Short Abstract

What futures are imagined for Africa through contemporary audiovisual narratives? In what ways can these formats contribute to birthing a self-governing and decolonized society? Scholars and practitioners working with various new media technologies are invited to share their visions of Africa.

Long Abstract

Decades after independence, some percentage of Africa’s undocumented past is lost or forgotten. Certain traditions have ceased to exist, many local languages, oral histories, folktales, mythologies and heritages are fast fading. However bleak and uncultured this past, it is important to understanding the present and defining the future. With a present largely framed by media, what constitutes African futures? How should they be envisioned, defined or negotiated? What possibilities should constitute the unknown and influenceable future? This panel — inspired by the creative works of individuals like science fiction author Octavia Butler, africanfuturism author Nnedi Okorafor, filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu (Pumzi, 2009), digital storytelling groups like Electric South and Africa No Filter, as well as researchers Gueye (2015), Okoro (2021), Anderson & Fluker (2019) — intends to interrogate how practitioners use, and scholars interpret contemporary audiovisual narratives to break down limitations and foster new African futures. This panel seeks to highlight key contributions from creative artists, project co-ordinators and scholars who research or work with new media technologies to explore creative imaginaries or share futurist narratives which envision and define autonomous African futures. This panel calls for contributions from Africans and non-Africans who work with formats such as augmented and virtual reality, animation, narrative computer games, music and sound design, science fiction, interactive stories, film, among others, to fantasize, create and propose African futures which are self-governing, decolonized and transcend present limitations — African futures that cannot be put into words solely, but embrace and celebrate digital image and sound.