Nnedi Okorafor: Sci-fi stories that imagine a future Africa | TED

[@sunnydelight2553]

The comments here are awful. This video was so entertaining, positive, powerful. Shame on those who would like to suppress all things different from what they know. I bet if any of the haters here watched this video until the end they would enjoy it - it's full of awesomeness and void of any "complaining". In any case, the haters' existence proves how needed this platform is for people of all backgrounds to speak up.

[@Mist0112]

She’s not a nice lady she said mean things to me because I pointed out a flaw in her comic book

[@daveroberts5020]

Comment from another KZbin Ted Talk video about Africa: "One thing I notice about youtube. Whenever someone african or of african descent has something positive to say about their heritage or history, out of nowhere you get all these hate filled bigots posting all kinds of insults and degrading comments. I mean, if you hate us that much why even watch a video that does not concern you or your kind of people? It would seem logical to steer clear of something you don't like. It just seems weird to me to put all this energy into hate." KZbin - the troll's playground

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

@@daveroberts5020 It's very true.

[@kallistiX1]

Love her voice.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Agree!

[@ThomasPrikowitsch]

bought the Binti audiobook. i get the octopus analogy know. 30 Minutes well spent so far. well written sifi, with a pinch of cultural difference. i now understand what is missing in white western sifi for her.

[@supanovaninja]

'Who fears death', 'Lagoon', 'Kabu-kabu'. You need to read these books to understand the kind of revolution African-futurism will bring. She is simply amazing.

[@blackloveissimplybeautiful3000]

My science fiction had different ancestors. African ones 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾. I love how she evolved past the limited definition of her work as Afrofuturism to a more encompassing and culturally grounded Africanfuturism coined by her.

[@jureed2588]

I just discovered this author and I am so excited to read all her books 📚 i love sci fi and all things African so this is the perfect mash-up to get me back into book reading instead of always staring at a screen all day.

[@jonatanayala807]

Okorafor is one of the greatest writers walking this planet right now. Binti and Binti: Home. Read that.

[@warrenwb8349]

I love the Binti series. I'm on the final book. I plan on reading all of her books. I'm so happy she is getting a show on HBO based on her book Who Fears Death. I hope she turns Binti into a series.

[@timtate1381]

It’s coming on Hulu she is co-writing it!

[@ДарьяСверкунова-ч8и]

I am falling in love with the beautiful idea of Afrofuturism. Not only does it evoke incredibly spectacular images, but also contributes to our understanding of the world, of its historical foundations and future perspectives.

[@eddierocksteady5740]

Nnedi's powerful presentation. Thank you!

[@SpiriTm]

Wondering why half the people in the comments even watched the video, just to hate on it. That's the problem, if you dont like it dont watch it, others do and dont need to hear all the negative xenophobic comments.

[@GeoffreyCavalier]

Science fiction gets boring when you see the same ideas over and over again. Many of the best stories introduce new ideas, but that is only part of it. I would love to see any culture start producing "what if" stories and hope this video inspires many people who would otherwise not have pursued the path of science fiction writing. It would create all new content that would awe the world.

[@WilliamGarrow]

Geoffrey Cavalier Well said.

[@slashbash1347]

Exactly. I plan to read Lagoon, and even if I hate it, I'll be reading something I haven't read before. Know what I'd love to see? A sci-fi story taking place in pre-Colonial America.

[@Kalydosos]

I already write Africa based sci fi stories as a hobby, they are very violent.

[@Kwisten050]

I had Nnedi on my reading list for years, and finally delved in about a month ago. Since then I've devoured the Binti Trilogy, Nsibidi Series, Who Fears Death, and am now on The Book of Phoenix. It's so exciting to discover such a talented current author. Some of my previous scifi faves are Tolkien, Robert Jordan, Neil Stephenson, Ursula K Le Guin, etc. I'm thrilled for Nnedi to be innovating in this realm, and can't wait to read more.

