Ayo

: "Move. Or you will be moved."
: ―Ayo to Natasha Romanoff[src]
Ayo is the General of the Dora Milaje tasked to guard the Golden Tribe. Ayo protected both T'Chaka and T'Challa throughout their rule, although she was forced to briefly follow Erik Killmonger when he had defeated T'Challa in ritual combat, until T'Challa returned and defeated Killmonger.
After T'Challa regained the crown, Ayo helped Bucky Barnes free himself of his HYDRA brainwashing. Once the threat of Thanos had reached Wakanda, Ayo took part in protecting her nation against this threat, fighting in the Battle of Wakanda. Six years later, Ayo was sent to take Baron Zemo into the custody of the Dora Milaje after Barnes facilitated his escape.
== Biography ==
=== Early Life ===
Ayo was born in Wakanda as the granddaughter of Ala. Growing up, she wanted to join the Dora Milaje, which her grandmother was part of. She chose to join the organization and trained hard to be able to fit in among their ranks.
=== Protecting T'Challa ===
==== Encounter with Black Widow ====
: "Zemo murdered our King T'Chaka at the U.N. The man who chose us. Who chose me to protect him."
: ―Ayo to Bucky Barnes[src]
In 2016, Ayo traveled with King T'Chaka and Prince T'Challa to Vienna, Austria to take part in the ratifying of the Sokovia Accords. However, she was absent during the time when T'Chaka was murdered. Distraught about what happened, she escorted T'Challa to his car when he learned from his Attaché that the Winter Soldier had escaped from the Joint Counter Terrorist Centre Building with the aid of Steve Rogers. They were stopped by Natasha Romanoff, who wished to speak with T'Challa. Unwilling to allow him to be slowed down, Ayo stood up to Romanoff and demanded that she move aside, threatening to fight her if she refused. T'Challa, however, told Ayo to stand aside as he spoke with Romanoff who told him to side with Tony Stark, so they could help him find and recapture the Winter Soldier.
==== Incoronation of T'Challa ====
: "Take her to the River Province to prepare her for the ceremony.""Yes, General."
: ―Okoye and Ayo[src]
Ayo was among the Dora Milaje who welcomed T'Challa when he returned to Wakanda from a mission to rescue Nakia. She stood beside Queen Mother Ramonda and Princess Shuri until Okoye asked her to take Nakia to the River Tribe so she could prepare for the incoming coronation ceremony.
Ayo then took part in the ceremony, dancing with the other Dora Milaje on the boat and knocking on the boat with her Vibranium Spear to activate the drainage systems of the Warrior Falls. Ayo stood next to Okoye during Zuri's speech, pointing her spear at M'Baku when he menacingly approached Shuri. As M'Baku challenged T'Challa for the throne, Ayo remained by her general's side. When T'Challa defeated M'Baku, Ayo cheered with the rest of the Wakandans and chanted T'Challa's name.
Following the coronation, Ayo escorted him and Nakia through the streets of the Golden City as they took a walk together. Later, Ayo returned to the throne room when T'Challa was informed of the Robbery of the Museum of Great Britain. She then accompanied T'Challa to Shuri's Lab where he could acquire some equipment for his incoming mission.
==== Erik Killmonger's Arrival ====
: "Is there nothing that can be done?"
: ―Ayo to Okoye[src]
Ayo was present when Erik Killmonger was taken to the Citadel's throne room. She stood behind Killmonger when T'Challa approached him in order to protect T'Challa should Killmonger try to attack him.
Later, Ayo and the rest of the Dora Milaje attended the duel between T'Challa and Killmonger, who claimed the throne of Wakanda. She watched as Killmonger slowly gained the upper hand over T'Challa and murdered Zuri who intervened in the fight. As Killmonger defeated T'Challa and openly mocked him, claiming he was unworthy of being King, Ayo asked Okoye whether the Dora Milaje could do something, but Okoye remained silent, knowing that they had to remain uninvolved in the fight.
Following Killmonger's victory, who threw T'Challa down the Warrior Falls, Ayo was forced to give him the traditional Wakandan salute and to serve him. As such, Ayo stood in the throne room when Killmonger held his first Tribal Council and ordered the Wakandans to gather Vibranium weapons to be sent to the outer world.
==== Battle of Mount Bashenga ====
: "Ayo! The King!"
