Cite this article as: Sadiq, A. (2026). A semiotic analysis of African regalia in the movie Black Panther. Sokoto Journal of Linguistics and Communication Studies (SOJOLICS), 2(1), 463-476. https://doi.org/10.36349/sojolics.2026.v02i01.038
By
Aminu, Sadiq
Department of English and Literary
Studies
University of Maiduguri
meetsadiq22@gmail.com
08036951084
Abstract
This paper presents a semiotic
analysis of African regalia in the movie Black Panther using Charles Peirce’s
Triadic Theory (1860). It attempts to explain how the various semiotic signs in
the movie are used to highlight and convey certain meaning contained in it. The
movie is obtained from the internet with Screen shots of scenes containing
signs from the movie categorised and analysed based on Peirce’s types of signs
(icon and symbol) and elements of sign (representamen, object and
interpretant).The presentation and analysis of data are carried out
simultaneously followed by discussion of results. The analyses reveal
that symbols and icons are used to convey information to the audience on
different aspects of African regalia. The outfit (regalia) of the Border Tribe
resembles the outfit of the Baseto people of Lesotho (South Africa), the River
Tribe’s outfit resembles that of the Siri and Mursi Tribes in Ethiopia, the
Merchant Tribe’s outfit resembles that of the Duarak of the Saharan region, the
Mining Tribe’s outfit resembles the outfit of the Ovahimba Tribe of northern
Namibia and the priest’ outfit resembles Nigerian Agbada. It can therefore
be concluded that the underlying intent of the movie’s use of these
semiotic means can be said to be to showcase the rich African cultural
repertoire in the movie’s costumes and props.
Keywords: Semiotics, Regalia, Icon, Symbol, Culture.
1.0 Introduction
Movies are not just meant to
entertain but can as well serve as meaning making and message sending medium –
some of which can be in form of signs. Black Panther is a
movie with so many forms of such signs which can be passed unnoticed. However,
semiotic studies such as the one here can uncover such semiotic signs. It has
been reported that the movie receives most of its acclaim because of the deep
cultural significance it carries – especially in relation to black culture and
more. In this regard, it is deemed a suitable movie for semiotic analysis so
that these particular modes of meaning are explored and explained.
Black Panther is a 2018 movie directed by the American film
director Ryan Coogler. It has a theme of tradition, love, betrayal and power
and has been praised by film critics as one of the best movies of all time
(Ramin, 2018). It has received many awards including Academy Award for Best
Production Design and Best Costume Design. The film is based on a comic book
series Jungle Action created in 1966 by Stan Lee and Jack
Kirby featuring the Black Panther, a hero of African descent (Johnson, 2018).
The movie has been described as a departure from the stereotyped portrayal of
African culture – considered by some as unsophisticated, backward, and savage.
Although regalia constitute an
important aspect of tradition, it has received little scholarly attention from
a semiotic angle. Most studies on semiotics has largely concerned with
contemporary media and written texts, with relatively little emphasis on traditional
outfits. This study therefore seeks to analysis of African regalia in the
movie Black Panther using Charles Peirce’s sign types and
elements of signs.
2.0 Literature Review
2.1 Studies on Movies using Different Semiotic Approaches
A
number of studies have been carried out on movies using different semiotic
approaches (Saussure’s, Barthes’ and Peirce’s, among others). For example,
Malik (2016) analyses the movie Three Idiots. He specifically
investigates motivation as a process of learning in the movie. The data was
obtained from the internet in the form of images just as the present study.
Malik (2016) uses a qualitative descriptive method of data analysis and also
Saussure’s Dyadic Theory as a theoretical framework - unlike this research
which employs Pierce’s Theory. The study concentrates on Saussure’s Signifier
(physical sign) and Signified (mental sign). The findings of the study indicate
that the major characters are one way or the other motivated or not towards
learning. He concludes that out of the four major characters, Rancho is the
most successful character motivated towards learning. Hence, he becomes a
source of motivation towards younger students in the movie and beyond the movie.
Another
related study to the present one is Setia et al. (2009) which analyses a
movie, The Lord of the Ring: Fellowship of the Ring. The movie,
like Black Panther, is based on a book – The Lord of the
Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. Like this study, images are collected as data
from the movie for presentation and analysis using qualitative method to
analyse the signs. Saussure’s Theory is adopted as a theoretical framework
where the Signifier and Signified of the signs are identified and analysed.
Three codes (technical code, social code and representational code) are also
used to describe the signs in the movie. The findings of Setia et al. (2009)
show that the signs employed in the movie construct a media text such as
technical code, social code and representational code. Social code includes
gesture, language, dress and makeup. Technical code includes music, sounds,
lighting effect and mood of the audience. Representation code includes
narrative structure and dialogue makes the audience feel what the director
wants.
