How Afrofuturism Changes the Perception of Africa for Nonafricans

2021
June 8

Ever since I was a child, I loved fantasy and science fiction and everything related to them. Not so long ago, I discovered a new word that changed my perception of the continent of Africa and created another world.

Afrofuturism. A futuristic or science fiction-themed movement that incorporates black history and cultural elements. I will be honest and suggest that sci-fi forced the reason toward the urge for my familiarity. However, I have not had known the realm I was to encounter and stumble across, with its glory and variety.

I have already talked a lot about how the lack of exposure can disguise and obscure the content of interest. Nevertheless, I had no idea I was missing out on so many things as a non-African and how much I did not know about the things I thought I knew of. Afrofuturism not only relates and unites the geeks, nerds, and thus who enjoy futuristic realities throughout the globe but also defines a new word in fashion and art.

I tend to think it will not be arrogant if I say that Afrofuturistic art is the next step for the generation. Through colors as colorful and mesmerizing as the continent itself, the artists manage to tell the stories of their origins with the touch of divine, unrealistic realism, in the virtue of the flare of social, cultural, and political backgrounds and how they enterprise warriors and their heroic-like actions into the fantasy landscape.

Throughout seeking the Afrofuturistic realm, I came across internationally recognized British artist and illustrator – Victoria Topping and HOLY GODS and everything above; I immediately sunk into the colors and vibrance of the pieces, as if the paintings were talking and the pallet combination compelling me. Victoria has defined precise visual language in her work, joining transparent, vivid colors, bold structures, and inversing themes and motifs. In 2019, Topping released her first book Mythologica, awarded the number one non-fiction book for children on Amazon.

Afrofuturism is exotic unknown, referring to mythologies, mysticism, and magical realism with Afrocentricity, modern technology, futuristic ideals, and science fiction that found its way of becoming the pop-cultural mainstream via movement and art and style.