Wangari Maathai’s environmental Afrofuturist imaginary in Wanuri Kahiu’s Pumzi

Abstract

ABSTRACT Wangari Maathai’s environmental activism aims at the restoration of ecosystems to guarantee ecological sustainability. It is a mission premised on the need to place measures such as the planting of trees to remedy environmental wounds. To stress both the gravity of loss and the possibilities of arresting it, the metaphor of healing the earth underlines her vision that speaks to concerns of Afrofuturism. However, scholarly attention to ways activism finds expression in Afrofuturistic discourses needs to increase. Therefore, this study zooms in on and analyzes notions of remediation in Wanuri Kahiu’s short film Pumzi (2009). The discussion of the film teases out and aims to mobilize the content of Wangari Maathai’s Nobel Lecture of 2004. The film blends traits of science fiction with aspects of Gĩkũyũ orature to position Pumzi as nurturing Afrofuturist environmental imaginary that builds on Wangari Maathai’s call to heal the earth.