An official hype drop for Children of Blood and Bone was made over the weekend on the movie’s X page; instead of getting hyped, netizens (especially Nigerians) seemed irritated.

Children of Blood and Bone is the live-action adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s 2018 young adult novel. Tomi Adeyemi is a Nigerian-American author and a massive bestseller at that. Setting the story in the kingdom of Orïsha must have taken root from her being of Yoruba descent; Orïsha in the book is a fictional West African world straight out of Yoruba mythology.

The Orishas (gods like Oya, Sango, and Yemoja) are magic-wielding “divîners” with white hair who are oppressed by a ruthless king. There is a rebellion led by Zélie (the fierce, dark-skinned heroine), her brother Tzain, Princess Amari, and Prince Inan. The book is epic fantasy meets Black girl magic, and it strikes hard on colorism, grief, power, and reclaiming your roots.

Advertisement

Hollywood scooped the rights before it even dropped. Even though there was an open audition call, the cast is star-studded. Gina Prince-Bythewood (director of The Woman King) is directing, and the cast is stacked: Thuso Mbedu as Zélie, Tosin Cole as Tzain, Amandla Stenberg as Princess Amari, and Damson Idris as Prince Inan, plus heavyweights like Viola Davis, Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Cynthia Erivo, along with some Nigerian talent (Ayra Starr, Richard Mofe-Damijo, and Bukky Bakray in supporting roles).

For African youths who grew up on Nollywood and Afrobeats, dreaming of seeing Orishas on the big screen like Wakanda did for us… this should’ve been the moment.

SEE ALSO: The Ghost Children: Kenya’s Search for the British Fathers Who Left

Why Everyone Is Losing It

The comments on X have been wild. From “this movie will fail in the name of colorism THANK YOU” or “AMANDLA would not be an orisha. Her biracial ass would’ve been slaughtered” to “we chanted no lightskins, and y’all gave us the most annoying one,” and “barely any Nigerians or Yoruba in a Nigerian/Yoruba-led movie.” Children of Blood and Bone won’t be out till January 16, 2027, but it’s already getting a ‘NO-NO-NO,’ here’s why:

The Colour Flop

In the book, Princess Amari’s dark skin is literally a plot point. It is very significant as she is the darker one in the light-skinned royal family. Her mom forces her to take bleach baths, calls her less “regal,” and the kingdom treats dark skin like a curse. It’s the book’s way of mirroring real colorism in Africa and the diaspora. Zélie is described with “onyx” dark skin, too.

Seeing Amandla Stenberg, who is biracial and light-skinned, play the role of Amari begs the question: “How are you casting the lightest person for the role that’s about being dark and facing shade for it?!” Someone hit the nail on the head by commenting, “Her dark-skinned complexion is a big part of her character.” Another comment reads: “They’re campaigning for Black stories but erasing the representation of a true dark-skinned girl whose role matters.”

This is deeper for Africans because a story that looks like it was supposed to celebrate our melanin-rich skin feels like a betrayal. Although Amandla addressed the backlash earlier on TikTok, saying her skin tone “serves the allegory,” the replies show many aren’t having it. The truth is that the problem is not Amandla; Africans are just tired of their stories not being told the way they should be.

No Yoruba Actor Is Leading the Yoruba Story

Orishas aren’t just cool fantasy; they’re living spirituality for millions in Nigeria, Benin, Brazil, etc. The book’s name hints at Yoruba gods, culture, and struggles. Yet the lead divîner (Zélie) is played by South African Thuso Mbedu, Amari by American Amandla, and the royal family has mostly diaspora/British/SA talent. No Yoruba local.

Comments like, “No Yoruba or at least Nigerian woman in sight,” “get that South African out of here,” “Wakanda accent coming through” flew around under the post. Yes, there are Nigerians like Ayra Starr and Richard Mofe-Damijo in the cast, but the leads aren’t continental enough for some.

It feels like Hollywood loves to do African stories but doesn’t want to do the actual accents, mannerisms, and deep cultural texture that make the stories ours. Then there is the xenophobic tension between South Africa and Nigeria, which makes the casting more contentious.

SEE ALSO: Mixed Reactions as Tunde Onakoya Claims ‘First Nigerian to Play Chess Game at the Louvre’ Title

Disappointment

This was supposed to be our equivalent of Black Panther. It was supposed to be a global blockbuster showing African magic, beauty standards that center on dark skin, and Orisha power. Instead, the red-carpet glow-up feels like another “diverse” Hollywood package that erases the very thing the book fought against.

Some comments tried to defend the casting: “They need light skins for the evil royals,” or “it’s acting, chill.” However, the loudest voices are rooting against it because they feel the soul of the story has been lost in translation. One even said, “As a Nigerian, I’m actively rooting against this movie.”

This is definitely not just about Children of Blood and Bone, the movie. It’s about who controls the narrative when Africa goes global. The backlash shows how much we care. We want epic stories that look like Yoruba compounds with orange dusty floors and dark-skinned queens who don’t need bleach to be regal.

.

About The Author