The family over at Okayfuture point towards this podcast + mix on the origins and current mutations of "Afrofuturism" from veteran producer and heavyweight remixer King Britt. The man himself wrote some enlightening words on the subject for OKF:
I was asked a few months ago to curate a show on Afrofuturism and its influences on me and my compositional work. Afrofuturism is a term originated by Mark Dery who did an essay in the New York Times in 1995 called “Black To The Future.” It became a very famous term among Afro American musicians who embrace Science Fiction, realities of space and time, and who tend to look at other worlds, comic books, and that sort of thing, as a way of escape. You have authors like Octavia Butler who wrote Kindred and other amazing books, Kodwo Eshun who wrote More Brilliant Than the Sun: Adventures in Sonic Fiction, which really go into breaking down what Afrofuturism is. But basically it is the African American sound that embraces Science Fiction pioneered by artists Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Sun-Ra, Parliament Funkadelic, DJ Spooky, just to name a few.The mix is part of the Noise From The 18th Floor series, presented by the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage. Listen to my interview with Tracy Tanenbaum as well as musical selections, listed and streamed below.
Stream A Sonic Journey Into AfroFuturism below, music starts around the 8:40 mark. For more from King Britt and Afrofuturism check out our recent interview with him and Tendai Maraire on their Zimbabwe project.
Part 1:
“Kawaida” -Kawaida
“Gamla Stan” – Don Cherry
plus: an interview with Alondra Nelson
“Ostinato” – Herbie Hancock (as Mwandishi)
“John McLaughlin” – Miles Davis
“Space Is the Place (Live)”- Sun Ra
plus: an interview with Pearl Britt
“Feel”- George Duke
“Rien Neva Plus” – Funk Factory
“Cabral” – Mtume feat. Dee Dee Bridgewater
“Radhe Shyam” – Alice Coltrane
plus: an interview with Sun Ra
Part 2:
“African Roots”- King Tubby
“Eyjafjallajokul” – Mad Professor
“Zodiac Shit” – Flying Lotus
“Ahoulaghuine Akaline (King Britt Remix)” – Bombino
“Teleport” – Headless Headhunters
“Nights Over Nantes” – Jneiro Jarel
“Castles” – HouseShoes feat. Jimetta Rose
“Brgundy” – MndDsgn
“Connect” – Some Other Ship
“All in Forms (Leatherette Remix)” – Bonobo
“Light Odyssey” – Union
“Planetary Analysis” – King Britt feat. Rich Media
“Discipline 3” – Ras G
plus: an interview with Sun Ra
“Heritage Ship” – Madlib
“Emotional Quotient Deringer of Chiek Anta Diop” -King Britt feat. Rilners Jouegck
“New Wave” -Common feat. Stereolab
“The Stars Are Singing Too” – Build an Ark
“Bug in the Bassbin” – Innerzone Orchestra
“Raven” – Actress
“Voodoo Ray” – A Guy Called Gerald
“Dem Young Scones” – Moodymann
“Flower (King Britt’s Underwater Garden Dub Remix)” – Soul Dhamma
“Planet Rock” – Afrika Bambaataa
“Mozaik” – Zomby
“Endgame” – Antipop Consortium
“Loveless” – 4Hero feat. Ursula
Part 3: Tomorrow
“Beyond the Sun (Live)” – Fhloston Paradigm
“Endeavors for Never (The Last Time We Spoke You Said You Were Not Here. I Saw You Though.)” – Shabazz Palaces