Another
study on a movie is Winona (2018) who analyses gesture in the movie Marlina
the Murderer in Four Acts. She investigates gestures used by the major
character Marlinia. Images were collected as data from the movie for
presentation and analysis. Qualitative descriptive method is used to describe
the gestures in the movie. Saussure’s theory is adopted as a theoretical
framework. The signifier and signified of the gestures are identified and
described. The findings show that negative emotions such as suspense, terror,
mystery and disgust are found represented by the different signs. She concludes
that only a few of the gestures are related to reality.
In
another related study Wantoro (2018) analyses space and time in the 2002
movie Time Machine using Saussure’s Theory. The movie is about
space and time machine which is used as technology to change the time and space
situation. Qualitative method of data analysis is used to analyse the signs
in Time Machine. Wantoro (2018) shows that the desire for power in
the Western world never ends and concludes that most of the signs used
represent the fact that there is too much reliance on advanced technology to do
human work.
Malik
(2016), Setia et al. (2009), Winona (2018) and Wantoro (2018) mentioned above
are similar to the present study in terms of the fact that they all study
movies from the semiotic perspective. However, they are a bit different in
terms of the theory adopted.
3.0 Theoretical Framework
This
is a theory developed by Charles Sanders Peirce in 1860. Peirce (1839-1914) was
an American and the son of Benjamin Peirce, a former Harvard Professor of
Mathematics and Astronomy. Peirce identifies three Elements of Sign
(Representamen, Object and Interpretant) which he called “The Triadic Theory”.
Peirce’s representamen, object and interpretant are explained by Chandler
(2007) as given below:
a.
Representamen: The form which the sign takes. It is similar to Saussure’s
signifier.
b.
Object: This is what the sign refers to or referent of the sign. It is the
third element of sign added by Pierce in relation to Saussure’s Theory.
c.
Interpretant: The sense made of the sign. It is similar to Saussure’s
signified. However, the interpretant’s unique quality over the signifier which
is a sign in the mind of the interpreter. The interpretant is not an
interpreter but what the interpreter makes of the sign.
The
interaction among the three elements is called “semiosis”. Peirce’s
representamen, object and interpretant are explained with an example given
below:
3.1 Types of Sign According to Peirce
Apart
from the elements of sign mentioned above, Peirce identifies three types of
sign (the form which a sign takes) namely: icon, symbol and index. The signs
are explained below from Chandler (2007) and Saeed (2016):
a.
Icon: This shows similarities between a sign and what it
represents. It physically resembles what is being represented (signified). Icon
directly imitates its object/concept. A photograph is a good example of an icon
as it surely resembles whatever it depicts.
b.
Symbol: Symbol is the opposite of an icon. There is no resemblance
between the signifier and the signified but a conventional link between them.
The link between the two is culturally learnt. For example, black and white are
symbols of mourning in some cultures.
c.
Index: An index is a signifier that shows evidence of what is being
represented through close association to its signified. It describes the
connection between the signifier and the signified. The index (signifier)
cannot exist without the presence of the signified. For example, footprint is
an index of a foot.
4.0 Methodology
The
data for the research is from a primary source – the movie Black
Panther. Secondary sources such as relevant textbooks, theses, journal
articles and the internet are used to obtain further information to help in the
analysis. Black Panther is a two-hour movie featuring almost
an entirely Black characters. The study focuses only on the scenes that contain
signs from different multimodal text types in the movie. Data from the movie is
collected using three procedures. Firstly, the movie is watched repeatedly and
records of the signs are kept; secondly, note-taking sheets are used to mark
the signs and time of occurrence and finally, the relevant scenes containing
the signs in Black Panther are captured/screen grabbed using a
video media player on a computer.
The
data is presented and analysed as follows: Screen grabbed images of the scenes
with the signs in the movie are presented and where speech is involved, they
are transcribed and presented. The data is numbered for easy referencing. Time
of occurrence (time spotted) of each sign in the movie is coded TS and Black
Panther is coded BP. Images that have physical resemblance to the
icons in BP are placed beside them. Peirce’s elements of sign (representamen,
object and interpretant) are used in analysing the scenes in the movie.
5.0 Data Presentation and
Analysis
The data from the movie Black
Panther, are presented and analysed. Screenshots of scenes in the
movie Black Panther (henceforth BP) which consist of signs of
different types are numbered and presented as data for the study. The signs are
categorised and presented as icon, and symbol. Their time of occurrence are
also indicated. The elements of sign, representamen, object, and interpretant,
are then used to analyse the scenes in BP. The presentation and analysis are
carried out simultaneously as follows:
5.1 Icons in the movie
An icon in this context is used to
shows similarities between a sign and what it represents. Icons are used by
Coogler (the writer and director of the movie) represent different African
cultures such as costumes, sculptures, characters, cities among others. In the
presentation here, underneath the screenshots of icons in BP are given their
physical resemblances.
