BY KEVIN JACKSON
Observer writer—-
Nabiyah Be plays Tilda Johnson in the movie Black Panther—.
When the fantasy/science fiction blockbuster film Black Panther opens in Jamaica, an actress with strong Jamaican ties will be among the cast. She is Nabiyah Be, daughter of reggae superstar Jimmy Cliff.
This is the major screen debut for Brazilian-born Nabiyah Be who, like her father, is a singer-songwriter. In Black Panther she plays Linda Johnson.
“Me and my other siblings are very proud and happy for Nabiyah as it is her first movie. We are all going to see it when it opens,” said her older sister, Odessa Chambers, a Kingston-based publicist and television producer.
The highly anticipated film is based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. It is directed by Ryan Coogler and is expected to break box office records, largely because of its portrayal of a black superhero.
Black Panther has a strong cast including Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o, Forest Whitaker, Chadwick Boseman, and Angela Bassett.
As a child, Nabiyah Be was introduced to music by Cliff (real name James Chambers), best known for his starring role in The Harder They Come, and who has a massive following in Brazil. She has toured with her father as guest singer and backup singer.
She has been backing vocalist for well-known Brazilian artistes Daniela Mercury and Carlinhos Brown. She developed her theater chops in her homeland, working with the Os Bumburistas company on several stage projects.
After completing her theater studies at Pace University in New York, Nabiyah Be played Eurydice in Anaïs Mitchell’s acclaimed off Broadway play Hadestown.
Late last year she played Ericka in Jocelyn Bioh’s production of School Girls which was directed by Tony Award winner Rebeca Taichman.
Nabiyah Be has holidayed in Jamaica on several occasions. She is working on her debut album due for release this year.
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