When the Netflix trailer was released, it was quickly met with backlash on social media, with leading Egyptian actors and archaeologists criticizing the portrayal of Cleopatra as a Black woman. Actress Adele James in a scene from 'Queen Cleopatra.' But there is no evidence to support this. Some say she was Black, meaning Cleopatra would have been of mixed ancestry, as is Adele James. Her father was Ptolemy XII, who was of Greek-Macedonian origin, while her mother’s origins are unknown. In the case of Cleopatra, there has been long-standing discussion about the queen’s ethnicity. As well as raising identity issues, this view has been criticized as the West has also tried to separate modern Egyptians from ancient Egyptians in a bid to weaken Egypt’s calls for stolen antiquities to be returned. This historical reading is strongly opposed in Egypt, as it dilutes or directly negates the country’s connection with ancient Egyptians. Critics, however, say that in the case of Egypt this is pure speculation, arguing that there is no evidence of a mass displacement. In a February interview, ahead of the release of African Queens, Pinkett Smith told Netflix’s promotional website, Tudum: “We don’t often get to see or hear stories about Black queens,” who she described as “the backbones of African nations.” She added that the decision to cast Adele James as Queen Cleopatra was “a nod to the centuries-long conversation about the ruler’s race” as the queen’s ancestry has been disputed, and “Egypt’s population was multicultural and multiracial.” A scene from the Netflix docudrama 'Queen Cleopatra.'īut many in Egypt have accused the miniseries of historical revisionism and Afrocentrism, a historiographical trend that emphasizes the importance of Black African civilizations - including Ancient Egypt -that may have been destroyed, displaced or minimized by white invaders, including Arabs. In the clip, one historian says, “I remember my grandmother saying to me, ‘I don’t care what they tell you in school: Cleopatra was Black.’” The trailer has been enough to spark controversy in Egypt.
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The four-part series mixes dramatized scenes with interviews with experts. Queen Cleopatra follows the life of the Ptolemaic queen, who ruled between 51 and 30 BCE.
The first season follows the life of Queen Njinga, who ruled two territories in what is now Angola in the 17th century, and was a reputed politician, diplomat and military leader. Queen Cleopatra - which will premiere on May 10 - is part of the Netflix series African Queens, which is produced by Jada Pinkett Smith and focuses on the history of the female monarchs from the African continent. In addition to the furor on social media, much of which is outright racist, the Netflix series has also triggered an online petition, calls for the platform to be banned and even a legal complaint. But many Egyptians have criticized the decision, describing it as an attempt to rewrite history. James was cast as a nod to Cleopatra’s alleged African roots. The latest debate on the iconic ancient queen of Egypt has been sparked by a new Netflix docudrama called Queen Cleopatra, which stars Black actress Adele James in the lead role. Few historical figures in Egypt are able to stir as much controversy as Cleopatra.
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