The Assata Shakur site has a lot of information on African spirituality on their forum in case anyone wants to research different African 'religions'.

However there is an ignorance amongst many Africans as to the belief systems of their ancestors and their current people. I've mentioned before that some people have no problem checking the newspaper for the star sign, playing ouija boards and visiting european clairvoyantsand put all their trust in it, but the minute an African face is attached to it they freak out.

Same people will go out and get Chinese herbal remedies (whose roots are African anyway) but refrain from touching anything from back home.

Amazes me, some of my people.

For someone of Yoruba extract I'm truly amazed and impressed..I have only known Brazilians to carry on the Shango tradition in the Diaspora..I have always been regaled by Tales pf Shango and Ogun and happy that one of the most revered literary figures in the World Prof Wole Soyinka is a fervent advocate of this part of our culture and keeps banging on that we have our own ways of worship.... unfortunately people use traditional medicine for Evil and Greed though in its pure form its truly something to behold

We also have Yoruba speaking people in Jamaica and Cuba, ever since The Maafa.

If we were to believe the European version of history, Africans and their culture vanished, when millions of Africans vanished from the African Continent.

But one does not have to look too hard to see that is not the truth.

The reason this lie was, and is still propogated is because a people who do not "exist", have no rights other people need respect; powers that be can simply do as they like - justifying themselves via myths about their obvious moral/historical/cultural superiority.

If they can "educate" Africans into appreciating this historical worldview, those Africans will cease to exist even in their own minds; in fact they will have no mind, because those Africans will have no reality based understanding of themselves, their people and their world.

Completely delusional yet fully functional according to that oppressive society's definition of normality.

Now there's a contradiction!!

It is easy to see why we black folk are still it would seem 100s of years from realizing what it will take for us to elevate ourselves as a power to be reckonned with.

the white man does not need to divide us, we do a damn good job of it ourselves.

if an 'ignorant' fellow black were to read some of the things said here about the white man it would scare the shyt our of him. the tenor of this site is certainly to strengthen black people and bring us together as a people. if this would be done we must stop going on so much about the white man and look at us and what we can do to begin the process.

my skin is thick and i fear no one, but a traveler on the 'road of enlightenment' better have thick skin to stay here if he or she would be honest. i do not push my belief on anyone, but i will defend it as others their's do their's.

Lord God let me see the day when we will be able to sit down together as a people and stop talking and start doing...amen...

i certainly am....i know that it is fast growing of late i think 3rd behind hinduism and islam.

i use hoo doo because that is what it was called where i am from. i never studied it or cared about it. i know what is in New Orleans, but there were some people around here who practiced what the adherents called hoodoo. i am sure it was a form of voodoo.

the most famous one i remember was the lady they called the "two headed lady" who lived in Gilliam, La. she used eggs a lot. she had a strong 'familiar spirit', she could tell people all kinds of things about themselves at a hint.

i once remember a girl who came and asked me about going to her. Her mother in law wanted her and her son to go and get a blessing from her. i warned her and she has not been the same since. lost her job at GM because she was paranoid.

It was said that she would often tell men how much money that had in either pocket to a penny.

Other places that I knew that people went to 'see the lady' were Winsboro, some place right out side of Nachitouches, i knew of one believe it or not who lived and operated on Christian street.

No one ever talked about sacrifices or rituals, only that these people had power. now in New Orleans it was different, they killed the goats and chickens down there.

people in louisiana believe strongly in hexes.

When I went into the military and was stationed in Ft. Jackson, SC. when i got a package of goodies from home the new york, detroit, chicago and upstate boys would not eat stuff from Louisiana. There is a believe in he art of cooking and hexing here.

I believe adding menustration issue to food or drinks was supposed to hex a man for a woman.

Although I do not fear it I know that there are spirits that are empowered by demonic powers. the bible teaches such. satan is the prince of this world and has powers at work across the globe and gives power to those who practice the arts.

As i said before and someone shouted me down, witchcraft is not exclusive to Africa. sorcery has been around along time.

Although I know that satan has power i also know that his power is not comparible to that of God. I have no fear what I eat or drink....no harm can come to me unless God allows it. My mind is in perfect peace because I have the mind of Christ. I can speak a word and demons flee. I can send them back from whence they came by calling out the name of Jesus.

if you practice the craft or what ever you call it BBC, i dare you call out the name of Jesus. do it and tell us in all honesty what happened. Just simply say Jesus and was what happens to the spirits that are around you. i dare you...want to see who has all power...use the name of Jesus if you can. You are free aren't you?

Some have integrated their practice with Christianity and it works just fine, no lightening flashes or portals to hell opening beneath them, no need to worry yourself meknow, theres a greater evil out there causing division and strife within and between peoples don't you think?

i certainly agree bl, i already said that voodoo nor hoodoo freighten me. i am connected to the higher power bl, no worries...nah fraid...

Thats good .lol.

A lot of us are afraid of more traditional religions and customs, personally think/feel its because we, as diasporan africans, obviously held to our own or the same customs as on the continent and have been forcefully distanced from them, reconnecting with something thats very much still alive in ourselves can prove to be an overwhelming and at times frightening experience. Deep within ourselves we still recognize the symbols and the practices because we embodied them for such a long time... a very long time .lol.

Its ourselves we're afraid of really not so much the deities, the chickens or the goats. End up tripping up on ourselves to boot, as you say we need to stop, ''blaming'' europeans and others for our problems and heal ourselves, something thats not possible until we can reconnect with our selves wouldn't you say?

Can't call yourself by someone elses definition, gotta use your own.