Wakanda

Wakanda, officially known as the Kingdom of Wakanda, is a small nation in North East Africa. For centuries they have remained in isolation and are now considered the most technologically advanced nation of the planet. Birnin Zana is the capital and largest city.

History

Ancient Wakandans learned to manipulate storm clouds to funnel cosmic energies, creating that way the path that eventually pulled down the Vibranium meteorites. Around 1,000,000 B.C., Wakanda was home to a collection of primitive human tribes. It was during this time a massive meteorite made of a sound and energy absorbing mineral, which would later be known as vibranium crashed to Earth. One of the tribes, the Panther Tribe, decided to investigate, believing this to be a gift from the gods.
When they reached the crater, they found that the material vibrated and decided it would be useful to forge into weapons. However, the radiation the meteorite gave off also had a side effect, turning some of the tribesmen into "Demon Spirits". Mosi, the Panther Tribe's mightiest warrior, prayed to the Panther God to give him the strength to defeat these demons, becoming the first "Black Panther" and uniting the tribes to form the nation of Wakanda. His lineage would later rule the country for centuries.
The radiation also effected the flora and fauna; creating the Heart-Shaped Herb eaten by members of the Black Panther Cult. It even effected a troop of gorillas, mutating their DNA to become the albino White Apes.[14] Their flesh had the ability to bestow great power on those who consumed it. These people would later form the White Gorilla Cult, who worshiped the Ape God Ghekre. Besides emitting radiation, the meteorite opened rifts into space through which hostile races like the Cotati and the Brood arrived, but thankfully were driven away by Mosi.
Eons ago, Varnae (the first vampire) stole Vibranium ore from the fires of Ptah and used it to construct a temple in the lands that would one day become Wakanda in an attempt to ascend to godhood.[18] The moon god Khonshu (another member of the Egyptian Ennead) learned of Varnae's scheme after one of his worshippers was killed, but was advised against swift retaliation by his sister Bast, who believed such unilateral action by a member of the Ennead in an unclaimed land such as Wakanda would spark a war between the Ennead and the gods worshipped in western Africa.[18] As such, Khonshu convened a meeting among the gods of the surrounding realms as a show of respect, and Ghekre volunteered to act as the West Africa gods representative on Khonshu's quest to vanquish Varnae.[18] Ghekre joined Khonshu, Bast, and Kokou in confronting Varnae in his lair while Bast freed the mortal captives, promising to them that the Ennead and the West Africa gods would never allow the people of Wakanda to be enslaved again.[18] However, seeing as the gods were becoming reckless in their fight against Varnae, the god of judgement, Eshu intervened to stop them, allowing the vampire lord to flee. As punishment for endangering their surroundings, Eshu had Kokou, Bast and Ptah remain in this land to look after the locals. At an unknown point in time before the creation of Wakanda, a cult of Set had established a base hidden inside a cave which housed the Serpent Scepter.
During the Bronze Age,[14] the tribes of Wakanda united under the Panther Tribe's chieftain, Bashenga, and he became the first King of Wakanda and the second Black Panther since Mosi. In this role, he was gifted with secret knowledge by Bast and became guardian of the Vibranium Mound and he later founded the Black Panther Cult. His Spear eventually became a status symbol of Wakanda royalty, and he was considered the Father of Wakanda. A cache of the books saved from the burning of the Great Library of Alexandria led to the foundation of Wakanda. Apparently, the Orisha Mujaji gave Wakanda its name, since she was described by Wakandan shamans as "who named us."
During World War II, Colonel Fritz Klaue led a mission to Wakanda to regain Adolf Hitler's favor. His plane however crashed, leaving him as the only survivor. Klaue was nursed back to health by Azzuri, the then Black Panther. He befriended the king and was amazed by the hidden Wakandans and the Great Mound of Vibranium. Klaue had the Wakandans build the Panther Idol icon, demanding that they worship it as a god instead of a brother spirit. When the then Black Panther refused, he tried to kill him, murdering the queen Nanali instead. Panther escaped into the jungles, but when he returned he defeated Klaue and ripped his steel hand off, causing him to flee back to Germany.
In 1941, Captain America traveled to Wakanda and encountered Azzuri and his son T'Chaka. They worked together with Nick Fury and his Howling Commandos in combat against Baron Strucker and the Red Skull. They then fought against three Nazi super soldiers: Master Man, Warrior Woman and the Armless Tiger Man in an all out invasion of Wakanda. The invasions failed and the Nazis retreated from Wakanda. Captain America later returned to Wakanda intrigued about the new Vibranium rumored to be found in the region. Cap eventually earned T'Chaka's trust and respect. As such, the Wakandan king gave Cap a piece of Vibranium. In return Cap gave T'Chaka his shield as a token of his trust.
T'Chaka eventually became King of Wakanda. Knowing that others would attempt to manipulate and dominate Wakanda for access to Vibranium, T'Chaka continued to conceal his country from the outside world. He would sell off minimal amounts of the valuable Vibranium while surreptitiously sending the country's best scholars to study abroad, consequently turning Wakanda into one of the world's most technologically advanced nations. The Bilderberg Group invited T'Chaka to sit at their table in order to negotiate use of Wakandan goods. As T'Chaka rejected their offers, criticizing their materialist and selfish way of thoughts, they let their agent, Klaw, take the hit on the Wakandan royal family, killing T'Chaka. Klaw was forced to retreat by T'Chaka's son T'Challa. After T'Chacka's death S'Yan ascended to the throne and became Black Panther. S'Yan merely served as regent until 13 year old T'Challa was old enough to claim the throne.[38] T'Challa traveled to America[39] and Europe for school and gained a Ph.D. in Physics from Oxford University along with B'Tumba, his childhood friend, who would grow resentment towards T'Challa and join A.I.M..
He came back to perform his duties in his tribe to become a man to lead the country. He was sent to find the sacred Heart-Shaped Herb, but was captured by A.I.M. and B'Tumba, who freed him and battle at his side, dying in the fight. After beating the his uncle S'Yan in the combat ritual and taking a Heart-Shaped Herb to link him to Bast, the Panther God, the herb also enhanced him which made him almost superhuman as T'Challa became the new Black Panther, leader of the Panther Clan, and King of Wakanda. As one of his first acts as King, T'Challa excommunicated his adopted brother Hunter who, as the White Wolf, had decades earlier assumed leadership of the Hatut Zeraze ("Dogs of War"), zealous patriots who acted as Wakanda's Secret Police, performing acts of sedition, counter-intelligence and assassination against the country's presumed enemies. T'Challa would not be a king who tolerated such actions, and so officially disbanded the Hatut Zeraze, although they merely left Wakanda to operate on their own abroad.
Being King continued to bring up new difficulties when a tribal war commenced in Wakanda. T'Challa was forced to take sides in the war, choosing Dora Milaje over the Jabari Tribe for his secret service agents as well as his harem. The more Wakanda became a technological global power, the more T'Challa realized the threats of the outside world. The Dora Milaje are trained in various African martial arts such as Ngolo,Laamb, Musangwe, as well as Muay Thai, Silat, Krav Maga and others. In addition to stick fighting styles such as Nguni (South Africa), Eskrima (Thailand), Kalinda (Trinidad), and Intonga (South Africa).
Unfortunately for the Wakandans, the transition from monarchy to democracy severally weakened the country as it struggled with the rise of crime. Namor was chosen to be Wakanda's new guardian, but he completely neglected his duty during the vampire invasion, and the worldwide takeover of Emperor Doom, resulting in massive damages and casualties. The politicians in charge of the country struggled with making the hard and impossible decisions to maintain Wakanda's order while not falling to corruption, and in time the country realized that democracy was unsustainable to do the brutal work of keeping Wakanda intact. Meanwhile, T'Challa was still welcomed to the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, as despite its inherent connection to the Earth country, it still operated independently and wasn't subjected to Wakanda's government. Soon the decision to turn the government into a democracy was reversed and the monarchy was reinstated. T'Challa was reinstated as the country's king, and with his return the Hatut Zeraze was also reformed. As ruler of both Wakanda and its intergalactic empire, T'Challa worked hard to maintain peace and tranquility in both factions.

