Entre science et mythologie : Le « multiverse opera » de Yann-Cédric Agbodan-Aolio, une expression singulière de l’afrofuturisme
Abstract
This article explores Ivorian francophone writer Yann-Cédric Agbodan-Aolio's multiverse opera as a singular expression of contemporary Afrofuturism. Through the analysis of his novel La Conspiration des colombes — Le fanal des mondes (2017) and an interview conducted with the author in February 2025, we examine how Agbodan-Aolio articulates an innovative cosmological vision that transcends Western dichotomies between science and magic, tradition and futurism. The study highlights four distinctive dimensions of his work: the alchemy between scientific rigor and mythological imagination; the original concept of multiverse opera as an alternative to classic space opera; the integration of African oral tradition within a futuristic context through the figure of the storyteller; and the proposition of a decolonization of possible futures. This research demonstrates how Agbodan-Aolio, through his syncretic and transcultural approach, contributes to the emergence of a francophone Afrofuturism that reimagines the relationships between African cultural heritage, diverse mythologies, and advanced technologies, while addressing universal themes such as artificial intelligence and altered states of consciousness.
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