Go Tell it on the Mountain
“Brother!” Shuri called out as she entered T’Challa’s offices. “Brother, I have a question for you.”
T’Challa looked up from his desk where he was drafting yet another speech. After “coming out” with Wakanda as an advanced, industrialized nation, it seemed like all he had been doing was giving speech after speech after speech.
“Yes, Shuri?” he asked. The distraction was welcome.
Reaching his desk, Shuri bowed. “I have a request, if it so pleases my King.”
T’Challa reached across the desk and swatted her with a piece of paper. “Cut that out, will that never get old?”
Shuri cackled. “Of course not.”
T’Challa let out a very put upon sigh. He should have known better than to expect his younger sister to let up on a joke. “Very well. What is your question?”
“Do you know that Christian song, Go Tell it on the Mountain?”
T’Challa frowned. “Yes,” he answered cautiously. This sounded suspiciously like his sister was up to something.
“Can you sing it for me?” she asked, turning on the recording function on her kimoyo beads.
T’Challa’s frown deepened. He still hadn't forgotten about his first test of the panther suit. That video had gone viral on something called Vine, which was doing nothing to help his position as king. “Shuri…” he said warningly.
“No, no, it's nothing like that!” Shuri said quickly. Clearly she hadn't forgotten about that video either.
T'Challa raised his eyebrow at her.
“I swear! It won't end up on Vine! The kids in Oakland were saying we don't know anything about their culture because we're African. I want to show them that they're wrong.”
“With a Christian song?” he asked, still suspicious.
Shuri shrugged. “Don't look at me, they picked the song.”
T’Challa narrowed his eyes. “Fine.” He still didn't believe her, but everyone knew he was a pushover when it came to his baby sister.
……….
Tony peered into the diplomatic pouch curiously. Inside was a single flash drive.
“The princess has asked me to relay a message for Mr. Stank,” the Wakandan courier said stiffly.
Tony sighed and rolled his eyes. Rhodey was getting a lot of mileage out of that so-called joke. “That’s me, go ahead.”
“The country of Wakanda sends its best wishes for the holiday season, and hereby submits this song on behalf of their monarch, His Majesty King T'Challa, for inclusion in your charity album,” the courier recited.
Did everyone think they could just bang out some discordant mess and have Tony remix it for them? At this rate they wouldn't be able to release the album until July!
“Please convey my thanks to the princess,” Tony said graciously to the courier, who nodded and headed towards the exit.
Once he was sure the courier was safely out of the building, Tony angrily plugged the flash drive into the nearest computer. Time to see what kind of mess Shuri had sent him. From Peter's accounts, the girl was quite the prankster.
After a short intro chord, T'Challa’s voice came singing through the speakers.
"While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light"
Okay… Tony though, interest piqued. This was an odd choice for a man he knew wasn't Christian.
Suddenly a full orchestra and other voices cut in, blending with the recording of T'Challa.
"The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our saviour's birth"
The recording of T’Challa faded out and the music swelled as the chorus began. Suddenly it sounded like every voice in Wakanda was singing, and guttural hooting from the Jabari underscored the lyrics. Tony shivered in awe. This was incredible work. Shuri deserved a Grammy for this song.
"Go, tell it on the waterfall
Over the plains and everywhere
Go, tell it on the waterfall
A new Black Panther’s born
Go, tell it on the waterfall
Over the plains and everywhere
Go, tell it on the waterfall
The Black Panther’s reborn!"