The term “Afrofuturism” was first coined in 1993 by American cultural critic Mark Dery. However, its origins trace back to the late 20th century, particularly with the publication of novels like Octavia Butler’s “Kindred” and Samuel R. Delany’s “Dhalgren.” These novels imagine worlds where sci-fi, fantasy, and magic are fused with African history and culture exploring themes like time travel, aliens, and alternate histories from an African-American perspective. The movement gained popularity in the 21st century, thanks to blockbusters like Black Panther.
Afrofuturism isn’t just about the future, it’s about reimagining the past and present, with the aim of breaking down harmful stereotypes and celebrating African voices. It is a cultural movement that merges elements of science fiction, fantasy, and magical realism with African history and culture in order to reshape our perspective on Africa’s past, present, and future. At its core, afrofuturism celebrates African creativity, culture, and innovation with the primary goal of redefining what it means to be African in today’s world.
However, Afrofuturism extends beyond literature and film. It has also influenced African art, design, fashion, as well as how we care for the planet. Here are 5 artists redefining traditional boundaries in the afrofuturistic visual art space:
Wangechi Mutu
Wangechi Mutu is renowned for her innovative approach of blending collage techniques with sci-fi imagery to explore topics like gender and race. Mutu’s work breaks down existing narratives and builds new ones that question conventional power dynamics. By cutting apart different ideas and putting them back together in new ways, she highlights the intricacies of modern life and offers new perspectives on future possibilities through Afrofuturism.
Karabo Poppy Moletsane
South African graphic designer and illustrator Karabo Poppy Moletsane is one of the leading voices in the “Africa Reimagined” movement. Her designs are a mashup of traditional African motifs, pop culture and futuristic elements. She has worked with big brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, and Apple and has won several awards for her groundbreaking designs
David Alabo
Ghanaian-Moroccan artist, David Alabo brings a unique perspective to Afrofuturism by creating works that spark curiosity about the future of humanity on Earth and beyond, as well as envisioning realms that intersect with our own world. Through his art, Alabo explores themes of divinity, the beauty of death as a transition, and other fascinating possibilities.
Suleiman Gwadah
Suleiman Gwadah, also known as Pacmartian, is a Nigerian digital artist and illustrator who’s digital illustrations weave colorful, captivating stories with endless possibilities within a single portrait. His work tells interesting stories of aliens, demons, the supernatural, and folklore with a touch of darkness, hope, courage, and power.
Manzel Bowman
Manzel Bowman combines his love of astronomy with African tribal culture. His work is a fusion of futuristic elements with traditional African culture that offers a beautiful interpretation of Africa’s future and preserves its rich heritage while embracing technology.
