African spiritual practices: talk by Dr Michelle Asantewa

How Europe Demonises African Spiritual Practices: Talk by Dr Michelle Asantewa

While awareness of African spiritual traditions is slowly increasing, these practices are still widely misunderstood and often portrayed in negative, harmful ways. In this talk, cultural educator and author Dr Michelle Asantewa will explore how African spiritual systems have been demonised through a European lens and examine the far-reaching impact of this distortion.

The recent film Sinners by Ryan Coogler sparked renewed interest in the spiritual legacies that link Africans across the continent and the diaspora. Using this as a starting point, the talk will offer deeper insight into the ways African spirituality has been historically misrepresented, especially in contrast with Western Christianity, and how these ideas continue to shape cultural perceptions today.

This event is presented by Way Wive Wordz in partnership with Fulham Palace and connects closely with the current exhibition, The Bishop of London, colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade. The exhibition highlights how African spiritual practices were used as a means of resistance against enslavement and colonial oppression, and the role of the Church in this history.

This talk includes topics such as:

• What is African indigenous spirituality?
• Spiritual retentions in the diaspora and how they are practised
• Misrepresentations and stereotyping of African traditions
• The psychological and cultural impact of spiritual distortion
• Spiritual resistance to slavery and colonialism
• Esu: a central Orisa in Yoruba belief and his misidentification as a devil figure
• The criminalisation of Obeah by the British in the 18th century – and its status today
• The Haitian Revolution and the significance of Voudou

This talk is part of Fulham Palace’s year-round Black History 365 series, which re-examines established narratives and brings to light the experiences of those historically marginalised.

About the speaker

Dr Michelle Asantewa is an award-winning author, independent educator, cultural consultant and co-founder of Way Wive Wordz Publishing. Her work explores African and Caribbean spiritual traditions and cultural heritage, with publications including Elijah, Guyanese Komfa: The Ritual Art of Trance, Something Buried in the Yard, and Rupununi Affair (2024). Her biography of her mother, Mama Lou Tales, won the Guyana Literary Prize in 2022.

Michelle also leads the Annual Osun River Ritual in Morden Hall Park and regularly facilitates walking meditation and creative writing workshops.

Event details:

• This is a free event organised by Way Wive Wordz.
• This talk is part of the Black History 365 series.
• Visitors are encouraged to arrive early to visit the exhibition before the talk begins.