“Meet the African women reviving traditional religions”
BBC Africa profiles several women who are reviving aspects of pre-Colonial spiritual practice.
Video
Witches’ Cradles by the Center for Tactical Magic (2009)
The Center for Tactical Magic conjures a radical reinvention of the “witches’ cradle” as an immersive ritual experience.
“Why Some Black Women Are Turning to Witchcraft”
VICE News reports on the increasing revival of Afro-Caribbean religions such as Voodoo and Lucumi as well as New Age witchcraft among Black American women.
“Why We Need Ethical Cults”
Jamie Wheal argues for the “ethical cult” as distinct from “traditional cults” such as institutionalized religions and “culty cults” a la the Peoples Temple, Nxivm, et al. More detail on the same theme here:
“Ruby Takes a Trip” (documentary, 1991)
I recorded this unusual and imaginative documentary on VHS tape back when it first screened, and re-watched it several times. During the first two-thirds, comedienne and presenter Ruby Wax lampoons various California New Age therapies and ostensibly mystical practices (or at least provides color commentary as they lampoon themselves) and it’s fun and funny to … Read more“Ruby Takes a Trip” (documentary, 1991)
Behind the scenes of the “Parable of the Sower” opera
The creators of the Parable of the Sower – a modern opera inspired by Octavia Butler’s prophetic 1992 work of dystopian fiction – describe the urgent relevance of their story in a time of climate crisis and social malaise: In this genre-defying work of concert performance featuring a powerhouse ensemble of 20 singers and musicians, … Read moreBehind the scenes of the “Parable of the Sower” opera
Grimes – “New Gods”
Grimes‘ music video for her 2020 album Miss Anthropocene imagines new gods for a new world: Miss Anthropocene is an art project by Grimes in which a new pantheon of modern Gods exist as humanoid versions of the concepts that dominate our lives, such as Climate Change, plastic, biological warfare, social media, etc. In the … Read moreGrimes – “New Gods”
OSHUN – “Blessings on Blessings”
More on the music of Oshun: OSHUN is a sonic manifestation of Afrofuturism, creating music ranging from Hip-Hop / Soul to Spiritual. Combining digital and acoustic sounds, heavy drums and bass, and ambient harmonic textures, OSHUN has amassed a following of over a million people across social media, streaming platforms and international touring. Their supporters span across … Read moreOSHUN – “Blessings on Blessings”
“How to Become a Cult Leader” (documentary, 2023)
In my quite deeply considered opinion, I’d make a terrible cult leader. I doubt that this upcoming Netflix documentary will change my mind, but I’m looking forward to it anyway. The culty cult story runs like classic Scooby Doo; you know exactly what’s going to happen, but it can be fun checking out the little … Read more“How to Become a Cult Leader” (documentary, 2023)