This year’s theme for Afrofuturism Week 2025, “Furious Joy,” draws inspiration from Alice Walker’s powerful phrase in her book Hard Times Require Furious Dancing. The theme embodies the idea of embracing joy as an act of resistance and resilience—a celebration of Black existence, creativity, and futurity in a world that has often challenged these. “Furious Joy” is more than happiness; it’s a fierce, determined joy that stands boldly in the face of adversity. It’s about defiance, about choosing joy as a transformative force, and about imagining and claiming spaces of freedom, dignity, and boundless creativity.

In the realm of Afrofuturism, “Furious Joy” acknowledges that within the collective struggles of the Black experience, there are rich spaces of laughter, vibrant creativity, and life-giving joy. This theme serves as both a declaration and a celebration of Black life, heritage, and the strength to shape one’s own narrative. It evokes images of vibrant colors, energetic art, and speculative stories, alongside designs that reclaim technology, spirituality, and identity.