In this illuminating conversation, I speak with Shantrelle P. Lewis about the complex world of Black spirituality and African Traditional Religions in light of the conversations around the new movie “Sinners”.
Drawing from her expertise as a filmmaker, curator, author, and initiated Yoruba Shango priest, Shantrelle offers profound insights into how African spiritual systems have survived and evolved throughout the diaspora.
As an eighth-generation New Orleanian with ancestral ties to Haiti, she provides a uniquely informed perspective on traditions often misunderstood or deliberately obscured in mainstream narratives. Our discussion moves from the recent film "Sinners" to the historical foundations of various African-derived spiritual practices, revealing their continued influence in contemporary Black cultural expression.
Shantrelle’s Social Media: Beaucoup Hoodoo and APShantology
Shantrelle’s Documentary: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14369930/
Shantrelle’s Store: https://www.beaucouphoodoo.com/
Right now, less than 4% of my followers are paid subscribers. What could we accomplish with more support?
🏫 At 5% paid subscribers: I could interview even more cultural historians who are preserving the religious traditions of our ancestors.
📚 At 10% paid subscribers: I could create detailed travel and study guides for anyone who wants to learn more about ATR’s.
👥 At 20% paid subscribers: I could travel across the diaspora, as Shantrelle and Zora Neale Hurston did, to document these practices up close!
I’m going to be very upfront: You might be thinking someone else will step up to fund this work, but that's exactly what everyone else is thinking too—this only works if each one of us contributes what we can, which is just the cost of a coffee each month.
Outline with Timestamps:
Introductions and Setting the Context (00:00:00 - 00:02:10)
Personal greetings and brief conversation about seasonal allergies
Shantrelle introduces her New Orleans heritage and Howard University background
Acknowledgment of viewers joining the conversation from various locations
"Sinners" and Its Cultural Resonance (00:02:11 - 00:08:50)
Shantrelle recounts viewing "Sinners" in 70mm format
Connections between the film's themes and her personal heritage
Analysis of Ryan Coogler's visual and sonic techniques
The film as a metaphorical portal connecting viewers to ancestral experiences
Foundations of African Traditional Religions (ATR’s) (00:08:51 - 00:18:23)
Clarification that ATRs recognize one supreme being with lesser deities
The historical context of pre-colonial African spiritual systems
The central role of ancestors as living parts of community
Values of healing, protection, and good character (Iwa Pele)
Diasporic Adaptations and Survival (00:18:24 - 00:27:03)
How spiritual traditions adapted within different colonial contexts
The critical distinction between Catholic and Protestant colonial regions
Evolution of Santeria, Lukumi, Candomblé, and Vodou in various locations
Hoodoo's development as protection and resistance in the Protestant American South
New Orleans Voodoo and Historical Impact (00:27:04 - 00:36:35)
Historical significance of New Orleans as a cultural crossroads
Marie Laveau's extraordinary influence as a spiritual leader
The Haitian Revolution's connection to African spiritual practices
Subsequent suppression of drums and ritual practices as tools of liberation
Christianity and Historical Narratives (00:36:36 - 00:50:02)
Examination of claims regarding Christianity's African origins
Comparative analysis of Ethiopian Christianity versus West African traditions
The strategic implementation of Christian conversion through colonization
Perspective reversal: viewing Christian symbols and practices through an external lens
Cultural Appropriation and White Supremacy (00:50:03 - 01:00:59)
The establishment of European aesthetics as "universal" standards
Contrasting philosophical approaches in European and African artistic traditions
Functions of cultural hegemony in centralizing European expressions
The importance of critical historical inquiry and independent research
Literary Resources and Further Study (01:01:00 - 01:08:30)
Essential texts for understanding African spiritual traditions
Zora Neale Hurston's pioneering ethnographic contributions
Dr. Katrina Hazardano's work in legitimizing Hoodoo as a spiritual system
Dr. Jacob Olupona's research on how diaspora communities preserved African religions
Concluding Remarks and Contact Information (01:08:31 - 01:10:29)
Where to find Shantrelle's work and Philadelphia bookstore
Invitation to join her African Traditional Religions book club
Final reflections on the significance of ongoing conversations about spiritual heritage
Acknowledgment of the conversation's continuation beyond this discussion
Thank you
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