In 2023, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture published their exhibit companion book, Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures. This was followed by the exhibit opening in the museum in Washington, D.C. The exhibit is brimming with fascinating artifacts relating to futuristic items from Black culture, from George Clinton’s impressive Mothership to handwritten lyrics by Jimi Hendrix. But what is Afrofuturism? And how does it relate to literature?
What is Afrofuturism and Why is it Important?
Afrofuturism is a movement that spans different mediums, including, but not limited to, literature, music, movies, and visual art within the African American community. It is an idea that incorporates science fiction and fantasy to expand on ideas of speculative fiction and gives agency to the African diaspora. Specific to an identity that has been suppressed in the past due to slavery, the ideas of Afrofuturism provides a reimagined and liberated future for African Americans.
The word “Afrofuturism” was initially made popular in an interview by Mark Dery entitled Black to the Future. In this 1993 interview, he expanded on the benefits of speculative fiction and the African community, stating that:
“The notion of Afrofuturism gives rise to a troubling antinomy: Can a community whose past has been deliberately rubbed out, and whose energies have been subsequently consumed by the search for legible traces of its history, imagine possible futures?”
Examples of Afrofuturism in Modern Pop Culture
One of the most famous instances of Afrofuturism recently has been the blockbuster comic book movie, Black Panther. Highlighting a masked, but highly technological world of Wakanda, the story of the African country gives its audiences a more powerful identity than what stereotypical and inaccurate images portray. Afrofuturism has also been very popular with African American musicians, such as Janelle Monáe, Missy Elliott, Nicki Minaj, and Outkast. Regarding literature, some of the most prominent authors in the Black science fiction field, such as Octavia Butler and N.K. Jemisin, have adopted the ideas of Afrofuturism in their works.
Want to start exploring the literary realm of Afrofuturism? We have gathered a list of eight different reads to begin our journey through the fantastic world of Afrofuturism. Read along to add these to your TBR shelf.
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Initiating the first installment of the Legacy of Orïsha series, this YA fantasy saga was picked by GoodReads participants as the Readers’ Favorite Debut Author of 2018. Set in a fictional mystical kingdom, the story follows Zélie Adebola, who descends from a line of magic which includes her mother and her ability to conjure up spirits. But after the ruthless King Sarah wipes out Zélie’s entire family in an attempt to rid the land of supernatural entities, Zélie partners with her brother and the rebellious Princess Amari to stand up against the tyrannical monarch. But their mission becomes a bit complicated when Zélie begins to develop feelings for Prince Inan.
The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin
Earning a nomination from Goodreads for Readers’ Favorite Fantasy in 2015, this science fiction novel is set in a harsh dystopian world. Set against the backdrop of large-scale destruction, Essun faces tragic events that devastate her world. While the realm of Essun is crumbling due to a reckless madman set on revenge, Essun’s husband brutally murders their son and kidnaps their daughter. Navigating through the external disasters around her, Essun stops at nothing to save her daughter.
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
Currently a two-part series, Black Leopard, Red Wolf is the first of the saga The Dark Star Trilogy. As a Goodreads nominee for Readers’ Favorite Fantasy in 2019, this adventure chronicles the life of Tracker, a mercenary who is hired to track a child who has been missing for three years. While Tracker usually works alone, this mission ensembles a group of unusual characters, including a shapeshifting human named Leopard. Infused with African history and mythology, this novel offers an epic fantasy read.
Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
Known for her science fiction novels highlighting sociopolitical topics, Butler’s novel is a glimpse into a dystopian future of our civilization. While written in 1993, Parable of the Sower is set in 2024 and depicts a world ravaged by instability and anarchy. At the center of the narrative is Lauren Olamina, the daughter of a pastor who leads his people through the horrors of the world, as he preaches against drugs, sickness, war, and supply shortages. Lauren possesses an unusual condition called hyperempathy, in which she is extremely sensitive to the pain of others. So after Lauren’s entire home and family is wiped out from a fire, she sets out north to find shelter.
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
Introducing the Nsibidi Scripts series, this young adult fantasy tale follows Sunny Nwazue’s transition from life in her native New York to her new home in Aba, Nigeria. Adding on to the struggles of life as a 12-year old, Sunny also has to navigate through her identity diaspora and being albino in the bright environment. Luckily, Sunny befriends Orlu and Chichi at her school, who welcomes her to their cliche the Leopard People. In what turns out to be an Oha Coven, Sunny’s new friends embrace their differences and transform them into their strengths. With their newfound community, they set out to defend other children from the terrifying Black Hat Otokoto, an entity who is set to torment children.
Noor by Nnedi Okorafor
Anwuli Okwudili has never felt quite human — to the extent that she chooses to be known as AO: Artificial Organism. Growing up with a family who feeds into these feelings of not belonging, AO is involved in a car accident, which leaves her disabled and deformed. Rather than considering this a tragedy, AO embraces the new changes to her body. But after a chance happening at a grocery store, AO finds herself on the run through Northern Nigeria. Along the way, she partners with a Fulani herdsman named DNA, who is also running from something.
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
As part of the Deathless series, The Gilded Ones presents 16-year-old Deka as she stands on the cusp of a blood ceremony that will decide whether she is a part of her village. She is riddled with anxiety, waiting to find out if her blood runs red, proving that she is a part of her community. However, when it turns out her blood is gold, she is deemed to possess an impurity that shuns her from the village. But then a mysterious woman shows up in the middle of the night to persuade Deka to join the alaki-near immortals — a group of girls similar to Deka, who possess rare gifts, and fight for the Capital.
Africa Risen by Sheree Renée Thomas, Zelda Knight, and Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki
African Risen consists of 32 short stories dedicated to the best of African science fiction and fantasy. The topic of African diaspora is dominant within these stories, as the narratives strive to present the imagery and identity of Africa as vibrant and diverse. This is a great foundational resource to lead you to other authors of Afrofuturism.
While Africa has been a land that has been misinterpreted through colonialism throughout the years, Afrofuturism is a concept that endeavors to break through these boundaries to present Africa with a bright and prosperous future. It is a fascinating subgenre of science fiction that begs to be explored and enjoyed to a further extent.
To read more about Afrofuturism, check out our article: What is Afrofuturism and Why does it Matter?
To add more Black voices to your TBR, check out this bookshelf: Diversifying Your TBR: Beautiful Black Voices in Literature!
