Ancestral Voices: Esoteric African Knowledge
Avant-garde at its time of release, it is the first film to bring to the mainstream discourse, the still taboo and marginalized topic of African Spirituality. It would consequently pave the way for the vast range of films now being released about the topic such as Djimon Hounsou’s ‘In Search of Voodoo: Roots to Heaven’ (2017) and the Danny Glover backed Brazilian film on the Orisha traditions ‘Summer of the Gods’ (2014)
It opens up the discourse on why African spiritual systems remain demonized whilst other spiritual systems are revered the world over. Using comparative analyses, it explores tenets (ideas/concepts) found across the various religious and spiritual systems; including the Abrahamic Faiths, Hinduism and Buddhism, to show the vast areas of overlap and commonality that are largely ignored.
It ultimately poses the question to the viewer that if they are so similar in framework and ideas, then what is the yardstick used to still maintain that African Spirituality is all evil and negative?
It also covers the impact of the media and colonialism in presenting a distorted view of it that does not foster an accurate understanding or perception of it.
Full film available on DVD & Digital Streaming
www.ancestralvoices.co.uk/av1