: ―Okoye to Ayo[src]
Ayo was with the rest of the Dora Milaje as Erik Killmonger and W'Kabi gathered Vibranium weapons and loaded three planes which would leave Wakanda. However, one of the planes was destroyed by Black Panther, who had survived his duel with Killmonger. Like the rest of the Dora Milaje, Ayo was relieved to find out that T'Challa had survived. She also followed Okoye when she rebelled against Killmonger. Ayo was ordered to take several Dora with her to assist the King in her battle against the Border Tribe who charged at Black Panther.
For a time, Ayo successfully fought against the Border Tribe, avoiding the assaults of their war rhinoceros. However, she along with Shuri, Nakia and Okoye were ultimately cornered by the Border Tribe, who ordered them to surrender. However, the Jabari Tribe joined the battle, enabling Ayo to resume the fight against their enemies. In the end, the Border Tribe surrendered.
==== T'Challa as King Again ====
In the aftermath of the Battle of Mount Bashenga, Ayo once again escorted King T'Challa and Nakia in the streets of the Golden City. Later, Ayo was among the Wakandan delegation to journey to the United Nations meeting in Vienna. She stood behind T'Challa as he delivered a speech in which he declared that he would open Wakanda to the rest of the world and share their vibranium resources.
==== Aiding Bucky Barnes ====
: "It is time.""You sure about this?""I won't let you hurt anyone."
: ―Ayo and Bucky Barnes[src]
Ayo met with Bucky Barnes in Wakanda, following Shuri removing the HYDRA programming out of his brain. Ayo informed Barnes it was time to test if he was still susceptible to the programming, though Barnes was uncertain if they should try. However, Ayo assured him she would prevent him from hurting anyone.
Ayo then recited the activation words, and though Barnes was stressed upon hearing them, it confirmed he was freed of his brainwashing. After Ayo told him he was free, Barnes began to cry tears of joy at finally being free.
==== Battle of Wakanda ====
In 2018, Ayo was present with T'Challa and the Dora when members of the Avengers arrived in the Golden City. She, along with the others, went into the Wakanda Medical Center and soon witnessed the arrival of the alien spaceships.
She then stayed behind to protect Shuri while she worked on separating Vision from the Mind Stone. However, Corvus Glaive, a member of the Black Order, infiltrated the Center and attacked them. She fiercely tried to defend Shuri, but was swiftly defeated.
=== Assata's Achievements ===
As Ayo's cousin, Assata, grew up admiring the Dora Milaje, Ayo took Assata to watch them training alongside T'Challa. Assata looked on with awe, although turned down Okoye's offer to train with a modified training regiment to accommodate Assata's disability. Assata chose to study science, and Ayo heard that Shuri had offered her a job as her assistant. Ayo got excited for her cousin.
=== Hunting Baron Zemo ===
==== Reuniting with Bucky Barnes ====
: "Kukho into efuna ukuzaliseka ngaye.""Eight hours, White Wolf. Then we come for him."
: ―Bucky Barnes and Ayo[src]
In 2024, upon hearing that Helmut Zemo had been broken out of his imprisonment, Ayo was sent to track him down. She went to Latvia where she left a trail of Kimoyo Beads for Bucky Barnes to follow. When he found her, Ayo demanded to know where Zemo was.
Ayo asked Barnes why he freed Zemo recalling how she had let T'Chaka down by not being there to protect him from the bombing. She then reluctantly told him he had eight hours with Zemo before they would come back to arrest him.
==== Skirmish in Latvia ====
: "Ayo, let's talk about this.""Bast damn you, James."
: ―Bucky Barnes and Ayo[src]
Eight hours later, Ayo and two Dora Milaje named Nomble and Yama arrived to arrest Helmut Zemo, only to be confronted by John Walker. Walker challenged her telling her that they had no jurisdiction there, but Ayo retorted that the Dora Milaje don't require jurisdiction.
After Walker put his hand on her armor, Ayo swiftly threw him against a pole and began to fight against him and Battlestar. Shortly, Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson tried to stop the Dora Milaje from fighting, causing Ayo to remove Barnes' vibranium arm and she expressed her disappointment with him. After finding out that Zemo escaped, Ayo told Yama to give Walker back the shield and left with her and Nomble.
==== Arresting Helmut Zemo ====
: "We will take him to the Raft... where he will live out his days. It would be prudent to make yourself scarce in Wakanda for the time being, White Wolf."
: ―Ayo to Bucky Barnes[src]
Ayo, along with Nomble and Yama, traveled to the Sokovian Memorial in Sokovia to arrest Helmut Zemo after being tipped off about his presence there by Bucky Barnes.
