HAVE YOUR SAY: 02071930174
The Most Eminent Prophet and King – His Excellency: Marcus Mosiah Garvey famously declared “I will not give up a continent for an island!” (1) In other words the destiny of the Afrikan world community is inextricably linked to the Motherland.
The context for Papa Garvey’s comments were related to identity and liberation. Identity is a key aspect of culture. As John Mbiti contends:
“Religion… is by far the richest part of the African heritage. Religion is found in all areas of human life. It has dominated the thinking of African peoples to such an extent that it has shaped their cultures, their social life, their political organisations and economic activities. We can say therefore that religion is closely bound up with the traditional African way of life…” (2)
Over the last century or so religion in Afrika has undergone a vast transformation. According to the Pew Research Center 76% of Afrikans practised traditional religion in 1900, while today that figure is reported to be 13%. In the same period Islam and Christianity have made 20-fold and 70-fold increases respectively. (3)
The role of slavery and colonialism in the propagation of these so-called Abrahamic religions must also be acknowledged. No lesser figure than renowned academic Baba Chinweizu asserts that European Conquest and Arab domination did “undermine African civilisation, culture and self-respect.” (4)
This is not to ignore the ongoing neo-colonial project. An interesting feature of the Pew Research reveals that the sharpest increase in Christianity occurred between 1950 and 1970 (the “independence” era or the transition from colonialism to neo-colonialism), which also saw the sharpest decrease in ”Traditional African Religion.” (5)
At least implicit in Mbiti’s comments above is the notion that Afrikan traditions and culture have been the predominant mode of expression for the overwhelming majority of the continent’s existence. Thus although, respondents may declare Christianity and Islam, their daily lives continue to be infused with expressions of Afrikan culture/spirituality, particularly in challenging times:
“Many of those who indicate they are deeply committed to the practice of Christianity or Islam also incorporate elements of African traditional religions into their daily lives. For example, in four countries (Tanzania, Mali, Senegal and South Africa) more than half the people surveyed believe that sacrifices to ancestors or spirits can protect them from harm.” (6)
This clearly has implications for Afrikans abroad that have been disconnected from the traditional environment and appear to be the mainstay of otherwise declining Western religions. (7)
Yet the adage that you can take the person out of Afrika but you can’t take Afrika of the person, still has relevance – evidenced by the spiritual retentions in different parts of the the Afrikan World Community (e.g. Vodun, Lukumi, Palo Mayombe, Vu.Va.Mu, etc). Pan-Afrikan syncretism is also making headway through the likes of:
Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement’s Shumira every first Umoja-Day (Sun) of the month where the community is invited to “explore Afrikan Spirituality in practice and build a foundation for Afrikan Culture as it informs our political, economic & social development” (https://www.alkebulan.org/shumira/);
The Ausar Auset Society (Europe) “an international Pan African Spiritual organization committed to the upliftment of traditional African culture and values, providing Afro centric based spiritual training to the descendants of Africans in the diaspora.” (http://www.ausarausetsocietyeurope.com/index.html);
This is compounded by sterling work over the last decade by husband and wife team Bro. Dalian Adofo and Sis. Verona Spence-Adofo through the 2011 documentary Ancestral Voices: Esoteric African Knowledge, the 2016 book Ancestral Voices: Spirit Is Eternal and now the follow up documentary Ancestral Voices: Spirit Is Eternal, that will premiere on Saturday 16th September at Ritzy Picture house, Brixton, from 3pm-6pm + Q&A with directors (http://ancestralvoices.co.uk/films-books/ancestral-voices-2/)
Rastafari sometimes gets overlooked in reasoning about spirituality but it also can be considered a powerful example Pan-Afrikan syncretism that has been at the foundation of nationalist, Garveyite consciousness. Like the Afrikan continent over recent centuries, Rastafari has had to deal with the encroachment of Abrahamic religious influences that has led the likes of Mutabaruka to call for “a new faculty of interpretation” not least because as he asserts “the events recorded in the bible are on the periphery of Afrikan knowledge.” (8) It is arguably a issue that extends far beyond Rastafari.
