The latest issue of academic journal, “African Identities,” focuses on “The Black Imagination and Science Fiction.” The bulk of the essays are on African-American topics, but two essays focus on the continent itself: The first, by Taiwo Adetunji Osinubi, who teaches at the University of Montreal, is a close reading of Jean-Pierre Bekolo’s Les Saignantes (set in 2025 Cameroon; that’s the trailer above) and Sylvestre Amoussou’s Africa Paradis (the plot revolve around impoverished Europeans migrating to wealthy Africa).
In the second article, the Chicago-based Nigerian novelist, Nnedi Okorafor, reflects on her own writing (she writes youth novels), which she calls “organic fantasy,” and her influences (Ngugi and Ben Okri). [Also check out Okorafor's blog]
Filed under: Africa is a Country , Ben Okri, film, Jean-Pierre Bekolo, Ngugi, Nnedi Okorafor, science fiction
Studio 360 (WNYC) did a segment (Brother from Another Planet) where Tricia Rose talked about afrofuturism in black music (http://www.studio360.org/episodes/2008/12/12) from Parliament to Lupe Fiasco. Interesting topic that allows a vision of a perfect future free from the current messed reality.