On February 26th, 2025, I attended a lecture presented by Dr. Johann Van Niekerk titled “Queerness and Gender in Afrofuturism’s Hybrid Dimensions.” In his lecture, Dr. Johann Van Niekerk demonstrates how queerness is a central tenet of Afrofuturism. To define Afrofuturism he quotes various artists including Ingrid LaFleur who describes it as “a way of imagining possible futures through a black lens.” Dr. Johann Van Niekerk explains that Afrofuturism allows black people to reinterpret the past in order to imagine potential futures. In Afrofuturism, time is seen as circular, meaning that the events from the past, present, and future are always recurring. Dr. Johann Van Niekerk includes examples of queerness in African traditions and in popular culture to prove that those who identify as LGBTQ+ are at the center of Afrofuturism. He explains that many tribes in Africa view homosexuality through a spiritual lens and as an ancestral tradition. The Lugbara people in Central Africa even have transgender priests and believe that transgender people are the bridge to the spiritual world. Dr. Johann Van Niekerk also references contemporary Afrofuterist works that center around homosexuality such as Lil Nas X’s “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” and Robert Jones Jr.’s The Prophets, which tells the story of two black men falling in love on a plantation. Queerness holds an important place in history and is central to Afrofuturism.
Dr. Johann Van Niekerk’s lecture left room for us to consider the importance of representation in history and in the media. Queer people have historically been erased from the narratives that define our world. This erasure serves to dehumanize queer people. With no stories or history, it is difficult for outsiders to empathize with the community. When the public is not exposed to accurate representations of minorities it allows for feelings of mistrust to grow and reinforces stereotypes. It is also hard for queer people to know who they are when they have limited stories to compare themselves to. Similarly, when there is little representation in the media, it makes it difficult for queer people to figure out where they belong in society. Seeing someone who looks and acts like you succeeding is essential to instilling confidence in yourself.
Dr. Johann Van Niekerk’s lecture works to even the scales of representation and highlight the presence of queer people in Afrofuturist works. He establishes how vital queerness is to certain African tribes, mentions works that showcase homosexuality during slavery, and presents Afrofuturist art that centers around queerness. He works to make queer stories be seen and illustrate how they are at the center of history and the future. Dr. Johann Van Niekerk understands how important representation is for empowering and uplifting people, but so does the U.S. government. With the Trump administration prohibiting the use of words such as LGBTQ, sexuality, Black, transgender, and racism in government communications, the issue of getting stories told has never been more prevalent. In a society where the government is attempting to destroy and belittle marginalized peoples, we must continue to fight for justice by uncovering lost stories from history and ensuring testimonies from marginalized groups are not forgotten.
Bibliography
Niekerk, Johann Van.“Queerness and Gender in Afrofuturism’s Hybrid Dimensions,” 26 February 2025. Davidson College. Visual Arts Center. Lecture.
Yourish, Karen, Annie Daniel, Saurabh Datar, Isaac White, and Lazaro Gamio. “These Words Are Disappearing in the New Trump Administration.” The New York Times, March 7, 2025, sec. U.S. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/07/us/trump-federal-agencies-websites-words-dei.html.