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Sacred Traditions: Mediumship As Ancestral Remembrance
Join us for the next installment of our Sacred Traditions program. Our virtual March event will focus on Mediumship as a practice of ancestral remembrance through a panel discussion bringing together mediums rooted in African and Indigenous traditions.
Across the African Diaspora, the practice of spiritual mediumship exists as one of many embodied practices. Mediumship is a spiritual faculty that allows contact with the ancestral realm and can manifest as a number of spiritual capacities ranging from clairvoyance to prophetic dreams. Mediumship does not require initiation into any religious tradition and is practiced by people of many religious faiths across the world.
The popular practice of Spiritism or Espiritismo brought to the Americas and the Caribbean by European followers of Allan Kardec, was widespread and often practiced by traditional African religious practitioners and non-practitioners alike.
Don’t miss this virtual discussion with our guest speakers, Nancy Martinez, Kadi Janna, Afimaye Galarraga and moderator Marinieves Alba as they discuss the gifts and responsibilities of mediumship in the modern age.
No registration is required. You can view the program live on March 16 at 7 p.m. on this page. To participate in the Q&A, view this program live at the scheduled time via our CCCADI Facebook or Youtube channel.
Panelist
Nancy Martinez has been working with Spirit since she was five years old. She is a Priestess of Yemaya and a Native American elder. For over three decades Nancy has conducted spiritual masses, smoke lodge gatherings, and most recently she is doing monthly Zoom shamanic sessions with participants from as far away as Australia. Nancy is a psychic teacher, advisor, and healer. Working with ancestors and spirit guides she does physical and paranormal healing sessions. She is a has been honored to wear the Sacred Buffalo headdress in Native American traditional ceremonies.
Panelist
Kadi Janna is a Lucumi Priest, Medium, Energy worker, Wholistic Intimacy Coach and Founder of The Pleasure Alchemy, a self-care focused community centered around women’s pleasure and spiritual development. She has a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts from The New School in NYC, and she currently resides in Houston, TX.
Panelist
Afimaye Galarraga is a well-respected spiritualist, medium, ancestral healer, and an Afro-Cuban Lukumi religious leader with over 29 years experience in Mediumship, Palo Mayombe and the Afro-Cuban Lukumí tradition. His spiritual blessings and teachings are based upon his life experiences and teachings passed down through generations of a family with a rich history. Through his influential upbringing alongside respected leaders of wisdom and the influence of Allan Kardec’s teachings, Afimaye works with clients to help them unlock what's within.
Moderator
Marinieves Alba is an organizational development and strategy consultant, cultural worker, and writer born and raised in New York City. She has worked in the international NGO and non-profit sector for over two decades, specializing in issues related to racial and cultural equity in the arts, education, and social justice more broadly. A seasoned trainer and facilitator, Marinieves is an advocate for holistic approaches to capacity building and leadership development and incorporates restorative and contemplative practices, somatics, and non-violent communication (NVC) into her work as an institution builder and coach. She was initiated as an Olo Obatala in February 2001.
ABOUT SACRED TRADITIONS:
In recognition of the role that spirituality plays in the cultures of African people and their descendants, Sacred Traditions is our series dedicated to advocating for the education and preservation of African-based Spirituality. Sacred Traditions programming is often offered in collaboration with traditional spiritual leaders, practitioners, cultural activists, and artists that retell and pass on the stories and practices that bind African descendants into one holistic family-building resilience today and into the future.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council.
All events may be subject to change.
SACRED TRADITIONS: LETRA DEL AÑO (ODU OF THE YEAR)
La Letra del Año or Odu of the Year is an annual Lucumí (Yoruba) divination ceremony conducted by a council of babalawos (Ifa priests) in Cuba, which is announced on January 1st each year. This "reading" for the world provides a sacred blueprint and predictions for the year ahead. In Yorubaland, the ceremony is usually conducted during the Odun Ifa Festival later in the Gregorian Calendar. Annually, CCCADI hosts a panel of Lucumí priests to discuss the year's forecast. You are invited to join us for this Sacred Traditions community panel discussion.
Bringing together the voices of oluwos, oba oriates, and oloshas, the panel is designed to foster a multi-generational dialogue which centers the collective wisdom of the Lucumi community in the U.S. in response to this annual tradition. This dialogue is not meant to replace the wisdom and guidance of Lucumí elders and practitioners across the globe who also divine on behalf of their countries, regions, and iles (religious houses and temples).
Guest Speakers:
Oluwo John McCoy
Oluwo Ramin Khorassani
Oluwo Joseph Caroll-Miranda
Oba Oriate Frank Bell
Oba Oriate Danny Rodriguez
Moderator:
Olo-Obatala Marinieves Alba
To receive the link to the virtual program, you must register in advance.
