Residents of a small American village have been left baffled and bemused by prank calls from people claiming to have discovered the home of superhero Black Panther.

Also known as T'Challa, the Marvel hero is king of a fictional African country of Wakanda – outwardly ordinary, but secretly home to an El Dorado-esque kingdom, hidden from the outside world and rich in a fantastical mineral called Vibranium.

Wauconda (pronounced "Wakanda"), Illinois, certainly fits the "outwardly ordinary" part. Until now, the village was best known for its swampy bog (a nature park) and its annual two-day rodeo. But since the new Black Panther movie hit cinemas – where it has taken almost $500 million at the box office – fans have been calling up to ask where they can get their hands on some Vibranium.

"At first, I was like, is there a full moon out?" Alise Homola, an assistant to the village mayor, told the Hollywood Reporter. Homola, who has not seen the film, said her office had received both phone-calls and mail from fans of the film. "Someone called and asked how we pronounced the village name and when I told him, he began yelling, 'Wakanda forever!' which I am guessing is from the film," she said.

Speaking to the Chicago Sun Times, Homola said she was "a little confused" the first time some phoned up to holler the Wakanda battle-cry at her down the phone. “He was joking around about it,’’ she said. “He just said that ‘I was searching the Wakanda from the movie, and your village came up, so I thought I’d call you and give you a hard time.’ ”