Current Status

Wakanda's precise location seems to have shifted over the years:

• An early map did not give much on its position beyond that it was located next to the Atlantic Ocean. [64]
• Wakanda was located on an early map in northeastern Africa, near Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia, along with fictitious countries Narobia, Canaan, Niganda, Rudyarda, Ujanka, Ghudaza, Mohannda, Zwartheid and Azania; bordering also with Lake Turkana.[15]
• Another map shown by Everett Ross placed Wakanda between Sudan in the north and Democratic Republic of the Congo in the south.[32]
• On a more recent map the country is located next to "Nyanza" (Lake Victoria) to the East and are surrounded by the nations of Mohannda to the north, Niganda to the south east, Azania to the south west and Canaan to the west.[53]

Languages: The major languages in Wakanda are Wakandan, Yoruba and Hausa,[15] but due to their advanced education system, the people are fluent in a variety of African and European languages. Wakandans also used Swahili, at least for names.
Economy: The monetary unit used in Wakanda is the Wakandan Dollar. The major resource of the country is Vibranium, they have used this mineral to turn them into one of the economically stable nations on the planet. They were isolationists only and trade when needed.[15] Vibranium is sold at $10,000 per gram, and Wakanda's sacred mound is estimated to have about have 10,000 tons of the material. Other major resources includes uranium, coal, diamonds, but also aeronautics and aircraft manufacture.