Este programa contará con un intérprete de español.
OLUWO JOHN MCCOY
Oluwo John (Obataiye) McKoy was initiated to Yemaya Asesu on October 19, 1973 by his godmother, Mama Keke and John Mason, his ojugbona. He is the ocha grandson of pioneering iyalosha, Sunta Serrano (Osa Unko). A son of Olokun, Baba John was the first Black Native American initiated to Ifa in the United States, on May 9, 1983. He was initiated to Ifa by his godfather Oluwo Rigoberto Leonard (Iwori Boshe) in the house of Oluwo Delfin Gomez (Ogunda Leni). Baba John was responsible for coordinating early communication between the Miguel Febles Padron Organizing Commission for the “Odu of the Year” (Letra del Año)in Havana, Cuba, and other Lucumi Diaspora communities prior to the use of the internet and social media.
OLUWO JOSEPH CAROLL-MIRANDA
Dr. Joseph Carroll-Miranda is Awo Orunmila Oyekunbikalomi, Olo Oshun based out of Puerto Rico. For the past sixteen years he has collaborated with the Letra de Año of Puerto Rico hosted by the Templo Yoruba Omo Orisha de Puerto Rico founded by Roberto Boluffer Ogunda Lení. Currently he is working with Ancestral Knowledge Systems by establishing an Ancestral Research Network in ways that honor the bodies of knowledge from the Afro-Caribbean ancestors and experience.
OBA ORIATE DANNY RODRIGUEZ
Obabi was initiated to Shango on July 12th 1986 from the hands of his Madrina Oloshunde and his Oyubona, Sholanigue. He comes from a family of initiates and his wife and four children are also initiated. He has worked as Oba/Oriate for the last 21 years. He has presided among many ceremonies here in the Tri-State area, all over the US, and abroad. Obabi also holds a Masters Degree in Education, and other certificates such as Latin American Studies and Secondary Ed; Spanish. He has given many lectures and presentations on this tradition at several universities all of the the country: Harvard, Boston University, and Duke to name a few. He currently resides in New Jersey.
OLUWO RAMIN KHORASSANI
Oloye Ramin Khorassani, is a priest of Ifa, Orisa and Aña born in New York City of Cuban Iranian descent. His first steps guided by the late elder priestess of Yemaya Hilda Herrera Omi Iré Ile Ekun, at the age of 5. Early on it was instilled in him that respect of his elders and ancestors should always be in the forefront of our day to day lives. In 2004 he was consecrated to the sacred Aña drums Aña Ade, under the guidance and teaching of Babalawo Olubata Felix Sanabria Awo Oshebile. Being someone that knew the values and richness of our culture from an early age. He began to rise within the tambor scene where he became one of the main exponents of drumming culture in Nyc bembes. He was crowned Oshun in May 2007 under Iyalorisa Omi Iré Ile Ekun Hilda Herrera and her granddaughter Hildita Herrera Oshun Cuenda. Continuing the culture of being an Omo Aña / Olorisa led to his consecrating Ifa at Araba Onifa of Abeokuta, Adio Abatí’s compound in 2009. Being consecrated to ifa in the original home of Yemoja didn’t seem to be much of a coincidence especially since his biological mother and spiritual mother were both children of Yemaya. In 2010 he relocated to Miami, Fl where he continues to be a main pillar of the Ifa Aña Orisa community to this day. Consecrated into the sacred Ogboni temple in 2015 and received a title of chieftaincy in 2017 from Iledi Awon Omo Yoruba.
OBA ORIATE FRANK BELL
Frank Bell has been a seasoned Oriate in the Cuban Lukumi tradition for over 26 years. He brings a wealth of comprehensive knowledge of the various song interpretations dedicated to the Orisha from the Afro-Cuban belief system. He is a traditional knowledge keeper through his mastery of the patakis and divination systems integral to the tradition. Mr. Bell is a Bata drummer and a performer of the dance traditions of the varied African based belief systems of Cuba. His expertise is well-known and respected throughout the Orisha community.
OLO-OBATALA MARINIEVES ALBA
Marinieves Alba is an organizational development and strategy consultant, cultural worker, and writer born and raised in New York City. She has worked in the international NGO and non-profit sector for over two decades, specializing in issues related to racial and cultural equity in the arts, education, and social justice more broadly. A seasoned trainer and facilitator, Marinieves is an advocate for holistic approaches to capacity building and leadership development and incorporates restorative and contemplative practices, somatics, and non-violent communication (NVC) into her work as an institution builder and coach. She was initiated as an Olo Obatala in February 2001.
