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Wauconda or Wakanda? Village has fun with Black Panther calls it's been getting

Posted February 23, 2018 12:00 am

Doug T. Graham

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Wauconda police Sgt. John Thibault dons a Black Panther mask as part of a promotional stunt organized by the village's chamber of commerce. Courtesy of Wauconda Chamber of Commerce

Wauconda Chamber of Commerce officials are having a little fun with the surprise attention the village has gotten in the week since "Black Panther" shredded box office records.

In the film, the superhero's home is a fictional East African country called Wakanda, so fans of the movie have been ringing up the village hall and other institutions asking what Black Panther is up to.

On Friday, the Wauconda chamber's executive director, Maria Weisbruch, asked business and political leaders in town to wear a Black Panther mask and pose for pictures.

"It's been so fun," Weisbruch said. "I hope it brings awareness to Wauconda."

The masks were purchased Friday morning by Alise Homola, the executive assistant to the mayor. Homola has had quite a week fielding calls from Black Panther fans requesting vibranium - the movie's fictional supermetal - and being quoted in national media like The Hollywood Reporter. She said many of the Waucondans they photographed had not yet seen the movie.

"Whether they've seen the movie or not, they're happy to get in the spirit of whatever this hysteria is," Homola said. "We're having a fun time with it."

You can see pictures of Wauconda residents wearing the Wakandan king's mask on the village's Facebook page.

Officials are having some fun with the surprise attention paid to the village has gotten in the week since Black Panther premiered. Mayor Lincoln F. Knight gets in the spirit wearing a Black Panther mask. Courtesy of Wauconda Chamber of Commerce

Sabryna Secoy, an employee at Bulldogs Grill at 122 S. Main St. in Wauconda, poses for a photo wearing a Black Panther mask to promote the village's connection to the hit film. Courtesy of Wauconda Chamber of Commerce

Taylor Aggarwal and Beth Nolan at The Green Goat at 203 S. Main St. in Wauconda wear Black Panther masks and pose for a picture that the Wauconda Chamber of Commerce will use to promote their members. Courtesy of Wauconda Chamber of Commerce

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