Sacred Space of African Indigenous Forces of Nature

Environmental Ethics for the African Diaspora

Bibliographic Data

ID5222633
AuthorsF A Ruffin (University of KwaZulu-Natal), Fayth Ruffin (0000-0002-3264-894X, University of KwaZulu-Natal, corresponding author)
Year2016
Volume53
Issue2
Pages124-134
Publication date2016-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Human Ecology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0970-9274 • E-ISSN: 2456-6608
PublisherKamla Raj Enterprises (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1080/09709274.2016.11906964
OpenAlexW2978447092
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited12

The displaced Africans from the transatlantic triangular slave trade took the essence of African indigenous forces of nature including environmental ethics with them and those forces of nature sustained in them. These forces are everywhere in rivers, oceans, lakes, thunder, lightning and graveyards. It is argued that the Òrisa are autonomous forces of nature and may express themselves through divination and mediumship possession. The paper explores the role of several African women displaced in Brazil and Cuba who were selected by the Òrisa to safeguard and expand this Yoruba system. It highlights implications for gender in African indigenous knowledge systems. Finally, the paper concludes with recommendations for environmental ethics and policies that honour the forces of nature and that are central to peace, wellbeing and sustainable development

Diaspora · Environmental ethics · Geography · Honour · Indigenous · Political science · Sociology · Thunder · Yoruba · Gender Studies · Law · Philosophy · Religion, Ecology, and Ethics · Ecology