Resources on Afrofuturism

Click images for more information. Click links below to browse by category.

[afrofuturismresources]

Urbance. Steambot Studios

[frozenfoxtails]

Writer and Director of Pumzi, Wanuri Kahui, Talks about afrofuturism and Africa’s changing standing.

[afrofuturismresources]

What is Afrofuturist Art?

An afrofuturist work is one that is both speculative and specific to the experiences of the African diaspora. Common themes of afrofuturist art include being alien abduction, the final frontier, re-imagining history, and race as technology. These themes are common in fantasy, magical realism, and science fiction in general but when explored through the lens of the Africana experience, the work becomes afrofuturist.

[afrofuturismresources]

The Shame Game. Trenton Doyle Hancock. 2012.

[afrofuturismresources]

This is the way. Trenton Doyle Hancock. 2012.

[afrofuturismresources]

Reimagining History

Afrofuturism is a term used to describe speculative art that is specific to the experiences of the African diaspora. Usually this work falls into the realm of science fiction, fantasy, or magical...

[afrofuturismresources]

Run Lara Run. Larissa Sansour. 2008.

[afrofuturismresources]

Aliens

Maybe the transatlantic slave trade was a large scale alien abduction. Some first person accounts of this horrific exodus mention that victims frequently believed they were kidnapped by people capable of witchcraft. Foreign technologies, strange languages, and unusual complexions could all be signs of otherworldliness.

Immigrants are often referred to as "aliens." What does it mean to be called this? Why would one human call another human by this word? To be alien is to be a stranger, to not belong.

[afrofuturismresources]

The Final Frontier

Colonizing space is a common topic of speculative work. How would these works be different from the point of view of those whose land has been colonized?

Also consider separatist movements and voluntary segregation. Perhaps otherworldly travel is a way for oppressed groups to escape persecution.

[afrofuturismresources]

Pumzi. Wanuri Kahiu. 2010.

[afrofuturismresources]

Defining Humanity

What makes humans, human? Many have tackled this ancient question. A popular version is Franz Kafka's Metamorphoses, wherein a white man is transformed into a giant insect. The novella asks the audience to consider the humanity of the protagonist, Samsa, though he is no longer in human form. Samsa's humanity is never questioned before his transformation. From the point of  view of a person of color, this would be a very different story. Even in human form, a POCs humanity is scrutinized.

[afrofuturismresources]

Race as Technology

Race was invented in order to satisfy a capitalist need for cheap labor. Much scholarship was created in order to prove the existence of race (eugenics, phrenology, etc); these pseudosciences failed. Consider the relationship between this reality and the science fictional idea of cyborgs and/or androids. These are imaginary beings that would improve efficiency in the workplace.

[afrofuturismresources]

Untitled from the series "Typology." Laylah Ali. 2005-present.

[afrofuturismresources]

Nomenclature. David Huffman. 2008.

[afrofuturismresources]

The A77A Project: On Presidents & Superheroes. Khaled Hafez. 2009.

[afrofuturismresources]

THEESatisfaction - Earthseed

[afrofuturismresources]

The Mundane Afrofuturist Manifesto