As we settle into 2024, it is important to be proactive and look ahead to what we can expect in the coming year. No one can deny that there is a sense of hopelessness that has led to communities desiring drastic change, and that palpable desire can eliminate perceived obstacles and reshape existing systems. To make the most of this momentum, we must make use of all the tools available to us so that we can activate this collective subconscious and prepare ourselves for transformation in various aspects of life.
Here are some of our predictions and premonitions of what you can expect in 2024:
Fashion
In 2024, fashion will include classic wardrobe staples, preppy styles, girlcore, ’90s and early 2000s fashion, and bow accents. Spring/Summer 2024 fashion shows show muted palettes, metallics, and a ’90s minimalism revival. While the “quiet luxury” trend can come off as delulu, people will still cling to it in a desperate attempt to align themselves with wealth. We might see a decline in Y2K aesthetics, and the resurgence of 1920s and 1930s fashion. This will include micro-fringes, sheer layering, and rhinestone-encrusted textiles with boxy mod silhouettes.
Social Media
Social media platforms may finally stop copying each other’s features, and focus on uniqueness, as seen in Instagram’s emphasis on private sharing. Threads, launched in 2023, might make a comeback, leveraging its connection to Instagram and introducing new features for potential growth. User Generated Content (UGC) will evolve with brands collaborating with more content creators. Surprisingly, LinkedIn might show signs of life and transition into a more personalised and social space, with the influence of millennials.
AI
AI’s impact on social media content creation and the workplace will become increasingly evident. The EU’s AI Act will be enacted, with AI safety summits in South Korea and Paris addressing its immediate risks. The discourse around human control over advanced AI models, regulations, AI sentience and ethical implications will come into play. The year will also bring awareness of the universe and extraterrestrial beings, with ongoing UFO sightings and discussions in governments, and AI may play an important role in this debate.
Manufacturing Technologies
Many people have been sleeping on the immense impact of 3D printing and its role in addressing human rights concerns. Before Credo Mutwa passed, he had already predicted the emergence of 3D printing and advised us to be at the helm of this looming technology. Of course, we didn’t listen and we are behind again, but as the technology develops, so are the opportunities to get involved. The open-source 3D printing movement has democratised access to affordable and practical printers, making them accessible to various users.
Medical Technologies
While the relationship between Black folk and the medical sector remains tense, we will see more and more people of colour participating in and changing the medical field to make it more inclusive. Breakthroughs will include mRNA technology, Virtual Reality (VR) in mental health care, diverse Neurotechnology applications, AI contributions to disease detection, 3D printing for implants, precision medicine in oncology, CRISPR‘s gene-editing, telemedicine, and health wearables in preventive healthcare.
Climate Change
Many Westerners are quick to tout that Africa will get hit by climate change the worst, even though their corporations are the ones that have caused the issue. In 2024, attention is shifting towards the industrial sector, responsible for nearly 29% of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to those from electricity generation. Innovations like Coolbroke’s rotodynamic heater offer sustainable alternatives. In Africa, the prioritisation of our oceans will become crucial in addressing global climate challenges.
Economy
Big businesses will make a significant shift to online sales, foregoing brick and mortar while small boutiques will prioritise in-store experiences. Brand identity and culture will continue to outrank product-centric approaches. The BRICS alliance will expand with new members challenging the established world order led by the United States. The addition of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, known as BRICS Plus will form a formidable coalition representing almost half of the global population.
Sustainability
As the world continues to fall to pieces, people are becoming aware that there are many ways to live. Apart from a continuation of cottage-core and great resignation trends, self-sustainability through backyard gardens and hydroponic systems will become prominent. We will focus less on external forces like global political unrest and increasingly emphasise maintaining a high frequency through love, harmony, and peace. These Black feminist practices served us well in pre-colonial times, and in 2024, they will make a major resurgence.
Of course, our predictions are not all-encompassing. Many other things will happen in 2024, particularly in pop culture, but we will certainly see a global shift in power dynamics. The world is changing and numerous, sometimes indiscernible factors come into play. This moment requires conscious decision-making, creating a positive reality, and fostering spaces of gratitude, kindness, and compassion. This is the time to embrace our power, understand our mission, and collectively anchor the New Earth Frequency.
