The new Kenyan sci-fi series “Subterranea,” from Likarion Wainaina, which premiered on September 26, 2024, on Showmax, is an intriguing achievement in the context of Kenyan television history. While marketed as Kenya’s “first” long-form sci-fi TV series, it should be understood within a continuum of “African speculative storytelling,” inviting us to reconsider our understanding of science fiction’s place in African narrative traditions.
Akoroko Premium subscribers received an in-depth newsletter that contextualizes the new series, spotlighting previous specifically Kenyan works like Wanuri Kahiu’s “Pumzi” and discussing how both “Subterranea” and its predecessors use science fiction elements to explore contemporary issues.
Essentially, promoting an understanding of science fiction in “African storytelling,” that suggests speculative elements have long been part of African narrative traditions.
To receive the newsletter, subscribe via the link in the bio or copy/paste: https://akoroko.com/subscribe/