This article contains SPOILERS for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever!
Ryan Coogler’s sequel to the iconic Black Panther (2018) introduces a number of new characters in the film, and Toussaint is one of them. Unlike other new characters like those of Tenoch Huerta’s Namor and Dominique Thorne’s Ironheart that are seen throughout the movie, Toussaint appears only in the post-credit scenes.
Marvel just loves to drop a bomb on its fans towards the end of its films, and that’s exactly what happens when the young boy is introduced before the ending. Toussaint’s character is thus perhaps one of the most valuable ones, especially as he will be playing a monumental role in further navigating the future of the Black Panther franchise. But that’s not all, for his name is attached with a particularly extensive history; it practically symbolizes the prospect of freedom, which is why it is all the more imperative and intriguing.
Who is Toussaint from Wakanda Forever’s post-credit scene?
After the epic showdown between Letitia Wright’s Shuri and Namor takes place and the latter is defeated, the new Black Panther is finally able to take a breath of relief, and because she was never truly able to mourn the loss of Chadwick Boseman‘s T’Challa, Shuri thus gives way to her feelings of grief and sorrow. And it is then that she burns the sacred garb that she wore to T’Challa’s funeral on a beach in Haiti, thereby marking the culmination of her grief.
Once Shuri is done processing her emotions, she is approached by Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) along with a young boy, who T’Challa’s former girlfriend introduces to Shuri as Toussaint.
Related: All You Need to Know About T’Challa’s Son in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Toussaint, the character played by Divine Love Konadu-Sun, is brought forth to Shuri as the child of Nakia and T’Challa, the one that they had clandestinely before the tragic death of Black Panther. The little boy then reveals to Shuri, that although his Haitian name was Toussaint, his Wakandan name was Prince T’Challa.
But just like the amount of power his Wakandan name holds, the child’s Haitian name too represents strength and courage, and a vivid historical significance, at that.
The historical importance associated with Toussaint
Prince T’Challa’s Haitian name Toussaint, as Shuri remarks, holds a great deal of importance with the real-life Toussaint L’ouverture being a highly recognized entity to have led the Haitian Revolution during the late 1700s.
Toussaint L’ouverture, a notable Haitian general, was born into the thrall of slavery and was forced to serve as a slave for almost half his life before he escaped from the chains of bondage. And after that, he rose to the rank of a revered leader who fought for the cause of Haitian Independence by leading the Haitian Revolution, perhaps the only slave revolt in modern history to have emerged victorious.
In Wakanda Forever, Toussaint, or Prince T’Challa was said to have been keeping a low profile in Haiti so that he wouldn’t have to succumb to any forces or constraints with regard to the throne of Wakanda, which was also why Nakia wasn’t able to attend King T’Challa’s funeral.
Although nothing can be said about Toussaint taking over the Wakandan kingdom as the king, he is highly likely to assume a pivotal role in not only any future Black Panther projects but in the MCU in general.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is currently playing in cinemas.
Source: Twitter
