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- Convenors:
-
Babatunde Oseni
(Lead City University, Ibadan)
Ekua Agha (London Film School)
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- Format:
- Panel
- Streams:
- Politics and International Relations (x) Decoloniality & Knowledge Production (y)
- Location:
- Hörsaalgebäude, Hörsaal C
- Sessions:
- Wednesday 31 May, -, -
Time zone: Europe/Berlin
Short Abstract:
Afro-Futurism can both be described and developed in the context of the social construction of knowledge production. This panel intends to interrogate the multidimensionality and intersectionality of the political, phiolsophical and cultural elements of the African conditions.
Long Abstract:
More often than not, epistemologies are shaped by the foundation of their social construction. In the particular case of Africa, politics of knowledge production is entrenched in the continent's past, present and future. This panel intends to critically interrogate the political, philosophical and cultural elements of what constitutes the 'future'. Specifically, a substantial amount of attention must be given to the multidimensionality and intersectionality of the political, phiolsophical and cultural features of the African conditions. At the political level, idealising a future must be matched with a practical action. In this regards, one must tease out the dimensions of Afro-Optimisim including what have been and may be its potential obstacles and enablers. At the philosophical level, one must examine and engage the practicalities of African ideologies including but not limited to Pan-Africanism, Nationalism, African socialism and Negritude. At the cultural level, one must understand both the internal and external dynamics of African cultures especially in the context of Afro-Futurism. In all, it is envisaged that this panel will come out with actionable critical reflections on Afro-Futurism, plotting as it were, the missing links in multidimensional and intersectional understanding and explanation of Africa's future.
Keywords: Afro-Futurism, Afro-Optimisim, African Ideologies, African Epistemologies, Pan-Africanism
Accepted papers:
Session 1 Wednesday 31 May, 2023, -Lyn Johnstone (Royal Holloway University)
Paper short abstract:
Through an exploration of the work of queer performer Yuck Miranda and testimonials/photographs of queer artists and activists in the recently published 'Outros Corpos Nossos', this paper argues that dance opens up a range of possibilities through which queer Mozambicans are building queer worlds.
Paper long abstract:
In 2021, Mozambican queer actor and performer Yuck Miranda undertook an exploration of indigenous sexualities in Mozambique through the words, rhythms and origins of traditional songs. Taking lived contemporary queerness as his starting point, Miranda danced into view a vision of a pre-colonial queer identity that has, he argues, been preserved by the traditional music and dance of Mozambique and its southern African neighbours. In the same year as Miranda’s residency, an exhibition took place in Maputo based on photographs from the newly launched book: 'Outros Corpos Nossos' (Other Bodies of Ours). In the book, queer artists and activists describe the power of dance that allows them to find, free, and accept themselves.
Drawing on the work of Miranda and the testimonials and photographs in 'Outros Corpos Nossos', this paper argues that dance, in the way it is utilised in the above examples (i) as a way in which to uncover and expose indigenous queer histories in Mozambique, and (ii) as a way in which to empower, opens up a range of possibilities through which queer Mozambicans are effectively building queer worlds and imagining queer futures.
Bakail Moncef (University of Algiers 2)
Paper short abstract:
In this paper, we discuss the role of tourism in thedevelopment of Africa. Indeed, tourism can play a significant role in the socio-economic development of the continent. we will also try to provide some answers likely to contribute to enriching the reflection on this sector.
Paper long abstract:
In this paper, we discuss the role of tourism in the socio-economic development of Africa. Indeed, tourism plays a significant role in economic progress because it has a great influence on job creation, wages, , consumption, inflation, investments and the balance of payments.
In these conditions, what is the position of tourism in the face of the great changes that Africa is undergoing? Does the tourism sector have a socio-economic and financial influence on economic development? What are the main factors of growth in the tourism sector on the fringes of globalization and the challenges of the third millennium? These are some of the questions to which we will try to provide some answers likely to contribute to enriching the reflection on the prospects open to a long marginalized economic sector.
Today, it appears that governments in Africa through adopting a strategy based on giving tourism the means to enable it to compete and to be able to glean shares in international markets. In this perspective, the professionalization of the sector, the adoption of modern management methods, the encouragement of open partnerships for domestic and foreign private capital, and the use of new mechanisms in the field of tourism marketing , constitute a priority for Africa to ensure a successful entry into the international tourism market. These are the conditions that tourism will strengthen its contribution to the development of the African continent and will the principles of the NEPAD program for balanced and sustainable economic and social development.
Tola Odubajo (University of Lagos)
Paper short abstract:
The Yoruba are desirous of political autonomy within a Nigeria that is intolerant of autonomy for the component units. This triggered a proposal for separation by an irredentist Yoruba group, and a confrontational reaction from the Nigerian government. How does this impact the future of the Yoruba?