[@jayraine9786]

Such a cool writer, I would totally read her books

[@globehop7874]

I just finished the first book. SOOOOOOOO amazing! I couldn't put it down. Just incredible.

[@rocketpoweredunicorn]

i am reading Who Fears Death now by Nnedi Okorafor, it’s captivating

[@ClintEPereira]

Has there been a TED Talk on KZbin comments?

[@MaxRohleder]

She's amazing.

[@francescakyanda9182]

We have similar heritage except that my family's from Kenya, and it's SO COOL to see another writer like me!

[@Knityourheartout]

She opened strange doors that we'd never close again.

[@mii1638]

Lagoon made me fall in love with reading and i am forever in Nnedi's Okorafor debt for it 💕

[@entertainmentprime101]

I remember watching this when it just released and i knew you would be doing something great in the future. I just heard you are doing an HBO show based on who fears death

[@tmz85]

An intriguing topic likely to become more mainstream. It's been easy to dismiss Africa and its future because it has been easy to ignore its history. Today, nearly a quarter of the world's children is African which means the future is increasingly African. Representation in sci-fi is important, because you need to see yourself in the future to be part of the future. See UN global population forecast for 2050 and 2100, and it'll make more sense.

[@leafdragon94]

Any of these books in a tv show or anime format? The Binti series sounds like it would be a great anime series.

[@WilliamGarrow]

Leaf Dragon I think they are making a TV show. The author of Game of Thrones is involved apparently.

[@FisayoFosudo]

This was Interesting!

[@Kalydosos]

I write sci fi stories about Africa as a hobby really enjoyable.

[@Postcinct]

Deltron 3030, still the best afrofuturist work to date.

[@rachaelwamucii]

This is mind blowing

[@stefanotevini3921]

10 minutes full of beauty. Awesome.

[@TheSvmurai]

Ted really needs to crack down on the trolls on their KZbin channel.

[@hedits8700]

Brah why you racist she better then you

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

@@hedits8700 are you stupid? he's talking about the racists

[@athenawheatley1032]

Just finished reading Binti. I love how the theme of tradition and culture plays out throughout the story. The worst way I can describe it is: "god's most racist jellyfish speedruns enemies-to-lovers with african woman." 10/10, I should read the second novella.

[@where_isfluffy9490]

This was SO cool and interisting! 👍🙂

[@FIT2BREAD]

Loved Remote Control and the description, subtle, of Ghanna

[@ojagetabelifestyle4010]

Waoh first time to her something like this from home. I like sci fi so much

[@xshadowscreamx]

Super power by 2020, W a k a n D a

[@kanethemessiah5603]

ooooga booooga

[@4chukwuebuka]

Radio Raven if you hate people so much then why are you here?

[@xshadowscreamx]

John O wat?

[@nathanjude707]

Maybe Africa will invent be wheel in 2020

[@4chukwuebuka]

Backwood707 lol Africans had iron work for 300 years before Europeans but it didn’t spread.

[@igorknown8608]

Nnedi!!!! 😍 👂🏼

[@cardineworship6510]

Love this

[@karlmhlanga]

I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!!

[@nancyaneke1346]

Nnedi, I love you!!!

[@sallydoyle]

Can't wait to read her books!!

[@FIT2BREAD]

Def worth it

[@buckybone89]

The average KZbin commenter is a simple man...he sees a black woman, he downvotes.

[@216kingDavid1]

I met her, she’s dope af

[@Ezali]

The KKK squad viewed this beautiful presentation and down-voted with their small ... 😂😂😂

[@Cesc8170]

I will soon start reading "Binti: Home".

[@joyisaiah98]

I just want to say to all the people, especially the young people who are reading these comments by average - minded people who have relied on their skin color as a source of their superiority, I just want to say that no matter what anyone says about you, your skin color, your country/continent of origin, you can succeed if you believe that you can. All it takes is having a different mindset. Don’t believe the lies of the enemy that tell you that you have a low IQ because of who you are, what your color is, or where you are from. It is all lies! You have the power within you to succeed, if and only if you believe. A lot of people in the African Diaspora are not prospering (at least not prosperity in the Western sense), not because they can’t, but because they don’t believe that they can. Just believe that you can, that’s all I am saying.

