Afrofuturism as a Framework for Analysing Liberian African Futures

Afrofuturism is an interdisciplinary field that explores African cultural expressions in futuristic contexts. In recent years, it has gained traction as a lens to analyse diverse aspects of African societies, including economic development, social change, and cultural identity. The research employs semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of stakeholders including policymakers, scholars, and community leaders. Data collection was guided by thematic content analysis, focusing on the rhetoric surrounding Liberia's future development in media, literature, and public discourse. Findings reveal that Afrofuturism is predominantly associated with positive narratives about technological advancements and economic growth, though there are also instances of cautionary tales regarding environmental degradation. These themes are particularly evident in recent fiction and policy documents. The study concludes by highlighting the significance of adopting an Afrofuturist perspective to better understand and shape Liberia's future trajectory across multiple domains. Recommendations include incorporating Afrofuturism into educational curricula, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations between academia and industry leaders, and engaging with local communities in envisioning their own future narratives. Afrofuturism, Liberian futures, qualitative study, cultural expressions, socio-economic development