In 'Black Panther,' the quote 'Bury me in the ocean with my ancestors' is the tragic final line of Erik Killmonger. To represent his complex identity, composer Ludwig Göransson used the kora. The kora is a West African stringed instrument—a 'lute-bridge-harp' with 21 strings. Its delicate, harp-like sound was used to contrast Killmonger's aggressive hip-hop-inspired theme, representing his connection to the African heritage he was stolen from. This choice humanized the character, making him more than just a villain. The kora’s inclusion showed how a traditional instrument can add emotional layers to a comic book movie legend, making the character’s political and personal quotes feel more grounded in real-world history and culture.