[@mausrawr9311]

EJ Thank you for spreading this type of positivity. It’s not always easy to believe in yourself and your own worth, especially when so many others tried to dissuade you, so hearing encouragement from someone else can make a big difference.

[@jungleflame6776]

EJ well said, I am a white young person and I don't see skin colour or varying ethnicity in anyway a detrimental factor and I actually respect them more than I would respect another.

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

thank you

[@nesano4735]

When did TED subscribers becomes so cancerous?

[@mudchair16]

When the content became noxious.

[@daveroberts5020]

Comment from another KZbin Ted Talk video about Africa: "One thing I notice about youtube. Whenever someone african or of african descent has something positive to say about their heritage or history, out of nowhere you get all these hate filled bigots posting all kinds of insults and degrading comments. I mean, if you hate us that much why even watch a video that does not concern you or your kind of people? It would seem logical to steer clear of something you don't like. It just seems weird to me to put all this energy into hate."

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

@@mudchair16 you're noxious. the content is great. if you struggle with intelligence, i feel sorry you.

[@aliabrahim315]

Wow! very where very time is better thinking and community, in one society, The continent is with our hearts behind Ritual tribes all in Africa are in great loved to our ancestors and geography is the living together most important in our hearts.

[@twinsmummys]

I am new here ,your English na hot hot hot hot weather 🥰 I must stay here Biko I want to learn biko

[@tanhenry7713]

Waiting for the 3rd novella to be released so I can binge read them all.

[@Ayplus]

Comments are as expected. Nice n hateful

[@BartJBols]

Africa is not a monolith

[@nathanjude707]

In 2000 years Africa will invent the wheel

[@a.h7460]

..Imagine if a giant solar flare wiped out the power grid, all cellular devices along with the internet. What would happen to the economy? Lol you'd be talking about wheels while you freeze to death, hungry and incompetent. That's if you didn't end up eaten by the neighbors. KZbin comments: an honest display of humanity and the extent of compassion.

[@premier69]

thats a sci-fi scenario

[@a.h7460]

I'm sure your entire lifestyle was once considered "science fiction" if the idea was even conceived... Don't be naive

[@WilliamGarrow]

Backwood707 Actually they did thousands of years ago according to these cave paintings. Nice try kid. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2nZmqiBhtN8jbc

[@danielpintjuk]

What is "traditional African"?

[@burnzy3210]

dying of curable diseases at 12 and 30 being considered "old age"

[@Tsukiko.97]

burnzy3210 Like Europe in the medieval ages?

[@JunkieMonkey321]

key word "medieval ages"

[@HaloMadness007]

famine

[@cindymuthike6516]

really? what do you know about Africa?

[@ThirtyfourEC]

When does black panther come out?

[@mausrawr9311]

February 2018, a few days after Valentines Day. It’s going to be awesome!

[@randombrokeperson]

MausRawr -- During America's Black History Month no less!

[@vorlonagent]

Afrofuturism - Science Fiction inflected with African culture and ideas. Cool. The few snippets I hear don't sound as original as Okorafor makes them out to be but I have confidence there's a unique voice there. But a whole 'nother parallel-evolved animal? Not getting that vibe, but so what? From these and other TED talks centering on Africa, I get a sense of a hole where there ought be a sense of self or membership in a nation or region. The old colonial identity is unwanted (to put it mildly). There would be a desire to want to find one's own unique voice and write those uniquely personal definitions oneself. Afrofuturism sounds like it explores this space.

[@adini2523]

Nice talk, interesting...

[@slipperytunafishh]

She is so cool.

[@eerereps]

Oh, she can write allright!

