African Diaspora is a term used to describe the mass movement of African culture and religion during the slave trade. During this time, the colonists who were taking away the freedom, names, and lives of the slaves, could not take away their religion and beliefs. Diaspora is the incredible instance in when even though the religion is spread out around the world, people are able to still follow it with their own culture as a part of it. These religion are able to adapt and connect with different cultures, religions, and beliefs. The religion of Yoruba was able to spread to many different areas along the Atlantic Coast during this time and with this came populations who brought their own, new culture to the religion. In the documentary, Sacred Journeys with Bruce Feiler: “Oṣun-Oṣogbo”, two American girls are followed as they travel to Nigeria in order to become priestesses. This religion is an African Diaspora and this is proven by these two young college students and their travels to Nigeria and a center of Yoruba religion.
The main story follows two students, Alatin Stewart and Oni Yebiye Hinton, and their journey to Osogbo, Nigeria. It starts off with the back streets of the biggest city in Nigeria, which is Lagos. This beginning of the documentary is compelling because the images show a part of town that is run down, dirty and overrun by stray animals. Then, a gate opens for Stewart and Hinton, revealing a beautiful altar and the connective power that this religion holds. Later in the documentary, Stewart and Hinton go to a sacred festival called Oshun-Oshogbo. Oshun is a deity that is associated with water, fertility, love and purity and this festival is to honor her. The main part of the festival is when a young, virgin maid, carries sacrifices to a river front. After this, she is now regarded as a goddess as she leads everyone back. This is an incredible and passionate festival welcome to all. It starts on the streets, where everyone is trying food from different types of people and cultures. One of the most interesting parts about this festival is the sheer number of people who attend that are not African Diaspora followers. The importance of this festival is emphasized by the history of African culture. Africans were pushed out of their land and forced to change religion. As the priest said towards the end of the documentary, “We left Africa, but Africa never left us.” This demonstrates how they spread out over the globe hundreds of years ago, and each year are able to make it back to where their ancestors once lived and celebrate unity.
“Diasporas are social products that must be rehearsed, represented and refreshed; they do not spring up or endure automatically; rather they demand continuous long-enduring effort.” (Johnson, 515) This quote, from an excerpt of “Religions of the African Diaspora” by Paul Christopher Johnson, explains that the African Diaspora religion needs to be constantly practiced to ensure that the long history of the religion is not forgotten. This is shown in the documentary about the Oshun-Oshogbo festival. This festival is done every year and most things about it do not change. These people continue to practice this religion and barely change anything about it. This is in agreement with Johnson because these people keep their religion in mind and make sure that the little aspects and traditions are kept generation after generation. This also demonstrates Johnson’s idea that this religion did not spontaneously arise; it has been worked on since the slave trade to the present day and will continue to grow. This religion will be long lasting due to the accepting nature of its followers. They are not secluded, many followers are also Christian and Muslim and are able to integrate aspects from both religions into their own beliefs. For the reason of world connections and the ability to integrate and change, Yoruba is an African Diaspora Religion.
-Seth Epling