As the Dora Milaje arrested Zemo and escorted him to the Royal Talon Fighter, Ayo notified Barnes that they would be taking Zemo to the Raft and advised Barnes that he should make himself scarce in Wakanda as a result of recent events. Before she departed with the others, Barnes asked her for a favor for Sam Wilson, to make him a new suit to be Captain America.
=== Losing T'Challa ===
==== T'Challa's Funeral ====
Later, T'Challa revealed that he had been sick with an illness. Although everyone tried to help, T'Challa died soon after. Ayo attended his funeral and carried the casket off until a Royal Talon Fighter took it.
==== Defending Queen Ramonda ====
: "I told you not to bring them."
: ―Ayo to Aneka[src]
A year later, Ayo, Okoye, Yama, and Ayo's lover, Aneka, were posted at a Wakandan Outreach Center. Ayo, Yama, and Okoye stayed in a room while Aneka opened the door. The group stepped out and faced mercenaries who tried to steal the Vibranium. The group easily took down the mercenaries while Okoye argued with Aneka about her new Vibranium Daggers. Ayo gave Aneka a look of disappointment afterwards.
The next day, Ramonda faced the United Nations and told them that they were still a threat even without the Black Panther. She brought out the Dora Milaje, who were holding the apperehended mercenaries. Ramonda used this to show the countries not to mess with them.
=== Becoming General ===
==== Ramonda's Outburst ====
Later, Ramonda called a meeting when Namor infiltrated Wakanda. They wanted to discuss how that could have happened. Ayo stood next to the Queen as M'Baku and Okoye argued. Ramonda then told them to stop. M'Baku wanted to kill Namor, but they were hesitant. Okoye then brought Shuri to Cambridge to get a scientist that Namor wanted killed.
Okoye returned, failing to get Williams, leading to Shuri's capture. Ramonda fired Okoye from her position as general as well as the Dora Milaje. Okoye and Ramonda argued, but Ramonda had enough, yelling at Okoye, who left in tears. Ayo was appointed general of the Dora Milaje. She was fitted with the traditional gold armor that generals wore.
==== Stopping Okoye ====
: "Okoye, you trained us, all of us. Do not make us spill your blood."
: ―Ayo to Okoye[src]
Now the general, Ayo got word of Okoye trying to leave. She approached Okoye, who just wanted to get Shuri and make it right. Ayo tried to order her to stop, but Okoye kept walking. Ayo then called out her troops, who pointed spears at Okoye. Ayo respected Okoye and said she did not want her to be killed. Okoye gave herself up.
==== Ramonda's Death ====
: "General, plug your ears.""Yes, my Queen."
: ―Ramonda and Ayo[src]
Suddenly, Talokan invaded Wakanda. The Golden City soon flooded. The Talokanil used hypnotic chants to lure the patrols overboard. Ayo, Yama, and Nomble put on their ear plugs and charged at the patrols to save them. Yama threw an explosive into the water to kill the enemies. Ayo then got into a Royal Talon Fighter with Yama. They flew threw the air and shot at Namor, who sliced the side of the ship, sending them crashing below. The fight ended with Ramonda dying, leading Shuri to become very distraught. Ayo attended Ramonda's funeral and carried out the casket, just as she did with T'Challa.
==== Ambush on the Talokanil ====
: "May the ancestors save us if the Princess does not hurry.""We may be going to join them.""If so, hey, let us take as many of them as we can."
: ―M'Baku, Ayo, and Aneka[src]
The Wakandans were relocated to Gorilla City for the time being. Suddenly, a Black Panther landed in the cave. They removed their mask to reveal it was Shuri, who managed to recreate the Heart-Shaped Herb. Wakanda rejoiced with the new Black Panther. Lead by Shuri, they lured the Talokanil to a ship in the ocean called the Sea Leopard.
The fight started and they climbed up the walls of the boat to kill the Talokanil, using ropes to get up and down. Suddenly, a ship thrown by Namor came crashing down on top of them. The Dora Milaje and Talokanil exchanged blows while the ship nearly tipped over. They soon became cornered, leading M'Baku to pray for protection from the ancestors. Ayo admitted they might be joining them soon. Aneka said that they might as well take some enemies with them. Finally, Shuri and Namor returned, having struck a truce, stopping the fighting.
