San Diego Makes Its Mark at Future Waves Conference 2025 in Dakar

October 1, 2025

The Future Waves Conference 2025, themed around Afrofuturism and global futures, took place in Dakar, Senegal from September 11-17, bringing together scholars, artists, and thought leaders from across the globe. Hosted at multiple venues including Cheikh Anta Diop University, Artiste Du Daanu Dakar cultural center, and the Axil Hotel, the conference featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, performances, and collaborative sessions exploring how creativity, technology, and heritage can shape equitable futures. Participants from countries including the USA, Senegal, Germany, Colombia, and Botswana engaged in discussions on topics such as "Africana Futures," "AI and Ancestral Intelligence," and Afrofuturist storytelling.

Who is affected

Scholars, artists, and thought leaders from Canada, USA, Germany, Scotland, Colombia, Netherlands, Botswana, Spain, and Senegal
Virtual participants from around the world
Local Senegalese cultural figures and artists (including PINO and Majesty Bakou Mory Thiané Mbaye)
Academic institutions like Cheikh Anta Diop University
Cultural organizations such as the Black Speculative Arts Movement and Grioneers
The broader global community engaged in Afrofuturist thought and practice

What action is being taken

Hosting of the week-long Future Waves Conference 2025 with blended in-person and virtual programming
Conducting panel discussions on topics like "Afrofuturism 2.0 and World Order" and "Africana Futures: The Next Generation"
Organizing book talks featuring works by scholars and authors like Dr. Tiffany Barber and Sheree Renée Thomas
Performing libation ceremonies led by Stephen Ibaaku Bassene and Majesty Bakou Mory Thiané Mbaye
Screening films by creators like Marcela Angulo
Hosting performances and a Futurist Party celebrating Black creativity

Why it matters

The conference creates a platform for connecting ancestral intelligence with contemporary innovation
It establishes Dakar, Senegal as an epicenter for visionary dialogue and cultural exchange
The gathering provides a framework for reimagining equitable futures through Afrofuturism
The multi-disciplinary approach weaves together scholarship, art, music, commerce, and technology
It fosters global collaboration among participants from diverse countries and backgrounds
The conference celebrates Black creativity and speculative vision on a global scale

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint