Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall in 'Coming to America'. Courtesy Paramount Pictures
Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall in 'Coming to America'. Courtesy Paramount Pictures
Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall in 'Coming to America'. Courtesy Paramount Pictures
Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall in 'Coming to America'. Courtesy Paramount Pictures

‘There is no Wakanda without Zamunda’: Why ‘Coming to America’ broke new ground for diversity in Hollywood


Saeed Saeed
  • English
  • Arabic

When Coming to America released in 1988, the film was a project tailor-made for Eddie Murphy.

With his career riding high with back-to-back box office hits 48 Hrs (1982), Trading Places (1983) and 1984's Beverly Hills Cop, Murphy wanted to move away from fast talking, streetwise characters and looked to recast himself as a romantic leading man.

This is where Coming to America comes in. Set in the fictional African kingdom of Zamunda, Murphy starred as Prince Akeem Joffer. In order to evade an arranged marriage, he leaves the opulence of the palace and travels to the gritty streets of New York City to search for his true love.

The film was both a commercial hit in the box office and a cultural breakthrough for Hollywood. At the time, rarely did a high-budget film feature an all-black leading cast.

Promoting the anticipated sequel Coming 2 America, available on Amazon Prime on Friday, Murphy hails the first instalment as groundbreaking because it challenged the film industry's and viewers' general perceptions with a light touch.

"Coming to America is an all-black cast, but the movie is not about race," he said.

"It's about somebody that's trying to find true love. It's like a fantasy, like a fairytale. And that's the legacy of the movie that it's one of the few romantic fairy tales with black people. I think that's why we love it."

That said, there is no denying the impact of Coming to America both on and off the screen.

In addition to launching a bunch of celebrated film careers and cementing Murphy as a box office king, the film’s cultural significance is only beginning to be appreciated in recent years.

Here are five reasons why the film remains influential.

1. Zamunda is the original Wakanda

Its portrayal of dignified African royalty helped de-exotify Hollywood's treatment of the continent, which at the time frequently served as an evocative backdrop for lush melodramas and adventure films such as 1985's Out of Africa and 1988's Gorillas in the Mist .

Coming to America allowed filmmakers, actors and writers to think bigger when it came to black representation on screen.

To put it simply: there would have been no Wakanda without Zamunda. The sheer majesty of the former, the fictional African country setting for blockbuster film Black Panther, could not have been fully imagined if it wasn't for Zamunda's royal grounds and serene society acting as a reference point.

2. An all-black cast works in the box office

Coming to America showed Hollywood that an all-black cast was commercially feasible. This was further exemplified in the success of Ice Cube's Friday and Barbershop films franchises, Tyler Perry's films featuring Aunt Madea and both instalments of Kevin Hart's Think Like A Man.

3. The first movie where Murphy played several roles

While Murphy often played several roles simultaneously as a cast member of television comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live from 1980 to 1984, Coming to America was the first time he brought that approach to the big screen.

In what was hailed as a bravura performance, Murphy plays no less than four characters in the film.

In addition to the main role of Prince Akeem Joffer, Murphy donned a shiny suit and long hair for washed up soul singer Randy Watson; went semi bald and spoke with a scratchy high pitch for cantankerous barber Clarence, and plays Saul, a friend of Clarence and the only white patron of his barber shop.

Murphy's performances were a revelation and he went on to perform several roles in future films such as 1995's Vampire In Brooklyn (three), 1996's The Nutty Professor (six), 1999's Bowfinger (two) and 2007's Norbit (three).

4. It has memorable dialogue

A sure sign of a classic film is when it's full of quotable lines. Coming to America is generous in that nearly all of the main characters get a chance to shine with hilarious quips.

A favourite scene finds Prince Akeem bemoaning to his father King Jaffe Joffer (played by James Earl Jones) that he is "a man who has never tied his own shoes before".

In reply, the king chides him by stating: "Wrong! You are a Prince who has never tied his shoes. Believe me. I tied my own shoes once. It is an overrated experience”.

5. The film helped to launch several careers

Look closely in certain scenes and at the end credits and you will recognise names in the early stages of their career.

The film marked the debut screen appearance of Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. He plays a customer in the barbershop.

Eriq La Salle, who plays Murphy's nemesis Daryl Jenkins, would go on to star in nine seasons of hit drama ER.

At the time, struggling actor Samuel L Jackson's career found more prominence after his particularly fiery scene where he plays an unsuccessful bank robber.

American Idol judge and pop singer Paula Abdul also choreographed the lavish Zamunda palace dance sequence performed in the early stages of the film.

If you go...

Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.

Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

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WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

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While you're here
Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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if you go

The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.

The trip 

Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.

The specs

Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder

Transmission: 7-speed auto

0-100kmh 2.3 seconds

0-200kmh 5.5 seconds

0-300kmh 11.6 seconds

Power: 1500hp

Torque: 1600Nm

Price: Dh13,400,000

On sale: now

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

The biog

Favourite car: Ferrari

Likes the colour: Black

Best movie: Avatar

Academic qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in media production from the Higher Colleges of Technology and diploma in production from the New York Film Academy

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The Matrix Resurrections

Director: Lana Wachowski

Stars:  Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick 

Rating:****

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Coffee: black death or elixir of life?

It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?

Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.

The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.

The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.

Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver. 

The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.

But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.

Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.

It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.

So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.

Rory Reynolds

Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

The specs

The specs: 2019 Audi Q8
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 340hp @ 3,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills