Hidden Treasure

A Florida family seated on their porch. Circa 1870. Image via Florida Memory.

Love Spells

Performing love spells —like many aspects of Jomo, Hoodoo, and other African Diasporic Religions— is still regarded as an incredibly controversial and taboo act. Many practitioners argue that it is dangerous, that it infringes on other’s free will, and that it is no longer necessary as historically love spells were used to ensure the survival of marginalized groups.

Students share an umbrella on FAMU campus. Tallahassee, FL. 2021. Image courtesy of E. Howard.

Let it Rain:

Rainmaking in Jomo

One of my earliest childhood memories is attending an outdoor church revival that my father was scheduled to sing at. One of the songs that he sang that day was Let it Rain. I remember it literally beginning to rain in the middle of him performing the song.

This memory came up for me again while reading Spirit Service, as the author described a Guinean man enslaved in Martinique who made it rain at the planters request.

I quickly called my grandfather and asked him if he’d ever heard stories from his elders of folk making it rain. He told me that he had but he couldn’t remember specific stories or rituals. He called an older family member that he thought would remember more. This family member said he remembered his elders sitting on the porch, trading stories of enslaved Africans using voodoo or roots to make it rain.

It seems the mental knowledge of the historical rituals and roots needed to make it rain no longer exists in my bloodline. However the blood remembers. If my memory has shown me anything, sometimes all the ritual you need is to lift your voice and state to the Spirits directly what you need.

Open the floodgates of heaven, let it rain.

A couple photographed in their “backyard garden”. Sarasota, FL. 1890. Image sourced via the Florida Memory Archives.

Akoma Festival

Akoma Festival is a week-long celebration of Black Love. It’s a designated time to honor and love on one’s God(s), ancestors, self, family, framily, community, and the Black Diaspora.

It begins on February 13th with Black Love Day and continues into February 20th. The holiday, initially created by Ayo Handy-Kendi in 1993, was originally one day. Additionally, it was created with the intent to address the violence in her community, which resulted in her son’s death.

Shortly after, a festival was then further developed by TEACH in St. Louis to commemorate Black Love. This festival occurred over the course of three days. The efforts of Montsho and Nwasha Edu have extended it to a week-long jubilation, where each day is dedicated to a different virtue and principle. An illustration of the collaborative, communal, and creative approach to this holiday.

The traditional greeting throughout this holiday is “Nya Akoma.” A gentle reminder to the speaker and receiver of the phrase to return to love.