Gender Dynamics in Afrofuturism

 Eli Barbo

Dr. Harris

English 2016-44378

12/3/2024

Gender Dynamics in Afrofuturism

A change in traditional gender roles and dynamics is a common theme in works of Afrofuturism. The most well known and obvious example of this change in gender dynamics would be Marvel’s “Black Panther”. This film features a character named Queen Ramonda who acts as a leader to the country of Wakanda and a very important advisor to her son, Prince T’Challa, also known as the Black Panther. Queen Ramonda nor the entirely female army are treated as less than or forced into domestic roles by the men of country. The respect and acknowledgement of the women in these roles, subvert traditional gender roles in many cultures, that would either disregard the impressiveness of the women, or force them into domestic roles rather than roles of power.

In Octavia Butler’s novel “Wild Seed” we are introduced to a woman named Anyanwu, who has the power to change and morph her body into many different creatures, including a human male. Even though she has these amazing powers, she allows herself to put into the traditional role of a woman, being subservient to the number of husbands in her long life-time and being the mother of many children. Eventually we see Anyanwu break away from the traditional roles as a wife, as she rebels against a man named Doro, who has his own set of incredible powers, which have allowed him to live an incredibly long life. She saw Doro as a sort of master and husband, but when she rebelled, she used her powers to run away from his reach, starting her new life as a leader and protector of people. By the end of the novel, we see Anyanwu turn from a traditional wife into her own person, no longer allowing a man to be the one who made her decisions for her.

In “The Deep” by Rivers Solomon, a novella, we follow a character named Yetu, Yetu is a mythical creature inspired by the spiritual beliefs of African cultures, named the wajinru. The wajinru are water breathing, mermaid-like creatures and are the descendants of African slave women thrown overboard from slave ships crossing the Atlantic. Yetu is a woman who has been given the title of “Historian” she must carry the traumatic memories of her entire society. This burden that she carries begins to weigh too heavy on her and she runs away from her people. This burden symbolizes the numerous sacrifices, that women are traditionally expected to make. Yetu’s does eventually return to her people, to unite them with the humans on the surface, putting in the role of the hero and savior, a role that is more often than not, filled by a male. 

In Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti trilogy, a set of novels, we follow the story of a young Himba woman named Binti. Binti is expected by her people to stay close and connected to her family and fill the traditional role of a wife. Binti instead decides to leave to attend an intergalactic university, where she shows an incredible talent as a mathematician, showing the role of women in STEM fields. While she is still undermined by other individuals she meets in space, she uses her skills to resolve a number of conflicts, and position herself as a leader, challenging traditional ideas that women do not belong in leadership positions.

In Julia Harts film “Fast Color” we follow the story of three generations of women with supernatural abilities. The main character is named Ruth, who has a daughter named Lila and a mother named Bo. Ruth struggles with her identity throughout the film as she feels like a failure as a mother to Lila because her powers often put Lila in danger, so she had to abandon her. Motherhood and the traditional expectations of it are the main themes throughout the film, The characters fill that traditional role throughout the film. The non-traditional themes of the film come from women being and being seen as the most powerful and dangerous people, is stark difference from the males, that are traditionally placed in that role.

These five works of Afrofuturism, show the common theme of changing gender roles and dynamic by showing women as the most powerful and influential in their societies. This challenges traditional social expectations of making women and mothers domestic and subservient.














Works cited

Black Panther (2018). “Black Panther (2018).” YouTube, 12 Feb. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoTbGtV9Zpk.

Butler, Octavia E. Wild Seed. 1980. S.L., Grand Central Pub, 2020.

Solomon, Rivers, et al. The Deep. London, England, Hodder, 2019.

Okorafor, Nnedi. Binti. New York Tor, 2015.

“Fast Color.” FULLTV Movies, www.fulltv.tv/movies/movie-distribution-152113.html.


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