What is Africanfuturism?  

 yo, bust this Black to the future, back to the past, Def Jam  

  When flag independence arrived across Africa, our anti-colonial luminaries often spoke of the promise and spectacular potential of what lay ahead for the continent. Thomas Sankara called on Africans to “to turn your back on the old formulas, the courage to invent the future.” In an article for the UK-based Tribune magazine Julius Nyerere said the future “motivating force” of nationalist liberation organisations should be “fullest development of the human spirit.” And in a letter to his wife from prison, Patrice Lumumba said “the future of the Congo is splendid” due to his expectation that his compatriots would fulfil the “sacred task” of “restoring our independence and our sovereignty”.   

For many young Africans those promises never survived the test of reality. The continent is still marked by the scars of colonialism and so the concept of the future carries a deeper and more complex significance than it might for others. For many Africans, the future was envisioned as a prosperous orchard on the other side of the fence that was colonial rule, and it became deeply embedded in the stories our countries told themselves about their purpose.   

   The continent is still marked by the scars of colonialism and so the concept of the future carries a deeper and more complex significance than it might for others.   

  For those from the lower middle class in particular, the future is not a blank slate full of opportunity. It is a landscape fraught with complexity, uncertainty, and hope, but also weighed down by the burden of history and the disappointments of the present. Escape is often the solution for young men and women seeking better lives who scarcely see ways to develop themselves in Africa’s cities.   

For today’s African youth, the future holds an elevated meaning, as it serves both as an escape and a zone of responsibility. It is a space where the shattered dreams of their ancestors, disrupted by colonialism and exploitation, may finally take root, or where their struggles might evolve into new forms. In contemporary Africa, the future remains an enigma—a place where the weight of the past and the failures of the present converge.     

 For today’s African youth, the future holds an elevated meaning, as it serves both as an escape and a zone of responsibility. It is a space where the shattered dreams of their ancestors, disrupted by colonialism and exploitation, may finally take root, or where their struggles might evolve into new forms.  

  These experiences—marked by dilemmas, aspirations, and discordant realities—are increasingly reflected in the art produced by young Africans. This comes as no surprise, as art is a means used to express our deepest concealed feelings in search of kindred spirits, and no work of art can possess true substance without engaging with the artist's personal circumstances, as well as the time, place, and generation to which they belong.  

  The Role of Africanfuturism   

   Enter Africanfuturism. The term, coined by Nigerian-American writer Nnedi Okorafor, serves as a response to the broader Afrofuturism movement. While Afrofuturism addresses the experiences of the African diaspora, including racism, shame, and the search for noble origins, Africanfuturism is rooted specifically in the African continent, focusing on African culture, history, and experiences.   

Africanfuturism seeks to imagine a future that incorporates the stories, beliefs, and values of pre-colonial Africa, rather than relying solely on western notions of progress. Unlike Afrofuturism it also aims not to “privilege or centre the West”. Nnedi Okorafor explains the difference with reference to the Black Panther movie: “Afrofuturism: Wakanda builds its first outpost in Oakland, CA, USA. Africanfuturism: Wakanda builds its first outpost in a neighbouring African country.”  

Africanfuturism seeks to imagine a future that incorporates the stories, beliefs, and values of pre-colonial Africa, rather than relying solely on western notions of progress.  

  Okorafor’s works, such as her novels Who Fears Death and Binti, are prime examples of Africanfuturism in action. In these stories, she blends advanced technology with African spirituality and culture, creating futures that feel deeply connected to the continent’s past while exploring the possibilities of what lies ahead.   

Another artist, Wanuri Kahiu, a Kenyan filmmaker, brings Africanfuturism to life on screen. Her short film Pumzi (2009) presents a post-apocalyptic Africa where water scarcity defines survival. The film is an imaginative and visually striking depiction of African futurity, engaging with urgent environmental and social issues. Kahiu’s work demonstrates that Africanfuturism is not solely about imagining technologically advanced societies—it is also about addressing the challenges facing the continent today and reimagining solutions through an African lens.   

