The African Traditional And Diasporic Religions Thread (Santeria, IFA, 21 Divisions, Sanse + etc)

[phcitywarrior]

I don't think these spirits are bad, or maybe not all. Usually americans have a simplistic view of things, then end up getting screwed.

Man, what I've seen with my own 2 eyes are more than some will see in a lifetime when it comes to these practices. Americans looking to get into this things don't know its deeper than meets the eye. Trust me, I've seen this stuff live from the source. My grand aunts and uncle where in this practice.

 

[Yehuda]

I know in ATL theres a resurgence of Ifa within the scammer/hustler/underground community. People have been making a lot of money from it but real evil things have been happening to those who falter.

Many people will say "ohh no this isnt black magic and its totally cool or the spirits are good and friendly etc"

I'll end with this quote from one of my favourite movies that is applicable to those quotes

"The greatest trick the devil ever played is convincing people he never existed"

These religions have been getting demonized for centuries, practicers losing their jobs, being attacked on the street going to jail because of it, naturally people involved with them will try to defend them.

 

[phcitywarrior]

These religions have been getting demonized for centuries, practicers losing their jobs, being attacked on the street going to jail because of it, naturally people involved with them will try to defend them.

They can defend all they want, I would never mess with it plain and simple. There's some straight up evil stuff in some of them that I've seen with my own two eyes. And not the watered down ones seen in the West. I'm talking about straight from the country of origin (Nigeria).

 

[Guvnor]

I don't think these spirits are bad, or maybe not all. Usually americans have a simplistic view of things, then end up getting screwed.

That's one thing too, our perspective is all wrong. We come into this thinking like Christians or thinking this is some fun thing to play with and a costume to put on but this here is real. It's many layers and you have to be dedicated and devoted which is why I feel Azelia Banks should make some different choices. She got blasted some weeks back when people saw the chicken blood all in her closet.

First off, that isn't protocol according to what I read. Furthermore, it should be private and is not for social media. If people now what you doing they know how to try and get you.

I've been trying to get into Santeria for almost a year now. I bought "Power of the Orishas" and it has intro level spells and Catholic saint parallels. I did find online of this huge old, rare book about down south hoodoo, it's seriously like 5000 pgs. haven't touched it yet. it has the history of it and interviews with practitioners.
My mom's friend was from Jamaica and practiced Ifa. She asked us to do a house cleansing. Her and her assistant came dressed in all white with white head wraps. They sprinkled holy water in every corner of the house, had us pray and chant. At the end she blessed some fruit and had us all eat it. She also told me about me and my mom's future. The crazy part is that as the ritual closed, her hand randomly started bleeding. She told me that this often happened to her at a cleansing, that she bled like Christ. After that I knew for sure African religions were legit.

Books like that on Santeria are nice to learn things from but they say to really get involved you need a padrino or padrina and need to be really practicing it. That sounds crazy though, I would probably lose my shyt if I saw that lol.

Exactly, these african practices aren't meant for the average person out there. Our ancestors practiced it but they lived a totally way of life. Even the elders who practice it out here ain't living that 9 to 5 rat life.

True, that's part of why it seems scary because their perspective was totally different. This was all they knew, no Christianity and even back then I doubt it was all good as no religion or spiritual tradition is.

 

[Guvnor]

yup, we don't have the coming of age rituals and processes to weed people out who arent worthy. So now you got cats trying to google this kind of stuff which is already a red flag. At the end of the day these people were in our communities to help us and give guidance through issues, but you got cats messing with stuff they do not understand to stunt.

Facts, which is what turned me off from Santeria. I'm a person who has had certain spiritual experience and feel I could benefit from more understanding. In fact every reading I ever got by a bablawo or Santeria priest they tell me I'm spiritual and should get a reading to find out if it's for me because it could benefit me without me saying a word about what I been through before. However, I have yet to find someone legit and who had I could feel a good vibe from to be my god parent. Way too many charlatans in the religion and people out here only looking for a bag. The religion is supposed to be about real community from what I hear and could really be used to create healing and give people guidance. That all changed with American consumerism and capitalism getting in the mix, because now by and large the religion is mostly a breeding ground for criminals. Both scheming babalawos and santeria priest and folks who are real street dudes who pay to get in when it's not even supposed to be something you can pay to get into. You are supposed to get a reading and that will let you know if it's part of your path but that went out the window, and even them doing readings for people who are not getting initiated to find out which orisha is over their head is something that should not be done and is more a cash grab.