[@silverink1824]

I would read it wonderful story telling :3

[@missinglink2749]

AFTER BLACK PANTHER OBLITERATES HOLLYWOOD STEREOTYPES, SHE NEEDS TO BE CALLED INTO *MARVEL* AND *DC* OFFICES FOR CONSULTATION AND NEGOTIATIONS ON TURNING HER WORKS INTO BIG SCREEN ADAPTATIONS.

[@s.quartey405]

My King, does she not know about Wakan... SILENCE!

[@thomasplatt4939]

Afrofuturism is important because so much of genre fiction is dominated by Western ideals and culture - which is fine, honestly, in and of itself. I love fantasy and sci-fi and some of the best stories ever written in the genres (LotR, Frankenstein etc etc) are written by European and American authors with very Western concerns, and there are a lot of masterpieces there. But none of these works can escape the worldview of their authors or the cultures from which those authors come, and that means that most Western fiction comes from certain base assumptions. Afrofuturism is exciting because those base assumptions are replaced with something entirely new, and the resulting work feels like an entirely fresh take on the genre. Social justice aside, any fan of good sci-fi should be excited about afrofuturism and afrofuturist works - even when they confront issues which might make Westerners feel uncomfortable, or challenge Western views.

[@FIT2BREAD]

Yess

[@Tsukiko.97]

Let the comment flame wars commence!

[@TheDreamerExtreme]

What a surprise, the comments section is the bottom of a septic tank

[@paulines581]

❤

[@kalei91]

So it's not about the story, philosophy, etc. It's just about being a black woman. Got it.

[@davidsweeney111]

Sci-fi stories that imagine a future for Africa

[@WilliamGarrow]

David They are creating thier own future. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYOweGV7oLGeeZI

[@slashbash1347]

See, this is how you make a genre more diverse; add to it, unlike the SJWs who'd prefer to subtract. Okorafor simply wrote the stories she wanted to see more of, so I respect that. Personally, I wanna read Lagoon.

[@aaakliuciami]

There is no SJW the hive mind! Some people call an individual an SJW simply for wanting to have a non white straight male protagonist for the sake of diversity EVEN if they still have straight white male characters in the story.

[@shroukayman5011]

ليه مش مترجم عربي

[@Jasewill67]

This is the most boring Ted talk I’ve ever watched

[@donfilswasso5461]

that is so good

[@Wurldly]

Just watch the movie Black Panther.

[@montumeroe9593]

I prefer African science fiction that shows consequences for imperialism and racism like Haiti destroying France to the last brick for example.

[@memoryhero]

3:03 - Had a white speaker said about a European protagonist, "...carrying the blood of her people in her veins," some attendees of this very conference would have lost their collective minds.

[@AnnieSpecial92861]

memoryhero not true...it has always been said so what's the big deal...?

[@JETJOOBOY]

Michael Moorcock did what was in the title.. "The Black Atilla"

[@voytek5550]

i've read her work before. to be frank, she's a mediocre author who's use of language is sub-par and in my opinion grating. her narratives and now her talk leads me to believe she's more preoccupied with her political message than with delivering a good story. not that you can't have a politically-charged novel but her delivery of it is lacking. it's a shame she's the one giving the talk.

[@hydrogenone4926]

Voytek, What kind of books does she writes?

[@panxeto]

What afrofuturistic authors would you recommend?

[@voytek5550]

+Hydrogen One it's mostly typical scifi scenarios and setups with some kind of African twist to it +Enrique Gato i honestly don't know many. i picked up her book unknowingly of who she was or what the book was about.

[@hydrogenone4926]

Voytek, Okay thank you

[@whaioraproductions]

and yet she speaks a language and culture that you obviously dont, ironic that you cant see past your eurocentric coloured glasses

[@SauceyNoodle]

Overwatch?

[@prockstem]

That spider though... the Web. Just saying. :-)

[@LuxiBelle]

Yep, DA KANGZ invented the internet.