Africanfuturism is more than just a literary genre; it is shaping the broader African art scene. Artists such as Nigeria’s Laolu Senbanjo bring this concept into visual art through his Sacred Art of the Ori, in which traditional Yoruba symbols and mythology are integrated into futuristic themes and modern mediums. South African artist Lazi Mathebula, also known as Greiispaces, merges futuristic styles and technologies with African fashion and tradition, imagining a future where these elements coexist in harmony.  

 Kahiu’s work demonstrates that Africanfuturism is not solely about imagining technologically advanced societies—it is also about addressing the challenges facing the continent today...   

  Among the rising visual artists shaping Africanfuturism is Ethiopian artist Fanuel Leul, renowned for his striking digital illustrations. Leul blends elements of African culture, spirituality, and technology to create bold visions of the future. His artwork centres African bodies—especially Black women in ethnic attire—set against backdrops of cosmic landscapes, vibrant cities, and surreal, futuristic worlds.  

By incorporating African history, culture, and spirituality into their work, these artists are reshaping how Africa’s future is imagined—not only by Africans but by the world. They emphasise that the future is not a place where Africa must catch up to the west, but a space where Africa can lead on its own terms.  

The origins and growth of Africanfuturism   

  The term Africanfuturism is a direct offshoot of Afrofuturism, a movement that emerged in the mid-20th century, primarily focused on the experiences of the African diaspora, particularly in the United States. Afrofuturism, included by artists such as Sun Ra, George Clinton, and Octavia Butler, sought to imagine futures where Black identity and creativity could thrive, free from the constraints of racism and marginalisation. This movement spilled over into the music scene with one of early hip hop’s most iconic songs Black to the Future. The movement’s ethos is summarised in this verse: “yo, bust this Black to the future, back to the past.”   

However, while Afrofuturism centres on the Black experience in the west, Africanfuturism is a more recent term, first introduced by Nnedi Okorafor to emphasise that Africa’s future is unique and distinct from the western or diasporic perspective.  

Africanfuturism is more concerned with the African experience on the continent—its struggles, histories, and future. Where Afrofuturism might envision a world beyond slavery and systemic racism, Africanfuturism imagines a world beyond colonialism, where African cultures are not relics of the past but integral components of the future.  

 ... while Afrofuturism centres on the Black experience in the west, Africanfuturism is a more recent term, first introduced by Nnedi Okorafor to emphasise that Africa’s future is unique and distinct from the western or diasporic perspective.  

  This genre is rapidly reshaping the African art scene, pushing artists, writers, filmmakers, and designers to think beyond the limitations imposed by colonial history and imagine futures that are not constrained by western norms or technologies. Africanfuturism creates a space for creativity that is distinctly African, where the positive aspects of spirituality, traditional knowledge, and indigenous technology can serve as the foundation for modernity, rather than being in opposition to it.    

Through festivals, literature, and exhibitions, Africanfuturism has carved out its place in both African and global art scenes. Events such as Lagos Comic Con and platforms like Chimurenga are bringing these futuristic African narratives into mainstream spaces, making it clear that Africanfuturism is more than just a niche movement—it is a means of reclaiming Africa’s past and asserting control over its future.    

For African youth, especially those grappling with the complexities of post-colonial poverty and exploitation, Africanfuturism offers hope. It demonstrates that the future is not merely a place where we will continue to suffer the consequences of our past. Instead, it suggests that the future is a space we can actively shape, drawing on both the lessons of our ancestors and the innovations of the modern world.  

Africanfuturism becomes more than just a genre—it is a form of resistance. It challenges the notion that Africa is destined to remain in the shadow of colonial exploitation. It contests the idea that our stories must always be told through a western lens. Most importantly, it defies the notion that the future is something to be feared. For African youth born into a post-colonial world, Africanfuturism is an invitation to dream, to imagine, and to create a future that is not defined by the pain of the past but by the promise of possibility.