Paper long abstract:
The current composition of Nigeria is undergoing strains and stresses that are triggered by the fissiparous demands of the ethnic groups, particularly the Yoruba and Igbo ethnic groups. The Yoruba ethnic group lays claims to being marginalised in the current geo-political arrangement in Nigeria, and this has prompted an irredentist group to propose a separatist agenda. The separatist agenda is gaining traction because of a collective feeling of optimism about Yoruba advancement in their own independent territory, without the burden of association with Nigeria. This research will attempt to provide answers to the following questions; 1. What are the remote and immediate causes of the Yoruba ethnic group’s secessionist agenda? 2. Are there possibilities of achieving the Yoruba ethnic group’s secessionist agenda? 3. What are the options for the political future of the Yoruba ethnic group? For this purpose, the Theory of Ethnicity, with its three critical approaches; primordialist, instrumentalist, and constructionist, will be applied for exploratory purposes. The utility of combining the three approaches is embedded in their mutually reinforcing features in projecting the fundamental basis of the secessionist agitation of the Yoruba ethnic group. The research would be conducted with qualitative methodology and the adoption of historical and descriptive approaches to articulate the problematic. Instructively, the historical approach would enrich the primordial theoretical approach, while the descriptive approach would benefit both the instrumentalist and constructionist theoretical approaches. The findings will expose how the nature of the Nigerian state will interject the political future of the Yoruba ethnic group.
Holly Burns (Walden University)
Paper short abstract:
Rwanda’s history following the 1994 genocide has provided the ability to examine the improvements of life expectancy, health care, and social disparities within this country. Understanding the ecological living conditions that lead to tungiasis was pursued to reduce the parasitic disease.
Paper long abstract:
The analysis gleaned from Rwanda’s history following the 1994 genocide to the post-war aftermath has provided the ability to examine the improvements of life expectancy, health care, and social disparities within this country. The following paper describes Rwanda’s environmental social health determinants, examines health literacy, and evaluates the inequalities within this country. Understanding the multiple influences surrounding the ecological living conditions that lead to tungiasis was pursued to reduce the prevalence of the parasitic disease. Policies should be established to enhance better environmental living conditions so that Rwandan citizens can overcome several health barriers. Low socioeconomic status is associated with impoverished housing conditions and unhygienic living environments. Poor housing conditions and unhygienic living environments expose Rwandan citizens to bacterial, viral, and parasitic risks. Therefore, examinations of peer-reviewed scholarly articles assist with determining the efforts used through governmental policies and programs to reduce health disparities in Rwanda. The development of policies can help to reduce the exposure to tungiasis, a prevalent parasitic disease, affecting many Rwandan individuals. Aligned with overcoming the barriers Rwandans face, tungiasis can be reduced and eliminated through education on tungiasis, knowledge of proper hygiene, environmental remedies, social policy reformation, and cultural modifications. In conclusion, goals should be established to create social change to protect at-risk Rwandan citizens from exposure to Tungiasis, especially school children.
Ekua Agha (London Film School)
Paper short abstract:
Short Abstract Afrofuturist literature and Cinema have a wide range of aesthetics thereby enabling both Art forms to tackle socio-political issues. This paper asserts that the Afrofuturist oeuvres of African filmmakers have allowed them to envision new paradigms for Africa’s future.
Paper long abstract:
During the colonial period, nineteenth century western scientific discourse of race particularly its attribution of racial characteristics to biological differences such as skull and brain size, facial angles, or genes led to the creation of negative stereotypes of savagery, barbarism and excessive sexuality. I will then argue that these negative theories of race severely disrupted Africa’s future by examining ideas from the works of the African philosopher, V.Y Mudimbe contends that western scientific discourses on Africa was directly responsible for the development of ‘ marginal societies, cultures, and human beings’. It within this context that the paper will analyse ideas from the Afrofuturistic literary and cinematic oeuvres of the African filmmaker Ousmane Sembène such as The Black Docker and Black Girl to illustrate how his successful deployment of the aesthetics of African oral traditions ( storytelling, music and characterisation) and his alluding to diasporic connections enabled his viewers, particularly the disenfranchised people of African descent to re/construct counter-histories and re/imagine counterfutures for Africa and the African diaspora. The paper will then focus on the legacy of the revolutionary African filmmaker and writer by contending that his oeuvres have influenced the works of a new generation of African writers and filmmakers who use their works to conjure up new visions for Africa and African diasporic culture and identity.
Cosmas Gabin MBARGA ASSENG
Paper short abstract:
L'objet de la communication proposée vise à mettre en évidence l'importance collusive constitué par l'Afrofantasy et l'Afrofuturisme 2.0 dans la construction d'un projet culturel viable de réinvention d'un imaginaire collectif Africain conquérant, épique et conquérant.
Paper long abstract:
Dans un monde de plus en plus globalisé et noyé dans une numérisation outrancière, l'imaginaire fictionnel, issue de la culture populaire, joue un rôle des plus proponderants dans la construction des perceptions et des identités à la fois communautaires et singulières.
L'objectif affiché dans le cadre de notre communication vise à poser les bases ou à essayer de mettre en cohérence des balises pour la construction d'un projet culturel contre-hegemonique dans lequel l'Afrofantasy et l'Afrofuturisme 2.0, en étroite collusion, participent à faire découvrir/redécouvrir la culture passée de l'Afrique sous différents médiums. Bien que cette vaste entreprise constituerait tout autant une arme invisible à l'oeuvre dans le champ de la puissance, elle vise tout autant l'influence, la cohésion sociale, la persuasion et la séduction collective au profit des africains.
Aussi, notre intervention va se décliner au travers d'un certain nombre d'articulations
Premièrement nous allons cerner les contours definitionnels et conceptuels de l'Afrofantasy et de l'Afrofuturisme 2.0. deuxièmement, nous allons souligner quels sont les enjeux en rapport avec la collusion de ces deux concepts. Troisièmement, nous allons convoquer le concept de transmedialite qui est le lien opérationnel entre les deux concepts . C'est pourquoi nous pourrons fournir quelques pistes bien sûr non exhaustives en guise de conclusion