WHAT IS AFRO FUTURISM?
Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic,philosophy of science, and philosophy of history that explores the developing intersection of African Diaspora culture with technology. Afrofuturism addresses themes and concerns of the African diaspora through technoculture and science fiction, encompassing a range of media and artists with a shared interest in envisioning black futures that stem from Afrodiasporic experiences.It was coined by Mark Dery in 1993 and explored in the late 1990s through conversations led by Alondra Nelson.
Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic that combines science-fiction, history and fantasy to explore the African-American experience and aims to connect those from the black diaspora with their forgotten African ancestry.
Afrofuturism has also been portrayed in music, however it became more popular in the late 1950s even though Afrofuturism was being coined in 1993. Musicians typically regarded as working in or greatly influenced by the Afrofuturist tradition which includes reggae producers Lee Perry and Scientist, hip-hop artists Afrika Bambaataa and Tricky.
WHAT IS DIASPORA?
The term Diaspora is the term used to describe the movement or a scattered population from one country to another which is also has discussions of identity.
AFROFUTURISM IN BLACK PANTHER
Afro-futurism has triumphed in mainstream American theatre including enormous success of the film Black Panther. It was released February 16, 2018; the release of the film brought black people all around the country and world to embrace the cultural context of the film as red carpets and even long lines at theatres wore outfits inspired by African Kingdoms. Many of these people also painted their bodies and faces with African tribal designs. People’s joyful expressions weren’t only for the nearly all black cast but for the collective exhale.
Afrofuturism merge both ancestral history and future possibility with the spiritual in ways that are shown in Black Panther. T’Challa becomes King and spiritual leader of the most technologically advanced country in the world. The country is made possibly by a mountain of Vibranium flying through space colliding with Africa thousands of years ago; this caused alternations to Wakanda’s environment and created a fusion of plant life that was both Earth and alien.
When the film opened people all around the world embraced the culture, for example on red carpets and in long lines at threats, people donned fur coats, dashikis, crowns, lion sashes, and outfits inspired by precolonial African culture.
Molly Goldthorpe Media 