It’s official (and no longer a secret): Beyoncé was here! If you haven’t watched her new visual album, “Black is King,” you should. And for an added treat, now you can look for scenes filmed right here on Shelter Island featuring Beyoncé at Sylvester Manor Educational Farm.
Tracy McCarthy, operations director for the Manor, said in a news release Wednesday that “Black is King”, which premiered July 31 on Disney+, includes “the woodlands, waterways and many of the ancient trees that are among the lush beauty of our historic property.”
“‘Black is King” is a celebratory memoir for the world on the Black experience,” the producers say about the album. “It reimagines the lessons of “The Lion King” for today’s young kings and queens in search of their own crowns in a tale about a young king’s transcendent journey through betrayal, love, and self-identity.”
Why Sylvester Manor?
“We believe Beyoncé chose our site understanding the cultures who lived and worked together at Sylvester Manor and the importance they have played in the Manor’s nearly 400-year history,” said Sylvester Manor Curator and Archivist Donnamarie Barnes. “Beyoncé and her dancers performing on the land of the Manor paid tribute to the ancestors of Sylvester Manor, invoking their spirits and celebrating their heritage.”
“The lens through which the public understands historic places of the enslavement of African people is shifting,” McCarthy said in the release. “We’re working hard to unearth and share the stories of the indigenous Manhansetts, the European settlers, and the enslaved Africans brought to Shelter Island against their will.”
“Since our organization’s founding in 2009, Sylvester Manor Educational Farm’s Mission has been to Preserve, Cultivate and Share this history, uncovering these complex and important truths and sharing them with our community,” McCarthy said.
“We are proud that Sylvester Manor is a part of the national conversation and thank Beyoncé and her team at Parkwood Entertainment for selecting our historic location to be a part of her exceptional film,” McCarthy said.
To learn more about Sylvester Manor Educational Farm, visit sylvestermanor.org.
About ‘Black is King’
“Black is King” was written and directed by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, and is based on music from “The Lion King: The Gift”, curated by Beyoncé; it stars that album’s featured artists along with some guest appearances.
“‘Black is King’ is an affirmation of a grand purpose, with lush visuals that celebrate Black resilience and culture,” says the description on disneyplus.com. “The film highlights the beauty of tradition and Black excellence.”
Here is information about the full cast and crew:
- Directors are Emmanuel Adjei, Blitz Bazawule and Beyoncé; writers are Beyoncé, Yrsa Daley-Ward, Clover Hope and Andrew Morrow; the cast includes Beyoncé, Folajomi ‘FJ’ Akinmurele (as Little Simba), Aweng Ade-Choul, Adut Akech, Yemi Alade, Aqualillies (synchronized swimmers), Steven T. Bartlett, Naomi Campbell, Blue Ivy Carter, Connie Chiume, Island Aquatics Synchro Club (synchronized swimmers), Clem Darling, Nyaniso Dzedze, Nandi Madida, Michael Franklin, Andray Johnson, Tina Knowles-Lawson, Warren Masemola, JD McCrary (Young Simba), Lupita Nyong’o, Stephen Ojo (Prince Subconscious), Margeaux Reign, Jessie Reyez, Kelly Rowland, Philicia Saunders (synchronized swimmer), Mary Twala, Shatta Wale, Nicole Danielle Watts, and Pharrell Williams.
Runtime is 1 hour and 25 minutes. The film is rated TV-14.
