From Achebe to Afrofuturism: How African Literature Is Rewriting Its Narrative

This article explores the evolving landscape of African literature by tracing its trajectory from the foundational realist narratives of Chinua Achebe to the vibrant emergence of Afrofuturism in contemporary African writing. Achebe’s work, particularly Things Fall Apart, is recognized for reclaiming African identity from colonial distortion and establishing a literary tradition grounded in cultural realism. However, in the wake of globalization, digital transformation, and the reimagining of African futures, a new generation of writers is embracing speculative genres such as science fiction and fantasy to articulate postcolonial aspirations and diasporic experiences. Through a postcolonial and Afrofuturist theoretical lens, this study examines how African literature in 2025 redefines itself—blending myth, technology, and resistance to envision liberated futures. It argues that this shift does not abandon Achebe’s legacy but rather expands it, proving that African storytelling remains fluid, inventive, and deeply political.