HISTORY
Since its inception in 2000, the African Traditional Spiritual Coalition has hosted several Sacred Healing Circles that have been led by the Akan, Ausar Auset, Sangoma, Yoruba and Vodoun communities.
The first one was held at Mount Ararat Church Outreach Center, Suitland, Maryland in 2000. Subsequent ones were held at the same location as well as at a park near the Chesapeake Bay in Lusby, MD.
In response to an invitation by the Smithsonian Institute in 2000, the African Traditional Spiritual Coalition (ATSC) participated in the 34th Annual Folklife Festival. The Institute provided the Coalition with a grant that was used to publish its first Sacred Healing Circle Booklet. The Coalition’s purpose at the Festival was to represent part of the broad spectrum of religious practices in the Washington, D.C. area. Members from all four paths assembled to sing sacred songs accompanied by drumming and dance.
In 2005, the Coalition was invited by Procultura (presently known as the International Center for Cultural Studies) to participate in its African Healing Wisdom Conference held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Washington, D.C. Members of the Coalition gave presentations on panels entitled “What is Traditional African Healing”, “Concepts of Health and Disease,” “Healthy Children,” “Integration and Collaboration,” “Women’s Health,” “Spirituality and Health,” “African Traditional Medicine and Community Healing,” and “Drums that Heal”.
In 2007, the Elegba Folklore Society invited the Coalition to perform a special ritual at the newly discovered “Negro Burial Site” in downtown Richmond. About fifty Coalition members from all four paths organized and constructed a special altar used in a ritual to elevate captured African ancestors who had been buried and forgotten underneath a parking lot.
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After several years of inactivity, Akua Oparebea received a message from Spirit that the Sacred Unifying Healing Circle was to be done again. The members of Division 330 of the UNIA & ACL agreed to be the Pan-African organization to call upon the Coalition to bring back this event for the healing of the community. With the guidance of Spirit, Akua and Okomfo Adwoa Yasmin, begin the work to make the return of this wonderful healing event a reality. The members of the Coalition lovingly responded to the call.
The first Sacred Healing Circle co-sponsored by the Woodson- Banneker-Jackson Bey Division 330 UNIA & ACL was held at Soul 57 on March 11, 2012. Seventeen Shrine Houses participated in this event. Because of Baba Melvin Deal’s involvement in introducing African culture and tradition to the community, he was asked to pour the opening libation. The attendance of the community filled the space.
The second one was held on March 31, 2013 in the Blackburn Center of Howard University, which gained the added co-sponsorship of Ubiquity and the continued participation of Brother Salim Adofo and the National Black United Front.
We invite other Pan-African organizations to support this community healing event and to support the Shrine Houses, who are the true keepers of our culture which include the spiritual principles/moral codes of conduct required for our elevation and liberation. There will be no African Liberation without African Culture.
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In September 2012, the Coalition was invited to participate in a Prayer Vigil for the Earth at the National Mall. The Akan and Yoruba communities poured very powerful libations using water that participants brought from many different parts of the world. After libation the Akan and Yoruba communities sang songs of praise for the Abosom, Orisa, and Mother Earth. As songs were sung the community was lead in procession to a sacred space that included a spiritual altar. Participants were able to say prayers and place messages on the altar before receiving an herbal bath. Nana Asuo Gyebi and Nana Obo Kwesi came to bless everyone with their presence and to provide hands on healing and personal messages for people receiving the bath.
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The Universal Education Empowerment Foundation (UEEF) (a 501(c)3 nonprofit African-centered, community-based organization) became a member of the ATSC in support of the 2017 and the upcoming 2018 Sacred Healing Circle and Conference as well as any future activities that may be presented by the ATSC. The UEEF encourages other African-centered community organizations to join, donate, and/or volunteer and give support to the work of the ATSC.
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Our desire is to encourage and inspire the awakening of the 'African Within', helping us to become more in-tune with ourselves as spiritual beings having a human experience. We welcome you to join us in our annual Sacred Healing Circle and say Me dase, O se, Asante Sana (we humbly give thanks to you) for your continued support.
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Inception Event
