Image: (L-R) Yemi Alade-Lawal, Hannah Pool, Lulu Kitololo, Minna Salami and Tolu Ogunlesi. Photo credit: V&A Friday Late
Words: Minna Salami, founder of MsAfropolitan
Last month the V&A museum in London hosted What is an Afropolitan?, a panel discussion with myself, journalist and writer Tolu Ogunlesi, artist and designer Lulu Kitololo, Afro-Pop Live founder Yemi Alade-Lawal and ARISE’s new Features Editor, Hannah Pool.
We wanted to put our fingers on such topics as: what defines our generation of African diasporans? How do we incorporate the cultural voice of Africa with global and regional trends? And how are we changing socio-cultural perceptions of Africa?
I should first declare that we didn’t nail down a definition, and nor was that our aim. Rather, we participated in an exchange of perceptions, which was eagerly met by audience comments. It became clear that Afropolitanism means different things to different people – for some African is the more important element of the term, for others; cosmopolitanism. However, there was acquiescence that an Afropolitan is someone who vests part of his or her identity in the African continent.
Ultimately, the panel discussion showed a significant keenness to approach the topic and also that any conversation about Afropolitanism is inevitably connected to the African renaissance.
I’ll leave you with the words of Taiye Selasie, who coined the term. As the subculture develops, hers are sentiments that I hope it shall always harbour.
“What distinguishes [Afropolitans] is a willingness to complicate Africa – namely, to engage with, critique, and celebrate the parts of Africa that mean most to them. Perhaps what most typifies the Afropolitan consciousness is the refusal to oversimplify; the effort to understand what is ailing in Africa alongside the desire to honour what is wonderful, unique. Rather than essentialising the geographical entity, we seek to comprehend the cultural complexity; to honour the intellectual and spiritual legacy; and to sustain our parents’ cultures.”