‘Black Is King is finally here!’ Beyonce said. ‘I’m so excited you guys get to watch it tonight on Disney+. It’s been a year in the making. I worked with a diverse group of very gifted directors and actors and creatives from all over the world to reimagine the story of the Lion King.
‘The narrative unfolds through music videos, fashion, dance, beautiful natural settings, and raw new talent. But it all started in my backyard. So, from my house to Johannesburg, to Ghana to London to Belgium to the Grand Canyon, it was truly a journey to bring this film to life.
‘And my hope for this film is that it shifts the global perception of the word “Black”, which has always meant inspiration and love and strength and beauty to me. Black Is King means Black is regal and rich and history and purpose and lineage.
‘I hope you all love it, I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you all see it tonight.’
New, never-before-seen footage included vibrant scenes of people dancing in the streets to majestic shots of the environment.
The star-studded music video features Naomi Campbell, Lupita Nyong’o, Kelly Rowland, Pharrell Williams, Beyonce’s husband Jay-Z and their daughter Blue Ivy.
Beyonce began working on Black Is King a year ago as a companion piece to The Lion King soundtrack, but the project took on a deeper meaning in the last few months with the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.
