VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Musician AfrotroniX On New Electronic Music, Afro-Futurism

AfrotroniX, a popular DJ and electronic musician from Africa, is striving to bring the genre of music to the continent and to help promote positive views of African people worldwide.

The Chad native, who lives in Montreal, sat down with uInterview exclusively to discuss his new music.

“What I do is a fusion of tribal Chadian music with electronic [music],” AfrotroniX explained.

AfrotroniX revealed American audiences have had a “great” response to his music thus far.

“As I’m coming up with the concept — and the concept is based on an Afro-futurism message — so far I’ve received a really great reaction,” he said. “I’m presenting a different face of Africa. The way people present Africa is not what is going on now.”

Afro-futurism is a philosophy within history that centers on the intersection of African diaspora culture with technology and the future. The idea has appeared in many different forms of pop culture, most notably in last year’s hit Marvel film Black Panther. The worldwide phenomenon and Oscar-nominated superhero film envisioned a fictional African country called Wakanda that thrives partly due to a fictitious metal known as vibranium that serves as one of its largest resources.

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AfrotroniX elaborated on the frequent misconceptions the U.S. and the rest of the world have about Africa.

“When people talk about Africa, [their discussions] are more related to going back to the roots, but they don’t have this perspective of future,” he said. “Today is moving very fast and we are projecting ourselves in [the year] 2115.”

AfrotroniX added that many people still often associate Africa with stereotypes like Safari animals — lions, giraffes and others.

“We are part of the trend-setters and we have big visions for the world,” he added.

AfrotroniX also revealed that electronic music has been rising in popularity in Africa, saying the rhythms and sounds of many of his songs reflect those of African instruments.

AfrotroniX’s latest single, released last year, is called “Oyo.” His other songs include “Zaala,” “Soudani” and “Manidora,” all of which are off the 2017 album Nomadix. 

Full interview transcript below:

Musician AfrotroniX on New Electronic Music, Afro-Futurism

Q: How would you describe your music?

A: This is Afrotronix, and I am from Chad living in Montreal. And what I do is a fusion of tribal Chadian music with electronics. So, Chad is an African country, under Libya in East Central, Africa.

Q: How have US audiences reacted to your music?

A: So far, great. As I’m coming with a concept, and the concept is based on an Afro-futurism message, I’ve received a really, really great reaction. I’m presenting a different face of Africa.
The way people present African is not what is going on now in Africa. So, through my art, I’m presenting this new face of Africa, and so far it’s very well received.

Q: What are the misconceptions people have about Africa?

A: When people talk about Africa, they are more related to the going back to the roots, but they don’t have this perspective of future. Today’s moving very fast, and we are projecting ourselves in 2115. And looks like, what I hear, people talk about Africa, here, there are still lions, giraffes, but this is not the new Africa. We are a part of the trend-setters and we have big visions for the world. And that what be a great alternative to what we know from the Western society.

Q: Is electronic music big in Africa?

A: Actually, electronic music is starting to be big, but the different way I use it, you’ll see that tonight. The way I bring it, it’s the electronic music, it’s coming to serve the African music. So, the rhythm itself, the choice of some songs are based on African instruments, then I mix it with electronic. This is what’s going on now in Africa.