#Afro-Futurism

[queerasfact]

We have to be really clear on the fact that the rigidity that we face in present times, from relationship to gender, is a modern construct that comes very much from the colonial forces primarily through religion. That rigidity reflects more so that colonial imprint than it does any historical accuracy, because historically many indigenous cultures left room for much more than the binary.

-Saul Williams, director of Rwandan sci-fi musical Neptune Frost

We had such a wonderful and illuminating time this week watching and talking about the Afro-futurist movie Neptune Frost, which explores the journey of genderqueer Neptune and coltan miner Matalusa, and their blossoming relationships amongst a Rwandan hacker commune.

If you're keen to watch more sci-fi, or more African cinema, I'd definitely recommend it. We were able to get it free on Kanopy through our local library!

Check out our podcast on the film if you'd like to hear some more in-depth background on its creation.

[fyblackwomenart]

"Mirror" by EON SEVEN on INPRNT

[variousqueerthings]

afro-futurist musical shot in burundi and rwanda, released in 2022

great interview with one of the creators

[igotswag77]

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A post shared by Diego Silva | Artificial Intelligence Instructor (@diegosilvadigital)

He looks like a young Finn, but that's not him. Either way, Diego Silva outdid himself with this artpiece.

[samw3000]

Skin

Trying something new. © 2024 Samantha Williams. All Rights Reserved.

[mystarwarsthoughts]

Entertainment Update for August 2024

The Immortalists, Chloe Benjamin. How would you live your life if you knew the day you were going to die? The four Gold siblings have to deal with this scenario, as they visit a fortune-teller when they are quite young (7-13) on a whim. Though they claim not to take it too seriously, the knowledge follows them throughout their lives and affects them in ways they cannot fathom as kids. The book…

[thunkdeep]

Belief Without Proof: Mind's Dangerous Playground

Exploring 'Belief Without Proof', this piece uncovers the fine line between harmless faith and destructive ignorance. It challenges readers to question their beliefs, highlighting how unchecked convictions can seed prejudice and hate.

The Maze of Mindless Belief Hey, let’s huddle up real close, ’cause we’re about to deep dive into the murky waters of believing things blindly. Ever catch yourself believing something hard as hell, without a shred of proof? Yeah, we’re about to break down this complex tangle of belief and prejudice. It’s time to ease into this real smooth. The Blueprint of Unquestioned Belief Picture this:…

[ariyan24]

Hybrid Future Afrobeat Download

Hybrid Future Afrobeat is a groundbreaking musical genre that seamlessly blends the rich rhythms and cultural influences of traditional Afrobeat with innovative futuristic elements. This electrifying fusion gives birth to a sonic experience that is both familiar and refreshingly avant-garde, captivating listeners with its mesmerizing beats and vibrant melodies.

In Hybrid Future Afrobeat, traditional African percussion and instruments harmoniously coexist with cutting-edge electronic production techniques and futuristic synthesizers. The result is a genre that bridges generations and transcends geographical boundaries, uniting the past and the future in a mesmerizing musical journey.

Listeners can expect infectious grooves, pulsating basslines, and intricate polyrhythms that compel them to dance while simultaneously challenging their expectations of what Afrobeat can be. This genre not only pays homage to the Afrobeat pioneers but also pushes the boundaries of innovation, heralding a new era in African-influenced music.

Hybrid Future Afrobeat is a testament to the power of musical evolution, a genre that represents the globalized and forward-thinking nature of contemporary music, inviting us to embrace the future while celebrating our rich cultural heritage. Download it now and embark on a musical adventure that promises to redefine your auditory experience.

[dustedmagazine]

Idris Ackamoor & the Pyramids — Afro Futuristic Dreams (Strut)

Afro Futuristic Dreams by Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids

Afro Futurism runs like a mercury current through jazz, funk and soul, taking on shifting silvery contours as it reimagines race, enslavement, religion, magic and science. From Hendrix’s wigged out “Third Stone from the Sun,” to Parliament’s Mothership to the skronk and revelation of Sun Ra, it infuses black music with mystery and proposes alternate ways of envisioning the most painful arcs of world history. Idris Ackamoor taps into this rich tradition in this latest album with the Pyramids, weaving groove, celebration and ritual together in a colorful synthesis.

Sonically, Afro Futuristic Dreams has much in common with recent Sun Ra Arkestra discs, especially Swirling from 2020, with its lush, big band aesthetics and psychedelic soul spoken and sung lyrics. It merges earthy beats with gleaming technological visions, the opening, title cut blasting off like a rocket from the clanging, swaying West African guitar riffs and textured layers of hand drums. But if that opening sounds, just a touch, like Mdou Moctar holding court, the long, trippy “Thank You God,” is all liquid whorls of jazz sax sound, creaky bass slides and dream-sequence harp arpeggios. A celestial aura hangs over it, and yet it swings, especially when the singing comes in with rippling choruses of “Thank you god.”

The disc leans back into Afro-beat with the funk-swaggering “Police Dem,” with its walloping horn line and rough-edged call and response. If “Thank You God” idealizes, “Police Dem,” cuts to the real, with fired up verses about young men shot in the back, yet it does so with heat and syncopation and hip-swiveling beats. So, too, does “Truth to Power,” splice a message of resistance to undulating, North African rhythms. Ackamoor’s sax solo is especially enflamed in this track.

There’s a good deal of spoken word on this album, the sort of poetry that’s meant to inspire but seems a little overblown. It’s part of the genre, obviously, and it gets swallowed, soon enough, by groove. But you have to stick with it through the flute-scented rites of “First Peoples,” the downtempo intro to “Re-Memory” to get to the music. I could do without it, personally. The music, though, is pretty great, in the way it grabs onto all kinds of black influences—jazz, soul, R&B, rock, afro-beat, ethiojazz— and mixes them up in a frenetic blender. It imagines alternate future full of bright colors and sounds, aiming towards justice but with space for joy.

Jennifer Kelly

[warpzone97]

The Experience Machine

The world had changed in ways that nobody could have predicted. The city of Nairobi, once known for its vibrant culture and rich wildlife, had become a dystopian metropolis plagued by poverty, corruption, crime, and pollution. But amidst the chaos, a new invention had emerged: The Experience Machine. The Machine was the brainchild of Dr. Ouma, a brilliant scientist who had devoted his life to…

[fyblackwomenart]

"Primordial Water" by EON SEVEN

[animasmagic]

[igotswag77]

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A post shared by Diego Silva | Artificial Intelligence Instructor (@diegosilvadigital)

Afro Jedi-urai

[nonolithic]

Fire Heart

[samw3000]

Whoaman

© 2024 Samantha Williams. All Rights Reserved.