Rethinking Afrofuturism in African Postmodernist Art: EngagingPostcolonial Perspectives for New Empowering Pathways

Abstract

This paper is premised on the hypothesis that African Futurism, and the newer concept of Afro-Nowism, may be more progressive theoretical and creative frameworks capable of capturing the dynamic and diversified African identities in indigenous settings than Afrofutuism. Weaving these concepts into a more sustaining vision of the future anchored more firmly in an African sense was the starting point of its hypothesis. The main aims of the paper were to explore the options of substituting Afrofuturism with African Futurism and Afro-Nowism in postmodern African works of fine arts, music, drama, poetry, film, crafts and autobiography. The research question that drove this investigation was: In what way can African Futurism and Afro-Nowism reformulate Afrofuturism in African postmodern art, by adding nuances to the understanding of the African post-colonial socio-economic, cultural, and political realities? The theoretical framework was postcolonial theory, which equips us with critical resources highlighting dimensions of colonial legacies on identities of Africa. We used this framework to analyze African Futurism and Afro-Nowism as the embodiment of African experiences and future visions due to Afrofuturism’s potential shortcomings. The study paved the way for a fresh front in assessment of Afrocentric artistic forms and contributed to the ongoing discussions on African art and its associated colonial channels of development.