League Of Gods

Ahead of its 2020 release, we caught up with Kameko Tarnez, writer and director of Protector of the Gods, Hollywood’s first all-black cast Egyptian trilogy film.

- Asanda Sizani

Glamour: The film follows the lives of three of Egypt’s most powerful female pharaohs. Why was it important to tell these stories from a distinctly African perspective?

Kameko Tarnez: The stories of Hatshepsut, Nefertiti and Cleopatra have always resonated with me, and I felt it was important to write about these historical women from an African perspective because I was raised by strong black women, and I feel that Hollywood’s depiction of women of colour, in general, has been very limited. I wanted to contribute to broadening the scope. I also felt it was important for moviegoers to see the rich culture of Africa, not just through the lens of slavery.

Glamour: Tell us about the decision to collaborate with actor-producer Hill Harper and singer-songwriter Rhonda Ross.

KT: I’ve always been a huge fan of both Hill Harper and Rhonda Ross. Hill is the personification of a strong black man and I chose to work with him because of his continuous efforts to uplift black culture. Rhonda is such a magical being. I felt it was only fitting to have the daughter of entertainment royalty join the production team in support of Hollywood’s first all-black Egyptian trilogy. It’s been such an honour working with them thus far, and I’m so thankful that they took a leap of faith to support me on this journey.

Glamour: How do you envision the character of Cleopatra?

KT: I don’t envision Cleopatra the way that Hollywood has depicted her in the past. The story that she communicated through me is entirely different. For me, she was the most complex of the three historical figures to write about. I was truly fascinated by her journey, and I cry for her every time I read the story.