The new film which premieres internationally on July 31 was inspired by her soundtrack for Disney’s reboot of “The Lion King”.
According to Beyoncé, “Black is King” is a visual album of her soundtrack “The Lion King: The Gift”.
Aside from Shatta Wale, Beyoncé also collaborated with other top African artistes such as Wizkid, Burna Boy, Yemi Alade, and Mr Eazi on the soundtrack. It also featured American stars including Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Jessie Reyez, Pharrell, and her daughter Blue Ivy Carter.
Announcing the visual album, Beyonce accompanied the trailer on her Instagram page with a long piece which reads:
““Black Is King” is a labor of love. It is my passion project that I have been filming, researching and editing day and night for the past year. I’ve given it my all and now it’s yours. It was originally filmed as a companion piece to “The Lion King: The Gift” soundtrack and meant to celebrate the breadth and beauty of Black ancestry. I could never have imagined that a year later, all the hard work that went into this production would serve a greater purpose.
The events of 2020 have made the film’s vision and message even more relevant, as people across the world embark on a historic journey. We are all in search of safety and light. Many of us want change. I believe that when Black people tell our own stories, we can shift the axis of the world and tell our REAL history of generational wealth and richness of soul that are not told in our history books.
