AFROFUTURISMO EM O CÉU ENTRE MUNDOS (2021): UMA JORNADA DE EMPODERAMENTO E IMAGINAÇÃO

Abstract

This article aims to study Sandra Menezes' book, O céu entre mundos (2021), as a key element to discuss pertinent issues related to Afrofuturism. Drawing insights from authors like Mark Dery (2020), Ytasha Womack (2013), and Raissa Silva (2022), the research sought to understand how the concepts surrounding Afrofuturism contribute to empowering black communities. Sandra Menezes' novel is rich in crucial elements that shed light on this aesthetic movement, such as the appreciation of ancestry and Afrocentricity, allowing for a redefinition of black identities. Dated in the year 2773, the plot of O céu entre mundos (2021) unfolds in a futuristic setting. Initially set on the exoplanet named Wangari, the story follows the protagonist Karima, who finds herself compelled to flee from a kidnapping. In order to escape, she is abruptly transported to Earth, thus triggering a series of events that will shape the course of her journey. Imagining a future where the black population takes center stage in their own history is possible, and Sandra Menezes paves the way for this community, which has endured historical attempts at erasure, to indeed reach for the stars.