![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() While many have referred to this novel as an Afrofuturist work, Okorafor refers to her own work as being Africanfuturist and Africanjujuist given that it centers “African culture, history, mythology and point-of-view”, terms which she has invented herself ( 1). Okorafor blends science fiction and fantasy to create a world which integrates futuristic technologies alongside elements of Nigerian folklore. ![]() Who Fears Death, an adult science-fantasy novel by Nigerian-American author Nnedi Okorafor, is an excellent example of this recent shift towards SF/F fiction which draws inspiration from non-western locations and mythologies. The characters who don’t fit within these labels are relegated to secondary roles which are often sidelined or one-dimensional.Įven in cases where the entire plot takes place in a distant future or on a different planet, most societies in the SF/F fiction that I’ve read are heavily influenced by Western societies and the majority of the characters are generally white. While several series with female protagonists have been popular in the last decade, such as dystopian YA hits like The Hunger Games and the Divergent series, these books generally feature white, heterosexual, able-bodied protagonists. Since then, there has been an increased interest among readers to see more diversity within speculative fiction. When I bought my copy of Who Fears Death, around five years ago, it was my first time reading a science fiction or fantasy novel with a Black girl as the main character. ![]()
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