Africa is a continent of 54 countries and about 3000 tribes. Almost all of those tribes are rooted in the cultures of their ancestors. Some of these cultures include stories of gods and goddesses and immortalized human beings. Their perception of God, religion, or creation differs according to their own experiences. So, when we speak of African spirituality, we speak of a vastness of varieties.
But where is African spirituality today?
Lately, a number of young and middle-aged Africans seem to be returning to their roots. How? By reconnecting with the Black Diaspora traditions or traditional religions associated with their or other tribes. They are embracing not just their traditional beliefs and practices but some Eastern ones as well.
This can be seen in the rise of yoga studios, wellness centers, meditation camps, and other similar establishments. Themes of self-love, self-acceptance, enlightenment, growth, self-development and more are ingrained in these newly embraced traditions. A root ideology is a statement like “so within, so without.” This implies that whatever happens internally, in your inner temple, mind, or heart, is reflected externally. Which means it’s in how you interact with others, events in your life, or even how you allow yourself to be treated.
Traditional beliefs
As an example, consider Ifa, the Yoruba religion. Awo Falokun Fatumbi defines the term as “nature’s wisdom” or “that which guides through the process of spiritual growth.” It is the incorporation of ancestral wisdom into our personal lives and the community as a whole. It forewarns and guides your interactions with the outside world in order to lead you to your destiny.
“Ifa and Ife form a polarity with Ife being the Yoruba word for unconditional love,” explains Awo Falokun Fatumbi in Inner peace, the Yoruba Concept of Ori.
“This polarity is nurtured and developed in the realm of the Ori,” clarifies Fatumbi.
“…because it is a manifestation of both thought and emotion, a better definition would be either the human soul, or the human spirit.” Therefore, ancestral wisdom combined with unconditional love will lead you towards the right path.
It may appear that people are becoming more aware of the importance of cultivating love, inner peace, and nurturing their personal growth and healing. Perhaps this is one of the main reasons why these practices are becoming more popular. Many of these traditions emphasize the value of long-term cultivation. We will not become whole and wise in a single day. They see spirituality as a kind of life lesson in which you must perform spiritual practices as a guide towards the end goal. This could be achieving your destiny, connecting with your inner divinity, or ascending to the earthly realm.
There is almost no doubt as to why more Africans are combining some of these ancestral practices and Eastern traditions with their religions.