Defenses: Wakanda is an advanced military power, with multiple bodies:

• The Wakandan Army is the country's main ground forces.[15]
• The State Militia is seemingly another ground forces body.[65]
• The Wakandan Navy oversees naval operations,[15] though have also been deployed on ground missions.[66]
• The Wakandan Air Guard is the Nations air force, which includes pilots wearing powerful suits of combat armor.[15]
• The Hatut Zeraze ("Dogs of War") was formerly the nation's secret police; although it was officially disbanded.[15]
• The Dora Milaje acted as the king's own personal bodyguards,[15] and were skilled female warriors who have dedicated their lives to the Black Panther.[67]

Wakanda also employed robots:

• THROBs were a limited series of robots serving in national defense.[15]
• The Prowlers were immense panther-shaped robots, serving as one of the last lines of defense.[15]
• Wakanda's intelligence resources were considered as good as the Mossad and certainly better than the CIA and MI6.[33]
• The N'Charu Silema was an intelligence agency and spy network that worked across the globe to maintain the nation's secrecy.[68][69]
• P.R.I.D.E. (Princess Regent Intelligence Division Executives) was later developed as its protection agency.[70]

The Wakandans have a contingency plan for dealing with the "Devourer of Worlds" Galactus. It's not going to work.

Notable People

King T'Challa	Princess Shuri	Queen Mother Ramonda	White Wolf Hunter	Prince Erik Killmonger

Minister Of Info. Taku	Ambassador T'Shan	Witch Doctor Zawavari	Council Akili	Council Baba Nkisu

Council Hodari	Council Zuri	Chief of Security W'Kabi	Captain Ashei	Captain H'Ram

SHIELD Liason Derek Khanata	Doctor A'Alia Kingawe	Technician M'Daka	Faiza	N'Yobi Umaru

Samari	Tesai	Zaneeba	Woro Ilonga	Kasinda Ilonga

N'Tomo

Dora Milaje

Dora Milaje Leader Okoye	Dora Milaje Aneka	Dora Milage Ayo	Dora Milage Oliswa	Dora Milage Onyeka

Dora Milaje Folami	Dora Milaje Nailah	Dora Milaje Zola

Other Wakandans

Ape Tribe Leader M'Baku	Ape Tribe Queen Divine Justice	Ape Tribe N'Gamo	Kivu'Ma N'Dozi	Malice Nakia

Beisa	Tosin Oduye

Descriptions

• T’Challa – The current King of Wakanda and the Black Panther. A genius intellect, skilled warrior, and former Avenger.
• Shuri – T’Challa’s sister, a scientific prodigy who has served as Black Panther and Queen in his absence.
• Ramonda – The Queen Mother of Wakanda, known for her wisdom and political influence.
• Bashenga – The first Black Panther and unifier of the Wakandan tribes.
• Erik Killmonger (N’Jadaka) – A dissident and rival to the throne, known for his militaristic ideology and deep-seated grudge against the royal family.
• Zenzi – A revolutionary figure and empath who has led anti-monarchist uprisings within Wakanda.
• Hunter the White Wolf – A foreign-born adoptee raised in Wakanda and leader of the Hatut Zeraze, the nation's secret police.

Trivia

• Wakanda is composed of multiple tribes, each with its own customs and leaders. The five major tribes include the Panther Tribe (royal family), Border Tribe, River Tribe, Mining Tribe, and Jabari (Mountain) Tribe.
• The Heart-Shaped Herb grants the Black Panther enhanced senses, speed, and strength; it is traditionally consumed during the ritual ascension to the throne.
• Wakanda has never been colonized or conquered, a rarity among African nations in the Marvel Universe.
• The Wakandan alphabet and language are based on an actual African script called Nsibidi.
• Despite its isolationist stance, Wakanda has occasionally participated in global alliances, including with the Avengers and the Ultimates.