THE AFROPOLITAN CAN COME OR GO - Osekre

An interesting discourse is going on among Africans and Africa-descent persons. They are asking the very pertinent question of who they are. Friends, this can only be called great. I'm loving it.

"This piece is an attempt to refocus an exciting conversation going around the blogosphere which could benefit from an open-minded discourse on the term “Afropolitan.” I believe this is a conversation we must have as Africans.  How we shape this dialogue will influence the perception of a huge generation existing now, but going forward, will also help shape a variety of identities around the world. While we are all unique, and are free to express ourselves however we feel, I disagree with Marta Tveit’s assertion that “The Afropolitan Must Go,” I believe “Afropolitans can come or go.”

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Why I’m Not An Afropolitan

Unlike Tveit, when I first heard “Afropolitan” I was excited. I am always looking for language that expresses my position as an Irish/Nigerian woman who is deeply connected to her Nigerianness. I’d rather refrain as describing myself as half anything, and I detest the word mixed-race. I thought perhaps Afropolitan presented an alternative to this terminology and, interestingly, positioned me with others through a shared cultural and aesthetic leaning rather than a perceived racial classification. Further, the term identified that you could be black or African without having to subscribe to the depressingly limited identities widely perceived as being authentic.

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Ake Festival, Nigeria - where kids want to fly in colour

The festival was the brainchild of Lola Shoneyin, who (as described by Olakunle Kasumu) dreamt it, said it, and did it. There are many other festivals in Nigeria, of course, Lagos and Port Harcourt being among the biggest. But none has attracted the international line-up of Ake. Most of us would agree that we were there because of Lola: Binyavanga Wainaina, Eghosa Imasuen, Toni Kan, A Igoni Barrett, Teju Cole, Chibundu Onuzo, Pius Adesanmi, Molara Wood, to name a few.

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