A Guide for the Diaspora  of  Seeing Through  the Whitewash

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After centuries of persecution and suppression, African traditional and Diaspora religions are making a powerful comeback in the  African-American mainstream. However, unlike  their Brazilian, Haitian, Cuban and other North American cousins,  African-Americans many who are just beginning their search for the moral truths, sacred philosophy, African rituals and divine meaning bequeathed to them by their ancestors, are searching for concrete facts and the cultural history  which reflects their inner truths as oppose to western anthropological assumptions which has historically omitted them. A profound  ancestral calling thousands are experiencing daily within their souls, prompting them to search for all available resources which will enlighten and expand their spiritual knowledge base. Often, this search is leading them away from the mainstream  (Western) based-faiths forced upon their ancestors during slavery,and more towards the African-centered faiths denied them in America for centuries.  A significant number in the Diaspora have even found their spiritual home in many of the African-based faiths, i.e. Afa-Vodoun, Mami Wata, Ifa’Orisha, Akhan, Palo, etc., all vying for their attention, as their ancestors joyously celebrate their return home.  This rediscovery has aided many in shedding centuries of negative conditioning and racist mocking, and most are defiantly and openly practicing their African faiths, irregardless of the constant onslaught of sensationalist stereotyping by Hollywood, and the hostile belittlingly by mainstream state supported, Christian media. 

 

 

 

                      

 

 

    The Trend to Obscure A Sacred Birthright 

African traditional/Diaspora religions are also arguably  some of the fasting growing spiritual traditions of choice for the non-Diaspora seeking solace in an increasingly despiritualized world. Many dazed, confused and disillusioned by their mainstream religious faiths. Largely, Christian institutions that have been plagued for decades by  moral corruption i.e., pedophilia, adultery, financial exploitation, and  overall general  hypocrisy.  Additionally, many  Neo-pagans, Wiccans, Satanists and other disaffected, non-Diaspora groups have found their way into African-based ancestral faiths in America, and are dominating both the internet and book publishing industry with their version of these ancient African ancestral traditions, which is often inaccurate, incomplete, poorly researched, and ritually  dangerous and unsound.

The spirits and ancestors of those in the Diaspora who walk with them are often angered and resentful  of  the misleading and incomplete information and attempts at these non-Diasporian neophytes “shoving their version of African spiritual philosophy and ritual down their throats.”  Their version often is overly promoted in print and electronic media as “fact”.  Incorrect information often coded with generic, in-descript, meaningless terms such as “goddess,” “spiritists,” “cult,” “animists” “universal,” “magical” “pagan” etc.,. Many in the uninformed Diaspora complain that their ancestral traditions are being invaded, and the sacred knowledge is being used against them.  Most of these fears are derived from their lack of correct information about Vodoun (Vodou) and other African Diaspora religions, as it relates to them and their ancient history and ancestors, as oppose to others who indulge, syncretize and dabble in African faiths believing them to be merely a “magical path” or  “personal path to African power” for themselves, wholly unconcerned of the potential damage they leave in their wake. 

 

The purpose of this article is to offer both information and advice to those African-Americans who are attempting to heed their ancestral calling and to incorporate the philosophy and values of their own ancient deities into their daily lives. It is hoped that once the basic tenets are understood, many of these fears and hysteria surrounding those who ”think” they have the “knowledge” will diminish.

 

 

 

Horror Film: “London Voodoo.” Heretic Films, 2004.  Promoted as a major

“external  reference” source at Wikipedia.

 

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