The word ‘Maafa,’ Swahili for “disaster” or “catastrophe,” has been used by scholars and activists for decades to refer to the transatlantic slave trade and its resulting impact on the African diaspora. Brooklyn based Hardcore punk outfit MAAFA adopted the moniker to both acknowledge the impact of that era, and also reshape it, to make it a signpost for the subversive message and sonic onslaught the band has become known for.
