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In a December 2015 article for the digital Pan-African news website Mail & Guardian Africa, Christine Mungai declared: The future of world religion is African, so what would an ‘African’ Christianity or Islam look like? (1)
Using projections from Pew research, the article reveals that, fuelled by the continents accelerating population growth (a predicted 20% of the world’s population compared to around 12% today):
· Within the next seventy years or so the majority (50%+) of the world’s Christians will live in Africa;
· The Muslim population in sub-Saharan Africa is projected to grow by nearly 60% in the next 20 years, from 242.5 million in 2010 to 385.9 million in 2030;
· However, Europe and Saudi Arabia will probably continue to be the physical centres of their respective faiths. (2)
According to the most recent census data, the proportion of religious adherents is Christianity – 49%; Islam – 39%; Traditional/other religions (Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism and Rastafari) – 12% (3)
As it is globally, so it is locally with Christian Today Contributing Editor Ruth Gledhill reporting in February 2015: “Future of religion in Britain is Islam and black majority churches.” (4)
Other reports advance the same narrative: “Nearly half of churchgoers in inner London (48 per cent) are black” (5) and “Why are black people turning to Islam?” (6)
So it is within this climate that Dalian Adofo, Educationist, Visual Communicator, Social and Cultural Commentator/Writer Bro. and co-director of the “essential” documentary Ancestral Voices has just released his new book Ancestral Voices: Spirit Is Eternal:
“This book is a ground breaking exploration of humanity’s oldest documented faith practice; African Spirituality. A term often criticised for assuming homogeneity in African philosophy and culture that apparently does not exist. However, these research findings reveal intricate and broad commonalities across the various systems that clearly evidence a high level of unison in the Cosmological philosophies and practices of African people.
The Author explores the topic across millennia from the times of the Ancient Black Egyptians to contemporary practices on the Continent and in the Diaspora. Evidenced are striking commonalities in the spiritual philosophies and practices over time and space, showing they are derived from a common mind or source. That what we term Vodou, Vodun, Ifa, Kandomble, Palo Mayombe, Kemetic Spirituality and the like are all but localised offshoots of the same tree so to speak.
As such, African Spirituality is shown to be an apt umbrella term for the various expressions the world over, one that will give its adherents official recognition and rights in the same manner various sects within mainstream religions are protected by law.
The book also gives practical advice and suggestions from various systems on how to cultivate an African Centred Spiritual life, so it is not just an essential piece of scholarly work to read but also an invaluable manual of instruction to have for cultivating one’s personal spiritual development.” (7)
The book delineates a livity that legendary Ghanaian author Ayi Kwei Armah simply refers to as “The Way”. (8) However, any orientation towards “The Way” has to overcome contradistinct Afrikan participation in the organised Abrahamic religions (i.e. Christianity, Islam and Judaism), even when no lesser figure than eminent master teacher, the late Baba John Henrik Clarke refers to them as “male chauvinist murder cults.” (9)
Moreover, where Baba Chinweizu outlines the journey from “The Way” towards Abrahamic religions. He asserts that European Conquest and Arab domination did “undermine African civilisation, culture and self-respect.” (10)
Thus the quest for Afrikan spirituality could be described as a journey back to civilisation, culture and self-respect, where “personal spiritual development” is an aspect of the unitary whole that must be built communally.
Mama Marimba Ani suggests that the required essence already lies within:
“Our Africanness has existed within us primarily on an unconscious level. But the forces of evil are strong. European colonialism is powerful and the unconscious survival of the African heritage is not enough to subdue it. This survival must be moved to the level of conscious awareness, so that it can be used for political analysis, motivation and commitment. . . . The African world-view revitalized, can again be a life-giving force. It promises ‘eternal life’ to its descendants.” (11)
One such vehicle is the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement’s Shumira (which means “Worship” in the Shona language of Zimbabawe). Under the motto “Freedom begins with the freeing of the mind & soul,” Alkebu-Lan have re-instituted its communal worship, guiding the community to “return to the way.” The Afrikan community is invited to Fellowship while engaging in Afrikan Spirituality in practice in order to build a foundation for Afrikan Culture that informs our political, economic & social development (https://www.alkebulan.org/shumira/).
Shumira takes place on the first Sunday of every month, starting on October 2nd at Chestnuts Community Centre, 280 St Ann’s Road, N15 5BN from 12 midday.
(1) Christine Mungai (01/12/2015) The future of world religion is African, so what would an ‘African’ Christianity or Islam look like? http://mgafrica.com/article/2015-11-30-the-future-of-religion-in-africa.(2) Ibid.(3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Africa#ref_n1(4) Ruth Gledhill (09/02/2015) Future of religion in Britain is Islam and black majority churches. http://www.christiantoday.com/article/future.of.religion.in.britain.is.islam.and.black.majority.churches/47716.htm?email=1(5) Lucy Cooper (25/07/2013) Black and ethnic minority Christians lead London Church growth. http://www.eauk.org/church/one-people-commission/stories/black-and-ethnic-christians-lead-london-church-growth.cfm.(6) Richard Reddie (05/10/2009) Why are black people turning to Islam?https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2009/oct/05/black-muslims-islam.(7) Dalian Adofo (2016) Ancestral Voices: Spirit Is Eternal. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform(8) Ayi Kwei Armah (1979) Tow Thousand Seasons. Heinemann (9) John Henrik Clarke. Organized Religion vs Spirituality. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP7PWI6lTMM(9) Dalian Adofo (2016) Ancestral Voices: Spirit Is Eternal. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform(10) Chinweizu (1987) Seasons of White Invaders in Decolonising the African Mind. Pero Press. p. 113(11) Marimba Ani (2004) Let the Circle be Unbroken: Implications of African Spirituality in the Diaspora. Nkonimfo Publications. p. 52-3
So tonight we ask the question:
AFRIKAN SPIRITUALITY: How do we return to the way?
1. Why is there increasing global Afrikan engagement in Christianity and Islam?
2. Can African civilisation, culture and self-respect be reconciled with adherence to Abrahamic Religions?
3. Can gatherings like Shunira bring our Africanness from the unconscious level to a conscious one?
4. Is it now too late for Afrikans to return to the way?
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.
His creative background covers a range; from graphic design to film and video and some the films he has worked on include ‘As It Grows’ and ‘Portobello Road’. Bro. Dalian is also co-director for the educational documentary series ‘Ancestral Voices’ that aims to provide authentic and accurate information on the subject of African Spirituality; a topic widely misunderstood and rejected due to centuries old stigmatisation and persecution from other mainstream religions. More information available at: www.ancestralvoices.co.uk.
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Excellent topic. Looking forward to listening and taking part.