why would Prince Akeem go back to America to find his American son? It only made sense to me. But this second version will make more noise than its first. There are feminists undertones in this version also. Would Akeem change the law of the land to fit his wife's challenge of being a "different king than his father'? Would Akeem support his daughter's lifelong dream to become Queen? Meeka is her name. Meeka is Akeem and Lias's oldest daughter played by KikI Layne. She trains her American brother Lavelle, played by Jermaine Fowler, to become a prince, but is unable to realize her own dream of ruling Zamunda. She expresses her disappointment. Its so hard to be a woman!

This movie was a celebration of Black culture. There were so many shades of melinated people on the screen and it was amazing! Our Black is beautiful. The costumes were created by Ruth E. Carter again and her choices of African garb were colorful, regal and creative. The people of Zamunda were dresed from head to toe in their distinguished attire. And yes, the folks from Nextdoria were stylish as well. Dr. Carter made some excellent choices. There were so many beautiful prints and they made me full of pride. (I wish that I coud design like that.)

Do you have any warrior princesses in your family? King Akeem does. The daughters of Akeem were warriors in training. They were smart young ladies with global perspective. His oldest daughter Meeka is wise and fierce! His middle daughter Omma, played by Bella Murphy, encourages her granddad, played by John Amos, to create a menu for Mcdowell's Restaurant that lessens the carbon foot print. She's innovative and globally consious.  Tinashe, the yourngest Jafar is a cutie pie. But she too is a young warrior. She is played by Akiley Love. Together they will make a difference in the world. But what happens when you prepare all of your life for a big opportunity, but your gender disqualifies you? This movie reminds us that there is hope. It shows us that one day the world will change. That said a lot to me.

Go watch Coming 2 America on Amazon prime. Dont watch it as a sequel with a critical eye. But watch it as a comedy. You will get all kinds of inspirations. You will laugh.  You will enjoy this version. I know that I did! Long live Zamunda!