How will Afrikan Culture Survive?

[olufemi_baina_ayo]

We can intellectalize and practice Afrikan traditions at the same time,that way when a book is created it's coming from those who truly understnd the ancient traditions of Mother Afrika.

"We can intellectalize and practice Afrikan traditions at the same time,that way when a book is created it's coming from those who truly understnd the ancient traditions of Mother Afrika."

I am a bit confused by the statement so maybe I need to clarify mine. One of the things that has hurt our tradition more than anything is Afrikan people on the periphery intellectulizing the tradition. For instance people read certain things in a book about an Orisa and began to start wanting to act like the Orisa - or so they think. In fact, only EXPERIENCING that deity can help you overstand the deity. I do realize that many come in through an intellectual excericize. That is to be expected here in the West.

I have talked to MANY people who have intellectualized Afrikan spirituality and they had NO clue as to what they were talking about. For instance there is a Yoruba term called iwa pele. Many who have inetellectualized the tradition refer to this term as meaning "good character". But, as the Oluko of Ede Yoruba and owner of this forum can verify, there is nothing in the phrase that even implies the word "good". It means "gentle character". Now this brings us to how this foolishness began to be propogated in the first place. This started with a crakkka by the name of david wilson who dangerously and foolishly calls himself awo falokun fatunmbi.

And as you know the MOST that a crakkka can do with Afrikan spirituality is to intellectualize it. Ultimately, books are VERY good but without application it results in intellectualization. As you did mention intellectualizing and practicing I think I can overstand what you are saying to some degree. Yet, I will say at this point in my spiritual journey, I have long ceased in an attempt to intellectualize this tradition. I may have a lot to do with seeing the things I have seen in the tradition itself.

I welcome your feedback. Oda