[@Lunareon]

I find it sad that she's unable to imagine a distant future where Africa has undergone economical and social changes.

[@punkman115]

I don’t really get the intentions of this video, the idea aesthetic for the novels seem cool don’t get me wrong but why is this a ted talk? Just seems like straight author publicity just because its black oriented, was the ted crew called racists or something?

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

look at the morons in the comments

[@schwarzarbyter]

what exactly is the african sci-fi part in her story? Internet in africa? because all the alien stuff is just regular "white men" sci-fi.

[@WilliamGarrow]

Marat B Read the book and find out.

[@johnnickpappanastos3382]

@@WilliamGarrow I did.. Not missing much. Just a bunch of recycled tropes.

[@WilliamGarrow]

@@johnnickpappanastos3382 Wow ain't you edgy.

[@mario2849]

She had me until all the power dynamic stuff started

[@jaydoublegee2831]

Saw a woman talking at ted and thought: “she will definitely talk about women because that’s what they always do. Women talk about themselves all the time because they have NO other topics”. Watched the first 30 seconds of the video. She’s talking about girls. Stopped watching, moving on to the next KZbin video...

[@lauralagier9404]

wow. thanks for that.

[@Kas-yw5fe]

So it wasn't really about sci-fi Africa? Well, that sucks.

[@LorcaLoca]

@Yo Ikr, men are always coming on TED talk and talking about male identity. Wait, no they dont.

[@dvderif]

Could you be more of a child, dude? Grow up.

[@XAshBlossomX]

So true.

[@whuzzzup]

> Sci-fi stories that imagine a future Africa relocated into Europe.

[@SauceyNoodle]

Octopi*

[@mausrawr9311]

Thanatos3 Octopodes :)

[@monsieur305]

MausRawr u guys are so petty lol

[@Brynwyn123]

It's actually octopuses. Octo- is Greek so octopodes is the most correct linguistically, but that's not how scientific taxonomy works so yeah. Octopuses. Source: I'm studying teuthology

[@fsmoura]

WE'LL BE KANGZ

[@kanethemessiah5603]

DAS RIIIIIIIIIIIITEEEEEEEEEE !

[@fsmoura]

FLYIN PYRAMIDZ N SHEEIT

[@Bastogne1944]

At least watch the video first before making an ill conceived comment.

[@Breadandbuttah]

General S. Patton theu dont care, shes black so its time to bring out there racist memes.

[@kanethemessiah5603]

"racist" You just lost even that little credibility you had.

[@hydrogenone4926]

Afro-futurism? Shouldn't it just be futurism?

[@SERLOPLITAN]

racist!!

[@mausrawr9311]

I believe Afrofuturism is a literary genre that blends together Afrocentrism and science fiction, hence the “Afro-” prefix.

[@jonatanayala807]

#ignorance

[@WilliamGarrow]

Hydrogen One No.

[@fruitsarelife148]

Hydrogen One just because whites dont call it eurofuturism doesnt mean that its not white futurism.

[@ninjagoggles]

[@andreas0101]

"afrofuturism" LMFAO

[@meepchiche001]

White Master Mariner so more of the same

[@a.h7460]

Hard times build strong people, strong people build good times, good times make weak people, weak people make hard times. It's not gonna happen over night but I'm optimistic about a few countries in Africa

[@meepchiche001]

WickedGoober Sure but Africa itself can't consolidate itself in unity unless someone does it - and it aint gonna do it by itself.

[@a.h7460]

That's highly prejudiced. They can do whatever they want but they won't for good reasons. It's like asking Canada and Mexico to join the USA. It's a possibility but like you said, it wont happen soon unless someone else does it. I hear some states might even leave the union (*cough* California). Contrasts in societal norm and political stance cause more problems than it fixes. The boundaries dividing the countries in Africa were made by outsiders with no clue or care for the kingdoms and regions that existed. Many great forces were divided and many clashing clans were brought together. With destruction the colonials also brought new technology and forced western culture on the people with the plan to one day "merge". That never happened though. A tattered and incomplete integration of what could have been is all that was left. Anyway, the countries have moved past that. There are hundreds of different languages spoken in single countries let alone the continent as a whole. If you want to follow the development of Africa start with 1 country. It opens perspective on the continent. Fun fact fact for perspective: child marriage is illegal in Tanzania but still legal in the USA.

