(Re)Imagining French Studies Through an African Futurist Lens

French studies currently stands at a critical juncture where traditional Eurocentric paradigms are being challenged by emergent global perspectives. This interdisciplinary study aims to reconceptualize the field through an African Futurist lens, offering alternative epistemological frameworks that decenter Western hegemonic discourses while fostering cultural sustainability. Situated at the intersection of Francophone studies, digital humanities, African literary theories, and sustainability humanities, this study contributes to the growing body of scholarship on decolonial approaches to language and cultural studies. Through frameworks like Afrofuturism, Africanfuturism, and Pan-Africanism, this analysis draws on indigenous knowledge systems. The findings highlight how the integration of Afrofrancofuturism can serve as a practical framework for decolonizing and modernizing French studies curricula. This research reveals how Afrofrancofuturistic perspectives can transform French studies by emphasizing pluriversality, temporal fluidity, and cultural consciousness. This reimagining of French studies not only enriches the discipline through diverse cultural narratives but also establishes a more equitable, forward-looking framework that acknowledges the vital role of African intellectual traditions in shaping global Francophone futures.

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Publication Details

Journal
The International Journal of Critical Cultural Studies
Published
2026-07-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.18848/2327-0055/cgp/a272
Primary Topic
Utopian, Dystopian, and Speculative Fiction
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

(Re)Imagining French Studies Through an African Futurist Lens

Deborah Ariyo
The International Journal of Critical Cultural Studies
Utopian, Dystopian, and Speculative Fiction
article

(Re)Imagining French Studies Through an African Futurist Lens

Deborah Ariyo
article en

Abstract

French studies currently stands at a critical juncture where traditional Eurocentric paradigms are being challenged by emergent global perspectives. This interdisciplinary study aims to reconceptualize the field through an African Futurist lens, offering alternative epistemological frameworks that decenter Western hegemonic discourses while fostering cultural sustainability. Situated at the intersection of Francophone studies, digital humanities, African literary theories, and sustainability humanities, this study contributes to the growing body of scholarship on decolonial approaches to language and cultural studies. Through frameworks like Afrofuturism, Africanfuturism, and Pan-Africanism, this analysis draws on indigenous knowledge systems. The findings highlight how the integration of Afrofrancofuturism can serve as a practical framework for decolonizing and modernizing French studies curricula. This research reveals how Afrofrancofuturistic perspectives can transform French studies by emphasizing pluriversality, temporal fluidity, and cultural consciousness. This reimagining of French studies not only enriches the discipline through diverse cultural narratives but also establishes a more equitable, forward-looking framework that acknowledges the vital role of African intellectual traditions in shaping global Francophone futures.

The International Journal of Critical Cultural Studies
University of Alabama (US)
Quality Education
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
Utopian, Dystopian, and Speculative Fiction
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