Afrofuturism in Mumbo Jumbo
Afrofuturism in "Mumbo Jumbo"
Ansh Singh
Afrofuturism is a genre representing Black history, which combines science fiction into literature. Mumbo Jumbo explores Afrofuturism's core themes through its storytelling by reconnecting with African heritage and showcasing mythological African cultural elements such as voodoo. The novel delves into a story regarding mythology and voodoo, which are fundamental components of Afrofuturism. Mumbo Jumbo introduces Afrofuturism through the mystical powers of Jes Grew and its Ancient African roots.
Ishmael Reed incorporates voodoo into the narrative as a way of connecting to Afrofuturism. The voodoo rituals presented in the story connect to old African beliefs, offering readers a peek into the world of African culture and traditions. The scene where Earline gets exorcised from the loa is an important ritual in Mumbo Jumbo that connects to African heritage as seen here, "Earline. I think she picked up one… Black Herman walks to the bed, picks up her scarf, and casts it to the floor where it becomes a snake" (pg. 125, 128). These ideas of shapeshifting from a towel to a snake, being possessed, and exorcising through the powers of voodoo represent a powerful reconnection with African roots, which is a common theme in Afrofuturism.
The race between Papa LaBas and Hinkle additionally symbolizes Afrofuturism's opposition to oppressive systems. The race represents a cultural conflict between Papa LaBas and Hinkle. Papa LaBas embodies Afrofuturism while Hinkle represents the oppressive, traditional system. Afrofuturism often challenges established hierarchies and systems, and this race encapsulates the broader conflict.
I agree that a lot of Mumbo Jumbo incorporates contents resembling Afrofuturism. In many cases, voodoo and the idea of Jes Grew originates from African culture and traditions. Also through the conflict of LaBas and Hinkle, it showcases Afrofuturism uniqueness in a homogenized system.
ReplyDeleteI like your contrast between Papa LaBas and Hinkle. LaBas certainly embodies Afrofuturism in his work to advance African culture, while Hinkle represents the Western system that continues to oppress others. I also agree that voodoo is extremely important to Reed's framing of this book and Afrofuturism. Great post!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog Ansh!! I agree with you about Mumbo Jumbo incorporating a lot of references to Afrofuturism. I think that the book definitely does a good job of using Papa LaBas and Hinkle Von Vampton to show how western culture tries to supress other cultures. Keep up the amazing work!!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat connection between Afrofuturism and Mumbo Jumbo. It definitely checks all the boxes. Interestingly, the term afrofuturism was only coined in 1993, but obviously the ideas of the movement have been present decades before.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you connected Afrofuturism to Papa La Bas as a central theme in the book was returning back to the African roots in order to forward the culture in a positive direction. I also think that it was very intentional for Reed to take the story back in time and explain the origins of Jes Grew and other themes of the book.
ReplyDeleteReally great post! I do think it is interesting that a book that was written in the past about the past has themes of afro-futurism. Definitely there are ideas of afro-futurism that are unrelated to time eras, and show up in the novel. I think this was a very interesting connection to make, and adds to the inter-cultural nature of mumbo jumbo.
ReplyDeleteThis is an insightful connection that I had not considered. Although Mumbo Jumbo often seems more concerned with origins and the past, there are definitely many literary elements that could be used to classify the novel as Afrofuturistic.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about Mumbo Jumbo as an afrofuturist story before, but you make a compelling argument. It seemed to me a little more fantastical, as it merges voodoo magic with reality, but your statement about LaBas embodying afrofuturism (i.e. a better future for black people) makes a lot of sense.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting and apt comparison: we might even see LaBas's prediction of a "future Text" coming in the years after Jes Grew as a prediction of Afrofuturism (or at least a movement away from social-issues-oriented realism and into more playful and imaginative kinds of stories). And it might bolster your case further to learn that, apparently, George Clinton (of the prototypical Afrofuturist bands Parliament-Funkadelic) purchased the film rights to _Mumbo Jumbo_ when it first came out, but the movie was never made. I have no idea HOW you could make this novel into a movie, but I would LOVE to see George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, et al. give it a try.
ReplyDeleteThere's definitely a lot of Afrofuturist themes present throughout the story, especially a bunch highlighting African culture and the memory of ancestry (this is given to us in the very beginning with the title). I suppose there would be the issue of a a small leap having to be made to connect the book to the genre of science fiction, but other than that, many themes are present.
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