Egyptians complain over Netflix depiction of Cleopatra as black

ANetflix docudrama series that depicts Queen Cleopatra VII as a black African has sparked controversy in Egypt.

A lawyer has filed a complaint that accuses African Queens: Queen Cleopatra of violating media laws and aiming to “erase the Egyptian identity”.

A top archaeologist insisted Cleopatra was “light-skinned, not black”.

But the producer said “her heritage is highly debated” and the actress playing her told critics: “If you don’t like the casting, don’t watch the show.”

Adele James made the comment in a Twitter post that included screengrabs of abusive comments that included racist slurs.

Cleopatra was born in the Egyptian city of Alexandria in 69 BC and became the last queen of a Greek-speaking dynasty founded by Alexander the Great’s Macedonian general Ptolemy.

She succeeded her father Ptolemy XII in 51 BC and ruled until her death in 30 BC. Afterwards, Egypt fell under Roman domination.

The identity of Cleopatra’s mother is not known, and historians say it is possible that she, or any other female ancestor, was an indigenous Egyptian or from elsewhere in Africa.

Netflix’s companion website Tudum reported in February that the choice to cast Adele James, who is of mixed race, as Cleopatra in its new documentary series was “a nod to the centuries-long conversation about the ruler’s race”.

Jada Pinkett Smith, the American actress who was executive producer and narrator, was meanwhile quoted as saying: “We don’t often get to see or hear stories about black queens, and that was really important for me, as well as for my daughter, and just for my community to be able to know those stories because there are tons of them!”

But when the trailer was released last week many Egyptians condemned the depiction of Cleopatra.

This article contains content provided by Google YouTube. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Google’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

Zahi Hawass, a prominent Egyptologist and former antiquities minister, told the al-Masry al-Youm newspaper: “This is completely fake. Cleopatra was Greek, meaning that she was light-skinned, not black.”

Mr Hawass said the only rulers of Egypt known to have been black were the Kushite kings of the 25th Dynasty (747-656 BC).

“Netflix is trying to provoke confusion by spreading false and deceptive facts that the origin of the Egyptian civilisation is black,” he added and called on Egyptians to take a stand against the streaming giant.

On Sunday, lawyer Mahmoud alSemary filed a complaint with the public prosecutor demanding that he take “the necessary legal measures” and block access to Netflix’s services in Egypt.

He alleged that the series included visual material and content that violated Egypt’s media laws and accused Netflix of trying to “promote the Afrocentric thinking... which includes slogans and writings aimed at distorting and erasing the Egyptian identity”.

Three years ago, plans for a movie about Cleopatra starring the Israeli actress Gal Gadot triggered a heated debate on social media, with some people insisting that the role should instead go to an Arab or African actress.

Gadot subsequently defended the casting decision, saying: “We were looking for a Macedonian actress that could fit Cleopatra. She wasn’t there, and I was very passionate about Cleopatra.”

Source: BBC

Common Interest For Sustainable Development Initiative

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

(1) ISEGHOHI AKEMU THOMAS - CHAIRMAN

(2) SHAJOBI T. ADEOYE -SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO TRAIN, EMPOWER AND DEVELOP CITIZENS AT THE. GRASSROOTS LEVEL IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

YAKUBU

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS YAKUBU ADAM NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS YAKUBU ADAM KOFARMATA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. OHCSF, EMBASSIES,NIGERIA IMMIGRATION AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

Pentecostal Discipleship Christian Bible Mission

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. PASTOR DR TIMOTHY EFUNWAPE OLOWOOKERE..... CHAIRMAN

2. JANET OLUWATOYIN OLAIFA

3. KASSIM ADEWALE SHITTU..... SECRETARY

4. OLOWOOKERE TEMILOLUWA MICHAEL

5. OLOWOOKERE ELIZABETH ODUNAYO.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY. 08038769236.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Specialneedart Foundation

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.NAOMI ABISOYE FATUSIN -TRUSTEE /CHAIRMAN

2.NSE- O BONG EFEFIONG AKPAN - TRUSTEE /SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

SPECIALNEEDART FOUNDATION IS CENTRED AROUND TEACHING THE LESS PRIVILEGED SKILLS THAT THEY CAN’T AFFORD TO ACQUIRE ON THEIR OWN. TEACHING THEM THROUGH LOVE. EMPOWERING THEM TO HAVE SKILLS THAT CAN HELP THEM HAVE A BETTER FUTURE. WE HAVE A LOT OF SLOW LEARNERS WITH SPECIAL NEED, SPEACIALNEEDART FOUNDATION WANTS TO CARE FOR SUCH INDIVIDUALS AS I WAS A SLOW LEARNER AND NO ONE EVER GAVE ME A CHANCE. NEITHER DID ANYONE BELIEVE ANYTHING GOOD WILL COME OUT OF ME.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE