The Powers of African Spirituality in Global Consciousness: Light, Vision, & Truth

This interdisciplinary gathering will host scholars along with priestesses and priests from the Akan sacred path who work in Ghana, the U.S., and elsewhere across the globe. It will explore the recent revitalizations of African spirituality—especially Akan practices—in the U.S. and elsewhere.

In contrast to more conventional approaches that tend to trace a subduing of African spirituality or that tend to examine its role as “context” for other shifts (economic, political, social, cultural), the panel will explore the powers of African spiritual traditions on their own terms. How do these systems of healing, divination, connection, sacrifice, adjudication, protection, and broader relations with the spiritual realm (deities, ancestors, and other beings) enjoy renewed power in shrine networks across Africa, the U.S., and elsewhere? How do these systems illuminate new depths that may unsettle or enrich prevailing notions of truth, ethics, knowledge, governance, or justice? The discussions will draw from a range of disciplines, including theology, anthropology, history, psychology, law, and philosophy.

This event participates in the Being Human Festival 2019 of the Humanities Council.