Keywords
Afrofuturism, Afrocentricity, Sankofa
Abstract
This research investigates the potentialities for ancient African wisdom to guide humanity into a more harmonious, advanced Afrofuturistic positive coexistence. The research presented herein, investigates the long unbroken emphasis on the art and cultural strategy of looking back in order to optimally move forward as a community, a nation, and an international collective. A guiding question in this historical investigation is, how does the African past inform, empower, and elevate us into the future. The results of this Afrocentric ethnographic interrogation unearth little known connections to the subject Afrocentric Futurism, from previous Academics who expressed similar notions later defined under the intellectual umbrellas of Afrocentricity and Afrofuturism. The results of this work speak to the importance of historical context in contributing greater strength and clarity to the speculative lens of Afrofuturistic thought and creativity. In conclusion, this work urges the reader to locate the self and the future within an unbroken circle/cycle of Afrocentric knowledge and tradition capable of inspiring a future rich in historical significance and future potential. AfroFuturism has continued to expand and be interpreted and expressed through a myriad of writers, artists, scientists, and other visionary creatives. Perhaps the most significant reexamination of Dery’s use of the term was conducted in 2016, with the publication of AfroFuturism 2.0: The Rise of Astro Blackness, edited by Reynaldo Anderson and Charles E. Jones. Fusing these futuristic contributions with the work of Afrocentric pioneers such as Molefi Kete Asante and Nah Dove inspired the creation of Afrocentric Futurism. As a self-defining liberation movement, Afrocentric Futurism manifests an independently driven future, through the utilization of lessons and connections to the traditions and deep structures of the ancient African past.
Recommended Citation
Smith, Aaron X.
(2023)
"An Afrocentric Source Code for Afrofuturism: Welcome to NeoSankofa,"
Third Stone: Vol. 3, Article 6.
Available at:
https://repository.rit.edu/thirdstone/vol3/iss1/6