Introduction to Afro

The character Afro Samurai originated in Japan within the pages of a doujinshi, a self-published amateur magazine. Ten years following his inception, he was transformed into a limited-edition action figure, and through a series of almost serendipitous events, Afro became the star of an animated series in the United States.

Bob Okazaki, affectionately known as "Bob," created Afro as a modern twist on traditional Japanese adventure figures: a stylish, cigarette-smoking samurai adorned with gold hoops and bangles, topped with a vibrant green Afro reminiscent of broccoli.

As Okazaki explained, Afro is a delightful blend of his passions: classic samurai films, blaxploitation cinema, and Star Wars, combined with a fondness for 1970s Soul Train reruns, 1980s R&B, and contemporary hip-hop. And let's not forget Bob's pure love for Afros.

My first encounter with this unique samurai was in the fall of 2004, three years ahead of the majority of fans. I stumbled upon the limited-edition action figure while searching for intriguing items to feature in my inaugural zine, Kung Fu Grip. The figure, then referred to as "Afro Sam-rai," was showcased on a site dedicated to collectibles.

Without a doubt, this eye-catching figure was among the coolest items I had seen in a long while.

As I analyzed the images and absorbed the scant details, I found myself eager not only to write about Afro Samurai but also to possess one.

However, purchasing it at full price was not in my plans.

The action figures retailed for $100 each—affordable yet extravagant for a struggling artist. Once funds ran low (as they often did), I feared that the treasured collectible might end up on eBay.

Thus, rather than buy and possibly lose a sought-after item, I opted to compose a review featuring one of the website’s images for the first issue of Kung Fu Grip. Two issues later, Afro reappeared when a second figure was released in conjunction with the animated series that was then in production.

Made for Television

In January 2007, the Afro Samurai animated series debuted on Spike TV in the United States. This innovative fusion of Eastern and Western styles quickly garnered acclaim. Subsequently, Funimation, the production company behind the show, began developing another storyline to further explore the adventures of the striking samurai.

In the Making of documentary on the Afro Samurai DVD, co-producer Eric Calderon recounted his initial meeting with Okazaki. He described Bob as sweaty, anxious, and shy during their discussion about securing rights for the animated series. My encounter with Bob at the 2008 Comic-Con had a similar vibe.

Although he wasn’t particularly sweaty, he did appear nervous. I had no prior knowledge that Okazaki would be at his publisher's booth that day. On Saturday, the convention's third day, I was casually exploring when I spotted two stacks of Afro Samurai posters at the edge of a display table. Upon looking up, I noticed Bob standing a few feet away with a translator.

I instinctively joined the small line forming behind me, consisting of eager fans who had come to meet Afro's creator. Thrilled by my good fortune, I retrieved my camera and captured a few snapshots.

Moments after my arrival, I found myself shaking Bob's hand. Despite the language barrier—he spoke no English and I had no Japanese—his translator facilitated our brief exchange. If we had shared a common language, I might have broken the ice with a casual greeting, perhaps a friendly “slap me five.”

I would also have expressed how profoundly his work on Afro Samurai resonated with my own experiences. While I was sure he had heard similar sentiments before, he hadn’t heard them from me: a Chicagoan who saw a kindred spirit in him, a fellow artist.

After selecting my favorite poster, Bob glanced at my convention badge to ensure the spelling of my name and signed it “To Paco!!” with two exclamation marks.

This unexpected encounter added an extra layer of joy to an already fantastic Comic-Con weekend. Just the day before, I attended a panel that provided an exclusive preview of upcoming Afro Samurai episodes and a related video game nearing completion.

Icons of Geek Culture

On the stage were Bob, his translator, the RZA from the iconic Wu-Tang Clan, who composed the show’s score, and Samuel L. Jackson, the blockbuster actor whose voice brought life to Afro and his talkative sidekick, Ninja-Ninja.

Earlier that Saturday, I had seen Samuel during a panel for the film The Spirit. Just to clarify, he is one of my all-time favorite actors. His impressive filmography speaks volumes, but I’d like to highlight a few lesser-known aspects that showcase my admiration for him.

One notable memory stems from a mid-1990s article revealing that Samuel, an only child with a passion for comics, still frequented a Los Angeles comic shop. It was surprising to learn that one of Hollywood's most prominent actors remained a devoted comic book fan.

Additionally, during his hosting of The Art of Action, a documentary on martial arts cinema, Samuel showcased his enthusiasm by mimicking the trumpets that heralded the start of every Shaw Brothers film. His excitement underscored his genuine passion for the genre.

Another memorable moment featured in the Making of documentary shows Bob receiving a surprise video chat from Samuel. Their interaction was heartwarming, with Bob excitedly showcasing his collectibles, prompting an equally enthusiastic response from Samuel.

In another segment, still photos captured their meeting at a blessing ceremony in Tokyo before they began working on the animated series. Dressed in traditional samurai attire, complete with swords, I found myself envious of their experiences.

My travel experiences are limited to brief trips across the Arizona border, and my mind has only ventured to places like Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen, India, Thailand, Japan, and Papua New Guinea through reading. Yet, I often wonder if I will ever visit these distant lands.

Nevertheless, being in that darkened hall with fellow fans at Comic-Con, listening to Bob, Samuel, the RZA, and others discuss their contributions to the Afro Samurai universe, inspired me to carry a similar creative torch in my own life.

Beyond Fandom

In Japan, individuals like Bob—and perhaps even Samuel—are often referred to as otaku.