=== Peace in Wakanda ===
==== A New King ====
: "Thank you, my love"
: ―Ayo to Aneka[src]
With a newfound peace, Ayo and Aneka rejoiced at her home. Aneka kissed Ayo on the head and Ayo thanked her. Later, they prepared for the incoronation of Shuri. They did the ritual until Shuri was meant to arrive. However, she had left Wakanda. Instead, M'Baku arrived, challenging to become the King.
== Personality ==
: "The Dora Milaje have jurisdiction wherever the Dora Milaje find themselves to be."
: ―Ayo to John Walker[src]
Ayo is a devoted member of the Dora Milaje and complies to every order Okoye gives her. She is also faithful to the Golden Tribe, which is shown when Natasha Romanoff stood before her and T'Challa, displaying complete willingness to fight her despite her famous fighting prowess. Like with the other members of the Dora Milaje, Ayo saw N'Jadaka as being completely unfit to be the king of Wakanda and was clearly distraught as he slowly overpowered T'Challa in Ritual Combat after he murdered Zuri, questioning Okoye if they can do nothing to stop N'Jadaka from rising to power. Nonetheless, Ayo continues to follow her general no matter who rules Wakanda and doesn’t hesitate to turn against N'Jadaka when Okoye believed that T'Challa is still the rightful king. Her respect towards Okoye remains even after she replaced her as General: She attempted to get her to peacefully back down from her attempt to rescue Shuri and appealed to how she had trained them all to get them to back down. Ayo's allegiance to the Royal Family is shown again during the Battle of Wakanda when Corvus Glaive infiltrated the country to attack Shuri and Vision. She fiercely put herself between them and the alien warrior until he overpowers her. Despite having learned of what T'Chaka had done in the past to keep Wakanda from being overly intergrated into the world, Ayo still showed strong respect and compassion for him, considering her failure to protect and save him as a deep loss from which she took great grief and shame and holding a personal grudge against Helmut Zemo for his murder.
Having established a close relationship with Bucky Barnes during his stay in Wakanda, expressing concern as she was about to activate the words that could control him and joy when it no longer worked, Ayo was personally offended and hurt with Barnes' decision to free Zemo, making her disappointed and feelings of betrayal clear. Still, Ayo was wise enough to relent when Barnes told him Zemo was a means to an end, giving him 8 hours and after it was up the chance to voluntarily hand over Zemo. Even though she had the opportunity and chance to kill him upon having disarmed him of his arm, Ayo simply decided to leave him unharmed, though she cursed him in Bast's name, and when he released Zemo into the Dora Milaje's captivity, Ayo quickly reestablished her friendship with him, warning him not to go to Wakanda for a while and calling him White Wolf and allowed him to call in a favor in making a new suit for Sam Wilson.
Ayo is primarily a serious individual but she does have a sense of humor, laughing at Everett Ross's inadequate mastery of Xhosa when he attempted to wish T'Challa good luck.
== Abilities ==
: "Hey, John, take it easy. You might wanna fight Bucky before you tangle with the Dora Milaje."
: ―Sam Wilson to John Walker[src]
* Master Martial Artist: As a member of the Dora Milaje, Ayo received extensive combat training which allowed for excellent skill in many fields of combat. She is quite confident in her skills, confidently threatening Natasha Romanoff when she stood in T'Challa's way despite her being an exceptional and famous fighter in her own right. During the Battle of Mount Bashenga, Ayo defeated many warriors of the Border Tribe and survived uninjured. She even held off the stronger and highly trained assassin of Thanos Corvus Glaive and survived the fight despite being defeated. Her fighting skills were great enough to easily subdue John Walker, a highly decorated U.S. veteran who was chosen to be the next Captain America, and even get the better of a reluctant Bucky Barnes, disarming him by triggering the release mechanism for his bionic arm, a feat Barnes didn’t know was possible.
* Spear Mastery: As a member of the Dora Milaje, Ayo is extremely skilled at using her Vibranium Spear in close quarters combat and as a long ranged weapon. She was able to easily defeat many warriors of the Border Tribe during the Battle of Mount Bashenga and even fight off Corvus Glaive with it. She is also accurate in throwing it, being able to precisely throw her spear at a fellow Dora to wield. Ayo was able to wield another Dora Milaje's spear with equal skill to using her own, dominating John Walker completely into the defensive and would have killed him had Barnes not stopped her and subsequently effectively using the spear to push back Barnes, even hitting his prosthetic arm with the tip, though Barnes was holding back as he wanted to talk instead of fighting.
