The selection of Denzel Washington, a black actor, to portray the historical figure of Hannibal in an upcoming Netflix movie has caused a minor yet contentious discussion in Tunisia, the birthplace of the military leader.
Following a similar issue surrounding race and portrayal in Egypt regarding a Netflix show about Cleopatra, media outlets, social media platforms, and even the government chambers in Tunisia have sparked conversations about the complexion of the deceased ruler.
A news article from the Tunisian publication La Presse criticized the casting choice in a recent Netflix production, calling it a “historical error.” On social media, some users accused Netflix of promoting “woke culture,” while an online petition with 1,300 signatures demanded the cancellation of the “pseudo-documentary” and urged the ministry of culture to take action against what they saw as an attempt to distort their country’s history.
Hannibal, who was born in Carthage, which is located near modern-day Tunis, is widely regarded as one of the most skilled military commanders in history. In 218BC, during the conflict with the Romans, he led his army and African war elephants through a treacherous pass in the Alps to attack Rome from the north. For 15 years, he caused destruction and devastation among the people and land, but he was unsuccessful in capturing Rome and was eventually pushed back to north Africa.
The exact skin tone of Hannibal remains a mystery. Scholars who specialize in the history of the Mediterranean during ancient times generally believe that he was of Phoenician origin, coming from an area that is now known as Lebanon and Syria. However, during his lifetime, there were numerous powerful empires and cultural blending happening.
In Tunisia, the topic of race has become a prominent issue due to the influx of sub-Saharan migrants into the country. In February, President Kais Saied faced accusations of creating a false enemy when he claimed, without proof, that the migrants were part of a larger effort to make Tunisia, which is predominantly Arab, more “African”.
Following Netflix’s announcement of Washington’s involvement, Tunisian Member of Parliament Yassine Mami raised questions about the project to Culture Minister Hayet Ketat Guermazi during a parliamentary session.
Mami, who serves as the president of the committee on tourism, culture, and services, stated that the ministry must have a stance on this matter. He emphasized the importance of protecting Tunisian identity and considering the feedback of civil society.
Guermazi, speaking in the assembly, said her ministry was instead focused on negotiating with Netflix to shoot some sequences of the film in Tunisia.
Guermazi stated that it is within their right to create a fictional story involving the historical figure Hannibal, despite the fact that he is Tunisian. He expressed his desire for at least one scene to be filmed in Tunisia and for the country to regain its status as a destination for foreign film productions.
In the beginning of the year, Adele James, an actor with a blend of backgrounds, was chosen by Netflix to play the role of Cleopatra. This decision led to the Egyptian antiquities ministry releasing a statement asserting that the ancient Egyptian ruler had Caucasian features and Greek influences.
Netflix and Washington have not provided any statements, despite Washington’s previous roles as civil rights leader Malcolm X and the character Macbeth from Shakespeare’s play.
Source: theguardian.com