Say it with me, class: "Oh-tah-koo."

In English, the closest equivalent is likely "geek." Otaku are individuals deeply immersed in their passions, encompassing comic books, animation, model building, and cosplay.

o·ta·ku | ??täko?o | noun (in Japan) a young person who is obsessed with computers or particular aspects of popular culture to the detriment of their social skills.

Another common trait among many otaku is their penchant for creating fan fiction. These devoted enthusiasts often craft stories that extend their favorite characters’ journeys into new realms, sometimes featuring rather explicit themes.

Among the many facets of my identity—pop culture archaeologist, writer, dreamer—I also identify as an otaku. This inclination led me to develop ideas for an Afro Samurai prequel. I was never planning on it, but I found myself compelled to answer one burning question: Where does Afro originate?

The story opens with Afro as a child. In the first act, we witness him tragically become an orphan as his father is slain in a duel against a former friend. This pivotal moment shapes Afro's path of vengeance.

I have no doubt that Bob, being a true otaku, has crafted an intricate backstory for Afro and his father. However, I craved clarity on their origins and how they arrived in a post-apocalyptic Japan.

Africa, the ancestral homeland of people resembling Afro and his father, is over 12,000 miles away from Japan, making it an illogical origin point. While this is fiction, it seems unreasonable to choose such a distant location.

In 2010, I penned an article for Giant Robot magazine about the "Negritos," the so-called "little blacks" of Southeast Asia. However, this group would likely not fit the samurai mold, so I quickly dismissed them.

Geographically and historically, North and South America, despite their large populations of African descent, were also ruled out. This left me with only one region to explore.

Papua New Guinea, located several thousand miles south of Japan, seemed to be the most fitting origin for Afro Samurai.

Papua New Guinea: A Cultural Nexus

Positioned in the South Pacific, Papua New Guinea is the world's second-largest island. Since 1974, it has been divided into the Indonesian-controlled Irian Jaya (West Papua) and the independent nation of Papua New Guinea.

The name "New Guinea" was coined by Spanish explorer Yñigo Ortiz de Retez in 1545, inspired by the striking resemblance between the local inhabitants and those from the Guinea regions of Africa.

The older name "Papua" comes from the Malay term papuwah, meaning “fuzzy” or “woolly,” again referencing a physical characteristic of the native population, reminiscent of the Afro hairstyles popularized in the late 1960s.

Genetically, the people of Papua share ancestry with those from neighboring islands like the Maluku, Trobriand Islands, Solomon Islands, and others, including the famed Fiji Islands.

It should have been evident without extensive research, but genetic studies have shown that the aboriginal people of Australia are directly related to the inhabitants of New Guinea. The fact that they all share a common ancestry was already apparent.

According to a 2007 study, Papua and Australia were settled roughly 50,000 years ago by a single group of humans, who lived in near-total isolation until recently. The nearly extinct Aboriginal people of Tasmania also belong to this Oceanic Afro family.

The origins of their ancestors remain debated, but they likely emerged from early settlements in India, spreading along Southeast Asia's coastlines until reaching the now submerged continent of Sahul, which once connected Australia and New Guinea.

In the 19th century, as Western scientists categorized humanity into racial groups, various labels were used for these lesser-known populations. They were eventually designated as "Melanesians" (black islanders), a term derived from Greek.

Finding the Homeland

Thus, Papua New Guinea emerged as the most logical homeland for Afro Samurai. More specifically, I pinpointed Samarai Island, located off the southern coast of Papua.

Years prior to the creation of the Afro Samurai series, I discovered a captivating black-and-white photograph from 1905 featuring three men from Samarai.

The man in the center, resting his hand on a wooden stick, would be an ideal model for Afro's father in my imagined prequel.

Visualizing him in samurai attire, poised in a challenge reminiscent of Wesley Snipes in Blade, conveys an aura of strength that could intimidate any challenger.

Interestingly, he wears flowers in his hair—a traditional ornamentation for both men and women in the region. This detail would enhance Afro’s father's character, presenting him as formidable yet adorned with beauty.

This contrast between the hard steel of a sword and the softness of flowers creates a compelling visual narrative, echoing Che Guevara's words that a man “has to grow hard but without ever losing tenderness.”

Crafting the Journey

As a self-proclaimed geek, devising how Afro and his father arrived in Japan was straightforward. The people of Papua, like many islanders across the Pacific, have long utilized seafaring canoes.

William G. Sumner's Folkways (1907) noted that Solomon Islanders ventured north to trade for valuable minerals, while Bronislaw Molinowski’s Argonauts of the Western Pacific (1922) discussed the kula trading network among the Trobriand Islanders.

These accounts suggest the possibility of trade connections between the Afro-haired peoples of Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. Although further research is needed, the similarities in material culture indicate a deeper connection.

In my fan fiction, Afro and his father are part of a group traveling on an outrigger canoe to Palau or the Philippines. Caught in a sudden storm, they are swept far out to sea.

Days later, the abandoned Papuan canoe is discovered by Japanese fishermen off Okinawa. Afro and his father are the sole survivors, barely clinging to life, and are taken to a nearby village for recovery.

There’s a wealth of narrative left to explore, but I don’t want to reveal too much. If you happen to know Bob or Samuel, please mention this passionate fan with epic ideas for an Afro Samurai prequel. I’d love to connect over some sake and share my vision!

Class dismissed.

An earlier version of this essay appeared in issue #5 of the self-published subculture fanzine Kung Fu Grip!