The Ancestors Were Right: Reclaiming African Spirituality as a Black Woman’s Divine Birthright

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In this manifesto…
We’re stepping into the truth that was stolen, scrubbed, and silenced. This post is a reclamation of African spirituality—the divine technologies of our ancestors that were once called “evil,” “primitive,” or “demonic.” We’re going to unpack how colonization, whitewashed religion, and U.S. meducation (yes, we said what we said) convinced many Black women that our original ways of knowing were invalid. You’ll learn about 3-5 ancestral African religious systems, what makes them powerful, and real practices you can begin today to reconnect with your lineage. This is not about appropriation. It’s about remembrance. About rising. About coming home.

The Ancestors Were Right: Reclaiming African Spirituality as a Black Woman’s Divine Birthright

I used to think ancestral worship was dangerous. Dark. Dirty. Something to run away from.
That’s what I was taught—through textbooks that called my ancestors "savages" and through Sunday school sermons that painted anything pre-Christian as "the devil's work."

And now? Now I know better.
Now I understand that my discomfort wasn’t my own—it was programmed.
It was colonized.
It was a direct result of meducation—that toxic mix of misinformation and manipulation served up in American schools, churches, and culture to keep us disconnected from the sacred.

Because let’s be honest:
If Black women were deeply connected to their ancestral power, the whole damn system would crumble.

We Weren’t Disconnected. We Were Disconnected On Purpose.

The truth is, African spirituality has never been lost—it was intentionally buried.

The West didn't just colonize land. It colonized God.

It took our divinity, repackaged it, and sold it back to us wrapped in fear, shame, and doctrine that only served whiteness.

So no wonder we were taught to flinch at words like:

• Ancestor veneration

• Orisha

• Vodun

• Libation

• Divination
  
  

We were taught to run from the very things that held our healing, power, clarity, and belonging.

But Sis, Here’s the Real Gag: You’re Not Learning—You’re Remembering

What I’m discovering isn’t new.

It’s old.
It’s ancient.
It’s home.

I’m not "learning" to honor my ancestors.
I’m remembering what it means to be a daughter of the divine.

You know that feeling you get when you hear the drum beat in your chest? That deep belly knowing when you light a candle and whisper to the spirit world?
That’s not superstition.

That’s ancestral technology waking up in your bones.

5 African Spiritual Traditions You Should Know About (and Practice From)

These aren’t all the African religions—but these are a few that center ancestral connection, divine feminine energy, and practical rituals for reclaiming your sacred self.

1. Ifá (Yoruba Spirituality – Nigeria)

Core Belief: Balance, destiny, and ancestral guidance through the Orisha.
Why It Matters: Ifá offers direct communication with ancestors and deities who guide your path.
Try This Practice:
Daily Water Offering — Each morning, pour fresh water into a glass and speak the names of your known ancestors. If you don’t know them, speak to “those who walked before me.” Give thanks. Ask for wisdom. Listen.

2. Akan Traditional Religion (Ghana)

Core Belief: The soul (kra) is divine, and ancestors live in the spirit world to guide the living.
Why It Matters: You are never alone. Your lineage walks beside you.
Try This Practice:
Ancestral Food Offering — Set aside a portion of your meal (especially home-cooked ones) for your ancestors. Place it on a small plate, say a prayer of gratitude, and leave it out for 15–30 minutes.

3. Vodun/Vodou (Benin, Togo, Haiti)

Core Belief: Spirit is in everything. Ritual and ancestral veneration are core to spiritual health.
Why It Matters: Vodun has been demonized, especially in the West. But it’s a rich, structured system of spirit work, healing, and empowerment.
Try This Practice:
Light + Ancestor Talk — On a white cloth, place a candle, a glass of water, and a photo (or symbol) of your ancestors. Sit quietly, light the candle, and speak to them. Tell them your worries. Ask them to guide you.

4. Kemetic Spirituality (Ancient Egypt)

Core Belief: Ma’at (truth, balance, order, harmony, justice) governs divine life.
Why It Matters: It connects us to a civilization that was rich, structured, and Black, countering every lie we’ve been taught about where knowledge comes from.
Try This Practice:
Morning Ma’at Invocation — Speak affirmations or prayers that align with truth and balance each morning. Example: “Today I walk in Ma’at. My heart is light. My words are true. My steps are guided by justice.”

5. Zulu Ancestral Worship (South Africa)

Core Belief: Ancestors are intermediaries between humans and God (Nkulunkulu).
Why It Matters: This system emphasizes dream interpretation and spiritual calling.
Try This Practice:
Dream Journal for Ancestral Messages — Keep a journal by your bed. Each morning, write down your dreams. Patterns or messages that repeat could be communication from ancestors trying to guide or protect you.

This Is Your Spiritual Birthright. Reclaim It.

There’s nothing “primitive” about pouring libations.
Nothing “satanic” about lighting candles or building an altar.
Nothing “demonic” about praying to the ones who survived so you could live.

It’s all yours. It’s all sacred. It’s all home.

When we reclaim African spirituality, we’re not rejecting God—we’re embracing a fuller, truer experience of the divine.

We’re repairing the break in the bloodline.

We’re re-membering the parts of us that were dismembered by force.

And sis, when we do this work, we don't just heal ourselves—we heal backward and forward. Our children feel it. Our communities rise. Our lineage shifts.

Let’s Make This Real: A Few Simple Steps to Begin

• Create an ancestor altar: It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just intentional.
  
  

• Read books like “Of Water and the Spirit” by Malidoma Patrice Somé.
  
  

• Follow elders and practitioners (Black ones) who teach from the tradition—not just aesthetics.
  
  

• Write a letter to your ancestors. Burn it. Or bury it. Or speak it aloud.
  
  

• Cook a meal from your culture and serve it in silence as prayer.
  
  

Final Thoughts: This Isn’t a Trend. It’s a Return.

This isn’t “witchy” because it’s cute.
This is your liberation strategy.
It’s spiritual. It’s political. It’s generational.

And no matter what they’ve told you…

You’re allowed to walk barefoot into the unknown and find your grandmothers waiting there with open arms.

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Live Pleasurably,

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