Lupita Nyong’o is shining a light on a forgotten history. British broadcaster Channel 4 has commissioned “Warrior Women with Lupita Nyong’o,” a one-off documentary that will see the Oscar-winning actress traveling through Benin, West Africa to investigate the ‘”Agoji’ – or as Europeans labelled them, the ‘Amazons,'” Deadline reports.
“These armies, of up to 4,000 women, fought African and European powers from the 17th to the 19th centuries in the Kingdom of Dahomey,” the source notes.
Last year Nyong’o signed on to “The Woman King,” a feature inspired by the history of these very warriors. Viola Davis is set to co-star in the pic.
Sandstone Global Productions is producing “Warrior Women with Lupita Nyong’o.”
“This was a unique opportunity to combine Lupita Nyong’o’s passion and forensic interest in the power and origin of stories with grassroots research in Benin,” said Bettany Hughes, Creative Director of SandStone Global. “The Agojie women were recruited by their kings across three centuries and fought in huge numbers in highly-trained battalions. Women have frequently been written out of history, and powerful women fetishized – this is a case in point. Lupita Nyong’o asks searing questions about power play in history and who tells whose story.”
Channel 4’s Shaminder Nahal added, “Lupita Nyong’o’s investigation into the real story of the all-female army is thrilling, haunting, and emotional. It’s amazing the true story of these kick-ass female fighters isn’t more widely known – and in telling it, the film challenges dominant narratives about race, women, and power. With some surprises along the way.”
Nyong’o scored an Oscar for her supporting role in “12 Years a Slave.” “Us,” “Black Panther,” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” are among her more recent credits. You can catch her next in “Little Monsters.” The zombie comedy will screen in theaters October 8 and hit Hulu October 11. Nyong’s upcoming projects include an HBO Max limited series based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “Americanah” and star-studded spy thriller “355.”
