World View

The ultimate expression of the African world-view is the experience or phenomenon of ritual. It is only through ritual that death can be understood as rebirth. It is through ritual that new life was given to the African spirit. We performed and experienced ritual drama in North America. The modality of ritual drama was foreign to the Euro-American ethos, and, therefore could not have come from that source. We performed the "ring shout" in the "hush harbors," the "night sings," and the "prayer meetin's". away from white surveillance, when we could, we would come together. We would gather slowly, a few at a time. at night - a special time for us. Night was special not only because the day's work was over and because it helped to hide us, but also because that is when spiritual energies and powers are most potent. "Marimba Ani, "Let the Circle Be Unbroken"