The accessibility of Afrikan spirituality is greater now that it has been for some considerable time. At the same time adherence to Abrahamic religions seems destined to keep the masses of Afrikans impoverished. (9) Given the link between these religions and Afrikan oppression, the dilemma that faces Afrikan people was laid bare by Mama Marimba Ani over twenty years ago:
“Even though we have become dependent on these (non-Afrikan) thought forms, as an escape from the mandate, the accountability that we have to our Ancestors who were enslaved by these people. Even though we have attempted to escape from that into a religious statement that told us to turn the other cheek, we must have the courage to give it up when we need to.” (10)
(1) Runoko Rashidi (25/05/14) A Hundred Years of Marcus Garvey. http://atlantablackstar.com/2014/05/25/hundred-years-marcus-garvey/.
(2) John S Mbiti (1991) Introduction to African Religion (Second Edition). Heinemann. p. 10
(3) Pew Research Center (15/04/10) Tolerance and Tension: Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa. http://www.pewforum.org/2010/04/15/executive-summary-islam-and-christianity-in-sub-saharan-africa/
(4) Chinweizu (1987) Seasons of White Invaders in Decolonising the African Mind. Pero Press. p. 113.
(5) Pew Research Center. Op. Cit.
(6) Ibid.
(7) The Economist (25/12/15) The future of the world’s most popular religion is African. https://www.economist.com/news/international/21684679-march-christianity-future-worlds-most-popular-religion-african
(8) Mutabaruka (03/03/17) Shortage of black teachers, data reveals. https://web.archive.org/web/20170303042611/http://www.mutabaruka.com/newfaculty.htm
(9) The Economist Op. Cit
(10) Marimba Ani (1995) Yurugu Unmasked at the Education of the Black Child Conference, Manchester. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X1vWRY8l-A
we ask the question:
Abrahamic Religions: Will we ever give them up?
Are you going to see Ancestral Voices on September 16th?
Are slavery and colonialism the reason for Afrikans being in Abrahamic religions?
Do you attend any Afrikan Spiritual gatherings?
Are Afrikan teachers empowered to challenge the status quo in schools?
Do Afrikans as a whole need “a new faculty of interpretation”?
If so by what means should it be propagated?
Our very special guests:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and UNIA-ACL Ambassador for the UK and national co-Chair of the interim National Afrikan People’s Parliament. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of over 30 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Guide To Excellence.
Bro. Dalian Adofo: is an Educationist, Visual Communicator, Social and Cultural Commentator/Writer on a range of issues, primarily social justice and marginalisation. He has over 15 years teaching at Secondary School and Further Education Level, as well as devising and delivering creative learning workshops and programmes for disadvantaged young people.
Bro. Dalian is the co-director for the educational documentary Ancestral Voices: Esoteric African Knowledge (2011) and author of the acclaimed Ancestral Voices: Spirit Is Eternal (2016). His latest effort Ancestral Voices: Spirit Is Eternal is the sequel to the 2011 documentary and is due to have it’ premier on Saturday 16th September. More information available at: http://ancestralvoices.co.uk/films-books/ancestral-voices-2.
Hear weekly discussions and lively debate on all issues affecting the Afrikan community, at home and abroad. We talk it straight and make it plain!
ASwA Hosted by Sis Kai Ouagadou-Mbandaka and Bro ShakaRa
CLICK HERE to view latest AFRIKA SPEAKS show details. Leave a comment and contribute to the discussion.
Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan
Galaxy Radio | 102.5fm | http://www.galaxyafiwe.com (To listen live)
HAVE YOUR SAY: 02071930174
MONDAY 8pm-10pm
International Listeners:
4-6 pm Eastern Caribbean Time
12-2 pm Pacific Standard Time
1-3 pm Mountain Standard Time
2-4 pm Central Standard Time
3-4 pm Eastern Standard Time