Bashenga

Creation

Bashenga was created by Jack Kirby in Black Panther #7 (1976), Kirby retconned the origin of the Black Panther, making the title a mantle held for 10,000 years, with Bashenga, leader of the Panther Tribe and the first Black Panther, Bashenga united the tribes of Wakanda and became the first king, currently Mosi was the first Black Panther 1,000,000 BC chosen by the Panther Goddess Bast, although he was the Black Panther, he did not create the nation. In Marauders #13 it is shown Olum?, the Knower, in 2022, in Wakanda #1, it was revealed that Olumo and Bashenga are the same person and his full name is Olumo Bashenga, being known also as Knower. The name Olumo refers to Olumo Rock, a mountain in Nigeria, Olumo means “molded by god” in Yoruba.

Other Media

Television

Bashenga appears in the Marvel’s Avengers Assemble episode of the same name.

Films

Bashenga appears in a Flashback at the beginning of the Black Panther movie in a narration given by T’Chaka to little T’Challa.

In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the name Bashenga is mentioned.