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A decision to cast black actor Denzel Washington as the Carthaginian general Hannibal in a Netflix movie is next, it creates a small but heated debate in Tunisia, the place of the general’s birth.
After a similar conflict between races and representatives in nearby Egypt over a Netflix docudrama about Cleopatra, Tunisian newspapers, social media and even the parliament building have seen discussions on the skin is the skin of the long dead leader.
French-language Tunisian news outlet La Presse publish an article said that the release made “a historic mistake”, but on social media, some users accused Netflix of promoting “street culture”. An online petition signed by 1,300 people urged Netflix to “cancel its pseudo-documentary” and called on the ministry of culture to “take action against the attempt to steal our history”.
Hannibal, born in Carthage, near present-day Tunis, is considered by many to be one of the greatest generals in history. During the war against the Romans in 218BC, he led his troops and African war elephants on a high pass through the Alps to attack Rome from the north. For 15 years, he destroyed the land and the people, but he was not able to take Rome, and later it was forced back to North Africa.
Hannibal’s skin color is unknown. Historians of the ancient Mediterranean world generally agree that he was of Phoenician origin – a region that includes modern-day Lebanon and Syria – although he lived in a time of great and mixed empires.
The issue of race has been brought to the fore in Tunisia recently by the influx of sub-Saharan migrants into the country. President Kais Saied was accused of making an “ideal enemy” in February when he accused, without proof, that immigrants were part of a general effort to make majority-Arab Tunisia “pure Africa”.
After announcing the role of Washington by Netflix, the Tunisian politician Yassine Mami asked the minister of culture, Hayet Ketat Guermazi, about the project in the parliament.
“The ministry must take a stand on the matter,” said Mami, who is also the president of the tourism, culture, and services committee. “This is about protecting the Tunisian identity and listening to the responses of civil society,” he said.
Guermazi, speaking at the meeting, said that his ministry was focused on negotiating with Netflix to record some of the series of the film in Tunisia.
“Fictional stories; it is their right. Hannibal is a historical figure, even if we are all proud that he is Tunisian… What can we do?” said Guermazi. “What is important to me is their shooting is one series in Tunisia and mentioned. We want Tunisia to become again a base for foreign films.
Earlier this year, Netflix cast Adele James, a mixed-heritage actress, as Cleopatra, which prompted Egypt’s antiquities ministry to release a statement suggesting that the leader the pharaonic are “white skinned with Greek characteristics”.
Netflix and Washington, who previously played the black US civil rights activist Malcolm X and Shakespeare’s Scottish Macbeth, did not comment.