The Black Panther is the sacred animal of most of the people in Wakanda, who are all part of the "Panther Cult".
There's another, much smaller and very persecuted cult that worships the White Gorilla. It's basically equivalent to being a devil-worshipper.
He sought out one of the white gorillas his people find sacred, killed it, ate its flesh, wore its skin, and in so doing gained superpowers and became the religious leader of the cult.
Which seriously puts him at odds with the Black Panther, who's basically the Pope of the Panther Cult, along with being King of Wakanda.