A Comparitive Analysis of Afrofuturism, Magical Realism And
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A COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS OF AFROFUTURISM, MAGICAL REALISM AND AFRICAN MYTHOLOGY IN NAMWALI SERPELL’S THE OLD DRIFT AND MARLON JAMES’S BLACK LEOPARD RED WOLF: AN AFROCENTRIC PERSPECTIVE RESEARCH PROPOSAL SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FUFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN ENGLISH STUDIES OF UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA BY MASIYALETI MBEWE 201056925 APRIL 2021 Supervisor: Dr C. Sabao ABSTRACT Afrofuturism, Magical Realism and African Mythology are genres in literary fiction that can be used by authors and writers to explore difficult themes, complex characters, speculative settings and experimental plot points. While studies of these genres in literature exist, there has not been sufficient research in these concepts that centre the African perspective or explore the intersections of these genres. The main objective of this study was to investigate how Afrofuturism, Magical Realism and African Mythology are applied in the novels The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell and Black Leopard Red Wolf by Marlon James, to provide an analysis, explore new methods of theorising African literature and challenge current literary epistemologies. This study used the Afrocentric theoretical framework developed by Asante (1980) to meet said objectives and contextualise the analysis of the two novels. One of the main findings of this research outlined how instrumental Afrofuturism, Magical Realism and African Mythology are as literary genres in African literature as they allow authors to centre African perspectives. These perspectives thereby help cultivate a distinct lens that prioritises the African reader. Furthermore, the genres under investigation proved to be a resourceful way for African narratives immerging from the continent to explore a magnitude of complex themes. Lastly, the study recommends that more research on African literature from an Afrocentric perspective be conducted on other literary work produced in the genres of Afrofuturism, Magical Realism and African Mythology as there are more crucial insights yet to be uncovered. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Kawela M’ule Bakang Akoonyatse Rafeeat Aliyu Zoe Samudzi Tikusunge Mbewe Elago Akwaaeke Laone Mathware Lethabo Mailula Mwaka S. Sinyinda-Mbewe Lenina Parks Enid Ellis Alexander G. Weheliye Allison Lou Rutendo Munangati Nashilongweshipwe Mushaandja Dr. C. Sabao Dr. N. Mlambo Justin Ellis iii DEDICATION This study is dedicated to the Black writers that, in the words of Toni Morrison, stand at the border, stand at the edge and claim it as central. Claim it as central, and let the rest of the world move over to where they are. iv DECLARATION I, Masiyaleti Mbewe, hereby declare that this study is a true reflection of my own research, and that this work, or part thereof has not been submitted for a degree in any institution of higher education. No part of this thesis may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means (e.g., electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without permission of the author, or the University of Namibia. I, Masiyaleti Mbewe, grant the University of Namibia the right to reproduce this thesis in whole or in part, in any manner or format which the University of Namibia may deem fit, for any person or institution requiring it for study and research: providing that the University of Namibia shall waive this right if the whole thesis has been or is being published in a manner satisfactory to the University. __________________________ ______________ Masiyaleti Mbewe Date v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................. iii DEDICATION ......................................................................................................................... iv DECLARATION ...................................................................................................................... v CHAPTER ONE ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.1Background and introduction of the study ....................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the problem .................................................................................................. 2 1.3 Objectives of the study ....................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Significance of the study .................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Limitations .......................................................................................................................... 3 1.6 Delimitations ....................................................................................................................... 3 1.7 Outline of the chapters ...................................................................................................... 4 1.8 Chapter summary .............................................................................................................. 4 CHAPTER TWO ..................................................................................................................... 5 LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK .................................. 5 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 5 2.2 Defining Afrofuturism, Magical Realism and African Mythology ............................... 6 2.3 Previous studies on Afrofuturism, Magical Realism and African Mythology ........... 13 2.4 Theoretical framework .................................................................................................... 20 CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................... 24 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................... 24 3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 24 3.2 Research design ................................................................................................................ 24 3.3 Population ......................................................................................................................... 25 3.4 Sample ............................................................................................................................... 26 3.5 Research procedure ......................................................................................................... 27 3.6 Data analysis ..................................................................................................................... 27 3.7 Research ethics ................................................................................................................. 28 Chapter summary .................................................................................................................. 28 CHAPTER FOUR .................................................................................................................. 30 DISCUSSION ON AFROFUTURISM, MAGICAL REALISM AND AFRICAN MYTHOLOGY IN THE OLD DRIFT AND BLACK LEOPARD RED WOLF ............ 30 4.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 30 vi 4.2 Summary of The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell ........................................................... 30 4.3 Afrofuturism in The Old Drift ........................................................................................ 31 4.3.1 The Mosquitoes ............................................................................................................. 31 4.3.2 The future of Blackness, protest and surveillance ..................................................... 36 4.3.3 Edward Nkoloso and the Zambian Space Program .................................................. 40 4.3.4 Afrofuturism as progressive feminist theory .............................................................. 41 4.3.5 Medicine, the HIV epidemic and the use of Black people’s bodies in science ......... 44 4.3.6 Afrofuturism and global warming .............................................................................. 46 4.4 Magical Realism in The Old Drift .................................................................................. 49 4.4.1 The ghost of colonialism ............................................................................................... 49 4.4.2 Sibilla .............................................................................................................................. 50 4.4.3 Matha Mwamba ............................................................................................................ 53 4.4.4 The Mosquitoes ............................................................................................................. 54 4.5 African Mythology in The Old Drift .............................................................................. 55 4.5.1 Nyami Nyami ................................................................................................................. 55 4.5.2 Witchcraft .....................................................................................................................