SACRED TRADITIONS
In recognition of the role that spirituality plays in the cultures of African people and their descendants, Sacred Traditions is our series dedicated to advocating for the education and preservation of African-based Spirituality. Sacred Traditions programming is often offered in collaboration with traditional spiritual leaders, practitioners, cultural activists, and artists that retell and pass on the stories and practices that bind African descendants into one holistic family building resilience today and into the future.
Sacred Traditions is made possible by funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
SACRED TRADITIONS: HONORING THE FEAST DAY OF SANGÓ
JOIN US FOR ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF SACRED TRADITIONS, OUR SERIES DEDICATED TO ADVOCATING FOR THE EDUCATION AND PRESERVATION OF AFRICAN-BASED SPIRITUALITY. THIS UPCOMING PROGRAM COMMEMORATES THE FEAST DAY OF THE ORISHA SANGÓ, LORD OF DRUM AND DANCE, SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIOR AND LORD OF LIGHTNING AND THUNDER.
Last year, we honored Sangó in the Lucumi tradition of Cuba with our presentation of El Nuevo Oro, and we continue our Diasporic journey for this year’s celebration by highlighting the Sangó Baptist tradition of Trinidad and Tobago.
CCCADI Executive Director, Melody Capote and Michael Manswell, Creative Director of Something Positive, explore the Sangó Baptist tradition, its origins, distinctions, and connections to other African-based Spirituality. Melody and Michael take a look back at a past collaboration between CCCADI and Something Positive in 2015, a musical presentation that also highlighted Sangó within the program Ache Lavagem da Rua at Lincoln Center Out of Doors.
This discussion and retrospective will be followed by a performance by Something Positive especially designed for Sangó’s feast day (December 4th).
You can view the program here on December 10th or view it via CCCADI Facebook or Youtube.
SACRED TRADITIONS: AFROLATINX & AFRICANS - A SPIRITUAL RECONNECTION
VIRTUAL WORKSHOP SERIES
We have partnered with The God Box Foundation to present the CCCADI community with an opportunity to go on a spiritual pilgrimage to Ghana and experience the most celebrated Pan-African festival in the world, PANAfest, in July 2023.
The creation of this pilgrimage was born from the clear need to bridge the gap between the African Diaspora, particularly from within Latin American communities, to the Pan-African ideology that the only way to overcome white supremacy is by rejoining the umbilical that was cut between Africans and the global African Diaspora.
To create further accessibility and to deepen participant interest in Pan-African ideology, we are offering a discount of 10% on the overall cost of the tour package to travelers who participate in Sacred Traditions x God Box Talks: AfroLatinxs & Africans, A Spiritual Reconnection.
This four-part virtual series will prepare travelers for their transformative experience in Ghana by exploring the factors that have contributed to the lack of AfroLatinx travel to the continent. It will explore AfroLatinx identity as it relates to the ideals and beliefs of Pan-Africanism in the 21st century and will provide a resource library as a tool for further preparation before embarking on this journey to the Motherland.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:
The registration fee for this series is $60. It includes access to all live workshops included in the series, a participant library of resources, and access to a 10% discount on the total cost of your selected travel package.
DECEMBER 1, 2022 @ 6:30-8:30 PM EST
Forming AfroIndigenous Identities: Transcontinental Connections Before Columbus
FEBRUARY 2, 2023 @ 6:30-8:30 PM EST
Shifting AfroIndigenous Cultural Identities During the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
APRIL 6, 2023 @ 6:30-8:30 PM EST
Embodying AfroLatinidad in the Aftermath of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
JUNE 8, 2023 @ 6:30-8:30 PM EST
La Matria: Returning Home & Reimagining Our AfroFutures
SACRED TRADITIONS: VOICES OF THE GODS A FILM SCREENING AND Q&A
In this installment of the series CCCADI partners with The BEAUCOUP HOODOO ATRs Book Club to screen the film Voices of Gods (1985). The film documents the rich legacy of ancient African religions practiced today in the United States.
Moderated by Iyalorisa Shantrelle P. Lewis, the screening will be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker, Al Santana and Okomfo Dr. Adwoa Tano, a priest in the Akana tradition.
SACRED TRADITIONS: LA LETRA DEL AÑO (ODU OF THE YEAR)
Annually, CCCADI hosts a panel of Lucumi priests to discuss the year's forecast. You are invited to join us for this Sacred Traditions panel discussion.
SACRED TRADITIONS: EL NUEVO ORO: A NEW GENERATION OF YORUBA SACRED SOUND
A virtual musical performance showcasing the newest generation of olu-bata, omo-alanya, and akpwon in NYC’s Lucumi community and commemorating the feast day of Shango.
