Cosplayers, many dressed as black superheroes, flocked to the three-day celebration of Afrofuturism and all things Black Panther.
By Pat Nabong
August 6, 2018, 11:50 am
Two Black Panther cosplayers pose for a picture during Wakandacon, which was held from August 3 to 5 at the Hilton Chicago.Photo: Pat NabongCosplayers were encouraged to wear Black Panther-inspired costumes, come as other fictional characters, or dress up in their own creations.Photo: Pat NabongAttorney Adebayo Adesina and painter Apooyin Mufutau were among the exhibitors at Wakandacon's marketplace, which featured many black-owned businesses. Adesina used to sell clothes nine years ago but stopped. After Black Panther premiered, he open another store, Wakandaforevr, Inc., knowing that the film would inspire the next cosplaying trend.Photo: Pat NabongFor Courtland Le'Neill, cosplaying is a form of modeling. He started dressing up four years ago.Photo: Pat NabongWhryne Rasheed made the trip from South Central Indiana because she wanted to be around people who look like her. “I'm from an area that doesn't have a lot of black people in it, and watching the movie was empowering,” says Rasheed.Photo: Pat NabongOctavia Reese, left, paints Khurram Muhammad's face.Photo: Pat NabongJay, Fanon, Ashley, and Tsage Roberts attended Wakandacon because they were enthralled by Black Panther. “My wife and daughter really took a liking to the film,” Jay says. “Representation matters ... My daughter says, 'Hey, they have hair like me, skin like me.”Photo: Pat NabongJennifer Akese-Burney poses with her sons Jermaine and Eurick Burney. The fashion designer created her family's matching outfits.Photo: Pat NabongCosplayers gather near the venue's entrance.Photo: Pat NabongEris Eady hosts a discussion about gender identity during the Queerkanda panel, just one of many that covered issues such as black women in the gaming industry, decolonizing comedy, and representation in the media and environmental justice. Other panelists included Black Panther's costume designers; actress Erika Alexander; and podcasters from The Lando Calrissian Experience, Uppity Negress, and Geekset.Photo: Pat NabongWakandacon drew people from different towns and cities.Photo: Pat NabongBrent M. Watkins, one of the winners of the cosplay contest, dressed up as Mbaku.Photo: Pat NabongCharacters from other sci-fi books were also represented.Photo: Pat NabongPeople cheer as cosplayers re-enact scenes from Black Panther.Photo: Pat NabongCosplayers from various age groups joined the cosplay contest.Photo: Pat NabongCosplaying as Zuri, Kevin Wilson takes home first place in the cosplay contest.Photo: Pat NabongOlympia Pollard's look was inspired by her mom, who also cosplays. Her mother likes Afropunk, so Pollard decided to combine that culture with steampunk aesthetics. “I've never seen an event of this caliber, to be honest,” says Pollard, who has attended several comic conventions.Photo: Pat Nabong