Check it out
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/oya-rise-of-the-orisha--2
Black Writers Redefine African American History
Writers and artists
have always played pivotal roles in restructuring the social
hierarchy of class and race in the United States. Early writings
such as Narrative of the
Life of Fredrick Douglass authored by Fredrick
Douglass vividly portrayed the brutality of slavery greatly
advancing the abolitionist movement. W. E B. Du Bios’
Black
Reconstruction in America challenged the
prevailing orthodoxy of black inferiority. Other greats such as Z.
Hurston, C. Cullen, and J. Toomer provided inspirational leadership
that resulted in the explosion of African art and literary
expression known as the Harlem Renaissance.
The mid-20th century gave rise to
novelist Richard Wright and his attention to racial segregation and
injustice. Works during the Civil Rights Movement included texts by
Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. and The Autobiography
of Malcolm X and Roots
both penned
by Alex Haley. The late 20th century brought award
winning writers such as Alice Walker and Toni Morrison to the fore
of narrative and historical fiction. Black literature was (beyond
L. Hansberry’s, A Raisin in the
Sun) making its way as
inclusive American classics.
Today’s African-American writers are working to remove the veil
that continues to distort our history and religion. Following the
footsteps of Ben Okri and Wole Soyinka, these writers delve into
creative fictional narrative that portrays the beauty and
psychological depth of African arts, history, epics, and myths; and
the characters that embody them.
Added to the list of emerging writers are: Oloye Karade and Yamaya
Cruz. Mr. Karade is the author of Storms of the
Orisha and Emina and the Lake
Dragon. His fictional
narratives are based on knowledge amassed over his thirty years as
an initiate in the Yoruba/Ifa religious tradition. The spirits and
deities of the tradition serve as mythological and religious
entities directly impacting the characters and plots of his novels.
Yamaya Cruz writes with a flow of New Age spirituality embedded
with twist and turns distinctively African. Her novel,
When
the Shadows Began to Dance is a creative narrative
that depicts enslaved Africans beset by mental disorders –disorders
alleviated by supplications to African deities and ancestors who’d
also survived the Middle Passage. The healing of minds torn by
horrid treatment via faith in the ‘old ways’ is the premise behind
her work.
As a community, we understand that our ancestors survived the
atrocities committed against them in America and the entire world
by keeping African art and culture alive. We ask that you help us
in our similar endeavor. Our community is now open and we’re
accepting members. Also, if you have works of literature, art, or
music we’d love to review them and place them on the New African
Spirituality website. Together we can win.
If you
are looking for a crash course on how to be fearless, check out my
e-course. The Seven
African Powers: The Stepping Stones to Enlightenment.
Or, if you have additional
questions call for a consultation. I am always ready and willing to help!
www.newafricanspirituality.com
