Verbal Diorama

This month on Verbal Diorama, we celebrate Women’s History Month, and it’s the perfect time to highlight the Agojie; fierce African warriors of the kingdom of Dahomey, who fought not just for their country, but for a legacy that resonates today.

Watching The Woman King is like stepping into a vivid tapestry of history, action, and empowerment that celebrates the resilience of women in an often overlooked narrative - 19th century black women in positions of power and influence.

It’s not just about battles and victories; it's about the emotional journey of these women, their struggles, and their triumphs against the backdrop of a kingdom at war. There's no way to sugar coat the fact that the film's portrayal of Dahomey's involvement in the Atlantic slave trade isn't entirely accurate, however there are always nuanced discussions about historical representation in movies that are here primarily to entertain.

And The Woman King does indeed entertain, as well as tell an important story of sisterhood, strength, bravery and shines a light on black women's excellence. While The Woman King is fictionalized, it still sheds light on significant female roles in African history - history that we may not know without this movie's existence.

Representation matters, and The Woman King serves as a powerful example of how narratives centred around strong black women can inspire future generations. Let's just hope Hollywood sees fit to make more of them...

I would love to hear your thoughts on The Woman King !

Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!

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ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

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• Gina Prince-Bythewood on Oscars Shutout of The Woman King’