* Expert Tactician: Ayo is skilled at forming plans and leading the Dora Milaje when Okoye is not present. She ordered her warriors to attack John Walker and also lead the group when she guarded King T'Chaka and T'Challa at the Vienna International Centre.
* Multilingualism: Ayo is fluent in her native Xhosa, as well as English and Russian.
== Equipment ==
=== Weapons ===
* Vibranium Spear: Ayo uses a specialized Vibranium spear capable of collapsing into a handle for concealment. Her spear along with others have been shown to be able to interact with technology by striking the ground with the blunt end, notably activating the drainage system for Warrior Falls.
=== Other Equipment ===
* Kimoyo Beads: Like many Wakandans, Ayo had Kimoyo Beads she could use as a communication device.
* Dora Milaje Armor: Ayo wears the standard-issue uniform of the Dora Milaje. Later, when she became the General of the Dora Milaje, Ayo now wears a slightly more elaborated version of the Dora Milaje armor, notably with the epaulets, bracelets, and necklace being golden instead of silver. Being made of Vibranium weaves, the armor offers high durability and protection.
== Relationships ==
=== Family ===
* Ala - Grandmother
* Assata - Cousin
=== Allies ===
* Golden Tribe
** T'Chaka † - Former King
** Ramonda † - Former Queen
** T'Challa, Sr./Black Panther † - Former King
** Shuri/Black Panther - Princess
* Dora Milaje - Subordinates
** Xoliswa †
** Nomble
** Yama
** Jemini
* Tribal Council
** M'Kathu
** River Tribe Elder
** Merchant Tribe Elder
** Zawavari
** Mining Tribe Elder
* Nakia
* Zuri †
* Wakandan Royal Guard
* Border Tribe - Temporary Enemies
* Jabari Tribe
** M'Baku
* M20 - Temporary Enemy
* Attaché
* Everett Ross
* Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier - Friend
* Avengers
** Steve Rogers/Captain America †
** Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow †
** Sam Wilson/Falcon/Captain America
** James Rhodes/War Machine
** Bruce Banner/Hulk
** Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch †
** Vision †
* Midnight Angels
** Okoye - Former Leader and Predecessor
** Aneka - Love Interest
* Riri Williams/Ironheart
* Talokanil - Former Enemies
** Namor - Former Attempted Killer
** Attuma
** Namora	
=== Enemies ===
* N'Jadaka/Erik Killmonger † - Former King
* W'Kabi - Former Ally
* Black Order
** Corvus Glaive † - Attempted Killer
* Helmut Zemo/Baron Zemo
* John Walker/Captain America - Situational Enemy
* Lemar Hoskins/Battlestar † - Situational Enemy
== Trivia ==
* In the comics, Ayo is a member of the Dora Milaje who fell in love with her fellow Dora Milaje Aneka. After Queen Ramonda sentenced Aneka to death for killing a rapist, Ayo stole two sets of prototype battle armor and rescued Aneka. Viewing T'Challa as absentee and unworthy king, Ayo and Aneka became the vigilantes known as the Midnight Angels and started a rebellion.
* In Captain America: Civil War, Ayo was credited as "Security Chief".
== Behind the Scenes ==
* Ayo's relationship with Aneka is believed by The Hollywood Reporter to have been the reason Black Panther: Wakanda Forever wasn't released in China due to the country's rules to not release films with LGBT relationships.
* Jénel Stevens was a stunt double for Florence Kasumba in the role of Ayo.
== References ==
The Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Ayo.
# ↑ Jump up to:1.0 1.1 1.2 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: The Courage to Dream
# ↑ Jump up to:2.0 2.1 MPower: 1.01: The Women of Black Panther
# ↑ Captain America: Civil War
# ↑ Jump up to:4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Black Panther
# ↑ Jump up to:5.0 5.1 5.2 The Falcon and The Winter Soldier: 1.04: The Whole World Is Watching
# ↑ Avengers: Infinity War
# ↑ Translates from Xhosa to: "There is something that needs to be fulfilled through him."; official translation: "He's a means to an end."
# ↑ The Falcon and The Winter Soldier: 1.03: Power Broker
# ↑ The Falcon and The Winter Soldier: 1.05: Truth
# ↑ Jump up to:10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
# ↑ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Deleted Scene
# ↑ ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,’ ‘Black Adam’ Unlikely to Be Released in China (Exclusive)
== External Links ==
* Ayo on Marvel Database
* Ayo on Wikipedia
* Ayo on Marvel Website