5.1.1 Costumes
Costumes as Icons in the Movie
The costumes in the movie were
inspired by the clothing of many African tribes in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa
and Ethiopia among others. Costumes as icons are presented in screenshots
below.
The fabric in screenshot 1 is an
icon because it has a resemblance to its referent, the actual Kante fabric from
Ghana as in screenshot 2.
The cotton fabric worn by the king
is the representamen (signifier) as it takes the form of the real fabric from
Ghana. It looks like the real one but it is not. The real fabric that the above
one represents is the object; this is because the above fabric is a referent of
the real one in Ghana. If one looks at the cotton fabric in the screenshot and
sees it as the one in Ghana, that is the interpretant, the sense made of the
sign. This process of analysis according to Pierce is called Semiosis Process; it
is applied to the rest of the data as well. For example, in screenshot 3,
Okoye, one of the warriors of the DorraMallage is shown wearing golden rings
around her neck.
A resemblance of the golden rings
can be seen in screenshot 4.
Screenshot 4 shows a woman of the
Andabili Tribe of South Africa wearing the golden rings which are similar to
that of Okoye in screenshot 3. It is only worn by rich married women as a gift
from their husbands. Okoye’s golden ring is an icon because it obviously
resembles the rings of the Andabili Tribe of South Africa. Another instance of
costume can be seen in screenshot 5 which shows the queen, T'Challa's mother,
welcoming her son back from a mission.
T'Challa's mother wears large disc
on her head which is similar to the Zulu disc won by married women for
ceremonies in South Africa. A resemblance of the Zulu disc can be shown in
screenshot 6.
Screenshot 6 is a woman of Zulu
culture wearing a disc similar to that of the Queen. The large disc in image 5
is an icon that resembles Zulu disc worn by the woman here in image 6. The
representamen, the large disc on the Queen’s head takes the form of the object,
that is, the real Zulu cultural disc worn by T'Challa's mother. The idea that
the Queen’s disc resembles that of the Zulu cultural disc is the interpretant.
5.1.2 Traditional Tribal Outfits
as Icons in the movie
Four (4) Wakandan Tribe’s outfits
and their resemblances are presented using images. After the outfits have been
presented and resemblances with other tribes indicated, the analysis is jointly
done.
The Merchant Tribe: This scene
shows the Merchant Tribe presenting themselves during King T’Challa’s swearing
ceremony. Their outfits are similar to Duarak people of the Sahara region.
Screenshot 8 shows outfit of the
Duarak Tribe which resembles the outfit of Merchant Tribe outfit. The Duarak
are mostly traders who are used to the hot desert climate. They wear veils to
protect themselves from the heat.
The Border Tribe: They are in
charge of guarding the border of Wakanda. Their outfit is unique such that they
use it as shield to protect Wakanda. This screenshot shows the Border Tribe
during the king’s swearing.
Their outfits are similar to the
Baseto people in the Lesotho mountain of South Africa. Their lands are also
similar to that of Lesotho in South Africa. Screenshot 10 shows a Baseto man in
his outfit similar to the Border Tribe’s outfit.
The River Tribe: They are also
called the waterways of Wakanda. Their traditional colour is green cloth with
crocodile skin attached to it which symbolises the tribe. They wear a lip disc
to their mouth which is made of clay and associated to Africa. The tribe’s
outfits and lip disc are similar to the Siri and Mursi tribes in Ethiopia. This
scene shows the River Tribe in their ceremonial outfits. An image of the Siri
and Mursi Tribe of Ethiopia is given in screenshot 12 to show similarities
between the two tribes.
Although in the movie, the lip disc
is worn by a man of the River Tribe, but it is actually worn by women in the
Siri Tribe. The lip disc is given to women in Ethiopia before marriage.
The Mining Tribe: They are in
charge of mining Wakanda’s most priced asset (Vibranium). They are used to the
hot desert climate. Their traditional colour is red cloth which symbolises the
Tribe. Below is the Mining Tribe during king T’Challa’s swearing. Their outfits
show similarities to that of the Ovahimba Tribe in northern Namibia.A resemblance
of the Mining Tribe’s outfit (i.eOvahimba of northern Namibia) is seen in
screenshot 14.