[@a.h7460]

Is that the extent of your argument? I hate to generalise but people like you are the only ones "claiming" anything. The type that choose not to influence any great changes, just stroke their ego. You're blind of the collective when it suits you and you bandwagon on the accomplishments of others. Don't worry pal, if the service to build is offered it will be paid for. Countries in Africa have been held back by the corruption of their leaders but this is changing.

[@barnabuswizardspook]

Sheeeeeeiiiitttt we wuz kangz

[@Jordiw00t]

Futuristic Africa... Hmm.. mud huts with solar panels? Yeah, def. Sci-Fi

[@TheBothWorlds]

wow the hate is real with this comment

[@Jordiw00t]

We all know it's true man. African countries have a loooooooong way to go.

[@samwaters9304]

Have you actually been to Africa? Doubt it, you might as well argue everyone in England lives in a castle and wears full plate armour to work. Step outside once in a while. Or, a cheaper way than travelling all the way would be to google what it actually looks like. Google Kenya city, or Johannesburg, where are the mud huts?

[@Jordiw00t]

You're right. The mud huts are replaced with houses out of scrap and sheet metal.

[@jonatanayala807]

#ignorance

[@jwilham]

*rubs eyes* Ted... can we please have talks from women that don't involve them talking about their opinions or gender problems... please? i am so tired of women thinking they are some kind of sub class of people... it is so fucking tiring... a women does not deserve any more praise for doing something then a man does... we all have equal rights... we all have access to the same resources... stop trying to teach people that women are some kind of sub class, that we need to hear talks from a women like this, as validation... to say its an achievement for a women to accomplish the same thing as another male, or person from some other country for that matter, just shows that you, yourself, think differently. you are perpetuating the very thing you are trying to fight LOL. its so fucking tiring, it really is.... weather in fiction or reality.

[@dee7352]

Just looks through the channel a bit more, you're complaining for literally no reason. I just saw one about the benefits of video games, if that interests you. That being said, I want to focus on one particular thing you mentioned: "...that don't involve them talking about their opinions..." That's sort of the point of Ted Talks. To hear other people's opinions. There's facts added, but the speaker's message is always subjective. So I implore you to watch more videos like these, and actually pay attention, because your comment implies that you desperately need to see different perspectives.

[@MajorMaze]

Actually women and people from different backgrounds / developing nations in most cases do NOT have the same access to resources than straight white males in the u.s. So if you achieve the same thing with less resources than another person your performance was more efficient objectively speaking. Depending on how big the difference and result that could be rightfully claimed as an achievement. Whether you want to watch videos about that is then your decision.

[@WeWe-dq5uz]

😠😠😠😠😠😠😠😠😠😠😠😠😠😠😠😠ليش ما خال لغة عربية عربي langluage arepic

[@bujoun76]

I wouldn't mind seeing a movie of her story but it will need a little more "meat" to make it more interesting.

[@Jerome...]

I watched the video, it was boring. I guess TED thinks all ''Afrofuturist writing'' is good writing.

[@doxfie.]

Oh, hey there. I'm an islamistic transgender woman that isn't paid equal. Am I right in this channel?

[@mausrawr9311]

doublejay Yes. Welcome. :)

[@maxgorden499]

We wuz pubz hair n sheet

[@atlassalta5138]

First?

[@neuralvibes]

I had no idea I was subscribed to TED Africa. Nothing against it of course, just not my cup of tea...

[@kiwi4051]

WE WAZ

[@chandlerbing700]

What a beauty....some day she will really make a man happy or has she or is she ?