Even in Nigeria people have told me that they are folks going out there paying for initiation and after the price is agreed upon they are finessed by the folks slapping on extra fees after for no reason or not giving them proper instruction. It's crazy!

These religions have been getting demonized for centuries, practicers losing their jobs, being attacked on the street going to jail because of it, naturally people involved with them will try to defend them.

Facts, that's another factor. Even with animal sacrifice, people's neighbors used to call police on them and they used to have to fight for their right to do it. I don't see people calling police on the jews when they sacrificing chickens or them meeting the same resistance though.

 

[Guvnor]

 

[Guvnor]

Interesting, I never seen anything like that before. What kind of feather is that? Do you know?

Though to be honest I feel a way when white people are taught this thing. He did this for an all white audience.

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

Interesting, I never seen anything like that before. What kind of feather is that? Do you know?

Though to be honest I feel a way when white people are taught this thing. He did this for an all white audience.

It should be eagle feather

Cacs will steal anything. He should be talking to AfAm kids.

 

[Guvnor]

It should be eagle feather

Cacs will steal anything. He should be talking to AfAm kids.

Oh, thanks fam. That's interesting.

Also indeed, I mean they are the reason we were stripped from these elements of our culture in the first place. I'm glad to see I'm not tripping and you see where I'm coming from on that.

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

If African gov'ts were serious, the Nigerian gov't (for example) would set up 'Nigeria Friendship Centres' where they could teach AfAms their ancestral languages, put an Orisha or Dibia there - just make connections with the diaspora you know?

 

[Guvnor]

If African gov'ts were serious, the Nigerian gov't (for example) would set up 'Nigeria Friendship Centres' where they could teach AfAms their ancestral languages, put an Orisha or Dibia there - just make connections with the diaspora you know?

Indeed, that would be amazing. Especially with more of our people such as myself even waking up and leaving behind Christianity and a lot of these religions. This would help with that kind of transition and allow people to get information first hand. Even with religion aside, many people want to learn more about their roots and this would be helpful. As long as they are ethical about this, it will also help them bring in some money and help their economy.

Perhaps even create an opportunity to create economic relations between us here in the diaspora and different countries in Africa.

 

[Guvnor]

 

[$cam-U-Well_Jack$on]

Voodoo is scary because it is real.

"Voodoo" isn't real but Vodou is. Voodoo is da demonization (in which is depicted via Hollywood and da media) of Vodou. Yes, I actively practice an ATR which is very much a way of life. Anything Afrikan is considered scary or how y'all say "demonic" to most folks. Nothing of truth regarding our practices will be found on da internet or in books (most are written by peckerwoods and those who haven't been initiated themselves). Azelia Banks ain't da authority on shyt and anything that's been said about Palo is sooooooooo far from da truth. No I won't get into specifics about anything that I practice. And yes, there's a lot of charlatans to be found in these practices. And as always, there's a buncha misinformation in this thread.

 

[$cam-U-Well_Jack$on]

I don't think these spirits are bad, or maybe not all. Usually americans have a simplistic view of things, then end up getting screwed.

From a Westernized perspective, things can or are often viewed in terms of good/bad.

 

[Guvnor]

"Voodoo" isn't real but Vodou is. Voodoo is da demonization (in which is depicted via Hollywood and da media) of Vodou. Yes, I actively practice an ATR which is very much a way of life. Anything Afrikan is considered scary or how y'all say "demonic" to most folks. Nothing of truth regarding our practices will be found on da internet or in books (most are written by peckerwoods and those who haven't been initiated themselves). Azelia Banks ain't da authority on shyt and anything that's been said about Palo is sooooooooo far from da truth. No I won't get into specifics about anything that I practice. And yes, there's a lot of charlatans to be found in these practices. And as always, there's a buncha misinformation in this thread.

So the Prenda doesn't have human bones, they don't put gun powder, bones, mercury, sticks and other items in it. Also they don't make pacts with these spirits and are responsible behind some graves being robbed in Florida.

I'm just saying Palo is scary as hell man lol. No disrespect.

Also you are right, Azelia Banks doesn't have no authority but I just posted that video because she gave some basic info and just to show she was into it. Though with her putting chicken blood in her closet, I don't think she knows what she is doing fully or she has some teachers that are misguiding her.