Screenshots 7 to 14 present outfits
of the four tribes of Wakanda (the border tribe, the River Tribe, the Merchant
Tribe and the Mining Tribe) and their resemblances. All the outfits of the
tribes are icons because they resemble the outfits of the Baseto people of
Lesotho in screenshot 8, the Siri and Mursi Tribes in screenshot 10, the Duarak
of the Saharan region in screenshot 12 and the Ovahimba tribe of northern
Namibia in screenshot 14.The Border Tribe’s outfit resembles that of the Baseto
people of Lesotho (South Africa), the River Tribe’s outfit resembles that of
the Siri and Mursi Tribes in Ethiopia, the Merchant tribe’s outfit resembles
that of the Duarak of the Saharan region, the Mining Tribe’s outfit resembles
that of the Ovahimba Tribe of northern Namibia. The outfits of the four tribes
in BP are all representamen because they take the form of some actual objects
which are the outfits of Baseto people, Siri and Mursi Tribes, Duarak people
and Obahimba Tribe. The interpretation that is obtained as a result of the
outfits in the movie and their referents (outfits of the tribes outside the
movie) is the interpretant.
Screenshot 15 shows Zuri, the Chief
Priest of Wakanda during King T’Challa’s swearing. The priest’s outfit is
similar to the Agbada, a kind of loose-fitting clothing, used by
some in southern Nigeria. It is usually won for ceremonies and big occasions. A
similar outfit to that of Zuri is shown in screenshot 16.
The cloth worn by Zuri is an icon
because it is similar to Agbada won in southern part of Nigeria which can be
seen in screenshot 16. The cloth worn by Zuri is the representamen because it
takes the form of the sign. The Agbada that the cloth represents is the object.
If one looks at the cloth worn by Zuri and concludes that it resembles the one
in southern Nigeria (Agbada), then that is the sense made of the sign – that
is, the interpretant.
Screenshot 17: American Agent
outfit (T S: 01:09:24)
This screenshot shows an American
agent in the movie, Rose, wearing an outfit which is similar to afarangiya (a
long male dress mainly used in west Africa). Screenshot 18 shows a similar
outfit to that of Rose.
The agent’s outfit is an icon
because it is similar to a cloth worn in Nigeria called “afarangiya” in
screenshot 18. The agent’s outfit here is the representamen because it takes
the form of the sign. Afarangiya is the objects; this is
because it is referent of the sign it represents. The idea that the Agent’s
outfit actually resembles Afarangiya makes it the interpretant.
6.0 Discussion and Findings
The data previously presented
and analysed are discussed below
6.1 Icons in the movie
This is the most common type of
sign found to have been used in the movie along with symbol. Icons
basically show similarities between a sign and what it represents. Numerous
icons (regalia) are used by the writer and director of the movie to represent
different aspects of African cultures.
6.2 Symbolism and Iconicity of
Tribes in BP
In BP, the Director, Ryan Coogler,
subtly features a variety of peoples with district cultural dispositions and
artefacts. He would have been very fictional and presented imaginary people.
However, he chose to carefully select representamens that will invoke the
pictures of familiar people to make his point. Examples can be seen in
screenshots 7-14 where the outfits of the four tribes of Wakanda and their
similarities are clearly shown; the Border Tribe’s outfit resembles the outfit
of the Baseto people of Lesotho (South Africa), the River Tribe’s outfit
resembles that of the Siri and Mursi Tribes in Ethiopia, the Merchant Tribe’s
outfit resembles that of the Duarak of the Saharan region, the Mining Tribe’s
outfit resembles the outfit of the Ovahimba Tribe of northern Namibia.
6.3 Iconic Costumes in BP
Just like the tribes, the costumes
used in BP are full of semiotic significance because they are largely inspired
by the dressing of real African tribes. For examples, the Queen’s head gear in
screenshot 5 resembles the Zulu head gear (screenshot 6) worn by married women
for ceremonies. The choice of this costume cannot be coincidental because in
addition to that head gear, there are other costumes such as the golden rings
around the necks of DorraMallage warriors (screenshot 3) which also resembles
that of the Andabili tribe of South African(screenshot 4), the priest outfit
(screenshot 15) is similar to Agbada in Nigeria, T’Challa wearing a cotton
fabric around his neck (screenshot 1) is similar to Ghana’s Kante and the
outfit worn by agent Rose (screenshot 17) is similar to afarangiya,
a West African clothing style. It is not a surprise that these costumes made BP
won an Academy Award for best costume design.
Based on the above discussion, the
signs in the movie do not make any meaning on its own. They make meaning as a
result of the similarities to their referents, that is, the different aspects
of African cultures. The similarities therefore, make the audience to
appreciate the semiotic meaning contained therein.
7.0 Conclusion
It is not a coincidence that the
signs in the movie show similarities or have conventional links to many African
cultures in real life. The signs are actually used to convey message,
especially to African and African American audience on the richness of African
cultures and resources as opposed to the degrading views of things African. The
richness of African culture portrayed in the movie will go a long way in
sustaining African culture and help promote peace, attract tourism in Africa.
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