What is Afrofuturism?
One of the most influential cultural aesthetics, Afrofuturism has seen a significant resurgence in recent years. This movement connects seemingly disparate elements, such as Marvel’s Black Panther, the visionary works of Octavia Butler, and the sonic universe of George Clinton. While these three might initially appear worlds apart, Afrofuturism unites them through its exploration of Black identity, technology, and future possibilities, blending elements of science fiction, fantasy, and African culture to create a powerful, forward-looking narrative.
Afrofuturism, as an aesthetic, is a constantly evolving movement in art, music, and literature. Its unifying thread is the intersection of African diaspora culture and history—particularly that of the United States—with futuristic or science fiction themes. What sets Afrofuturism apart from Africanfuturism is its Western-centric focus, rooted in the experiences of the African diaspora, while Africanfuturism draws specifically from the cultural heritage and histories of the African continent itself. Both movements envision futures shaped by Black identity, yet each approaches it from distinct cultural perspectives.
Given the heavy science fiction and tech angle, there’s no surprise it has become more prominent lately as the world merges increasingly inextricably with technology. Also, as Afrofuturism seeks to envision Black futures through the context of the experiences of the African diaspora, it’s also been a vital tool of assuaging the era of Donald Trump, the murder of George Floyd and the Unite the Right rally, as the bloody ghosts of America’s racial past rear their heads. It doesn’t just concentrate on science fiction aesthetics; fantasy and magic realism can also be found across its many renderings.
The term Afrofuturism was coined by the influential “culture jamming” critic, Mark Dery, in his 1993 essay, Black to the Future which is found in his anthology, Flame Wars: The Discourse of Cyberculture. In the piece, he pondered why so few African-American authors chose to write science fiction, a genre which extensively explores experiences with “the Other” an experience that he posited was unique to their reality.
This wasn’t just a loose postulation, either. To develop his point, Dery interviewed three prominent African-American minds: sci-fi author Samuel R Delaney, Burnt Sugar member and writer Greg Tate, and critic Tricia Rose. Together, they made sense of what is primarily a means of escapism.
Interestingly, Afrofuturism had already taken shape well before its recent resurgence, with George Clinton’s music serving as one of the most notable early examples. His 1975 Funkadelic masterpiece, Mothership Connection, is brimming with the core themes of the movement, as are subsequent records like The Clones of Dr Funkenstein and Funkentelechy Vs the Placebo Syndrome. Retrospectively, Clinton’s work—with its shimmering space-age costumes, sci-fi themes, and lyrical references to Black history and liberation—has come to embody the essence of Afrofuturism. Additionally, his robust worldbuilding and the heavy use of escapism, through characters and alter egos, provide a perfect example of how the aesthetic blends music, fantasy, and cultural identity.
Various examples of Afrofuturism across disciplines include Jean-Michel Basquiat’s paintings, Renee Cox’s photography, and Earth, Wind and Fire’s attire and messaging. Elsewhere, Deltron 3030, Sun Ra, both Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock’s electronic work and Black Panther are others. Even Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland classic, ‘Third Stone from the Sun’, is an early musical illustration, with it almost certain that he would have become a pioneer of the aesthetic if he’d lived past 1970 and been able to bring his epic futuristic vision to life.
Many notable contemporary musicians have also explored Afrofuturism sonically and aesthetically, including Beyoncé, Erykah Badu, Missy Elliot, Solange Knowles, Janelle Monáe and Rihanna. This set also features Ibeyi, FKA Twigs, and Flying Lotus, the latter of whom has one of the most cinematic renderings of the aesthetic to date. Look no further than 2013’s Cosmogramma, a “space opera”.
The importance of 2018’s Black Panther in spreading the significant message of Afrofuturism cannot be understated. Depicting a positive and pride-stoking image of Africa, as opposed to the negative, war and disease-stricken land it is often presented as in Western media, its entire aesthetic, from the clothing to the music, proved mightily successful. It resonated deeply with Black viewers, making it the third highest-grossing film in North American history.
The work of celebrated visual artist Lauren Halsey offers great insight into what Afrofuturism can look like in the contemporary context. Her majestic sculptures, drawing on antiquity to elevate Black art, are incredibly striking and should stoke nothing but wonder.
