Dr. Orisade Awodola Talks the African Centered Healing Conference, New Book, and Empowering Communities Through Ancestral Wisdom
Dr. Orisade Awodola, the president of the Institute of African Centered Thought (IACT), joined host Trae Holiday on the Day With Trae last week to discuss her upcoming African Centered Healing Conference and her new book, African Centered Ancestral Healing.
"What started off as Ancestral Healing is now Africa Center Ancestral Healing, and it all started with the curious part of myself wanting to know my family lineage. As a cultural psychologist, I learned a lot of things, and as a therapist in DC for eight years, I learned a lot of things," said Awodola about her organization's journey. "So I came back to the PNW, and this is our 10th anniversary celebrating the Africa Center Ancestral Healing. Ancestral healing itself is just a way to connect with your lineage."
The upcoming conference will be a transformative event celebrating the achievements of Dr. James WC Pennington, a pivotal figure in history. Pennington was the first Black student to attend Yale and the author of the memoir The Fugitive Blacksmith. The conference will begin at 8 am on Saturday, with a theatrical re-enactment of Pennington's memoir at 10 am. Led by Yale University graduate and author Noah Humphrey, as well as the driving force in Yale's Pennington Legacy Group focusing on efforts to grant an academic degree to Dr. Pennington, the cast will include Makeda Ebube as Sojourner Truth, Lakeema Bell playing Harriet Tubman, and The Day With Trae regular Heru TchaasAmen, channeling the role of Frederick Douglass.
In addition to the skit featuring Kibibi Monet as a narrator, there will be a performance by poet and community artist Kweli Vuur and music by Sikiru Adepoju, Val Serrant, and Sanga of the Valley, all musicians part of Baba Olotunji's master drummers.
"This is the place where I first found my path toward African spirituality. I'm thrilled to know we have the opportunity to learn, connect, and engage with this understanding and the practices of our ancestors," Holiday said. "Folks who are looking for that connection should definitely plan to attend on 3/16 & 3/17. They won't be disappointed in the knowledge that will be shared!"
The conference will differ from previous years as Awodola has planned to step down as president and appoint a new person.
"The main thing is I am passing it onto an amazing young lady who's young. That's number one. She will be able to reach the younger generation," Awodola said. The other thing, as I remain on the advisory board, is moving into the area of the Pennington project, which is a film that is going to be showcased. So you'll hear more about those things I'm excited about."
Awodola will also make her new book, African Centered Ancestral Healing, available at the conference, where guests can purchase autographed copies.
"It's about how we heal the roles we've traveled and bringing Africa Center Ancestral Healing into an academic discipline under the discipline of root psychology," Awodola said. "So it's a book about mental health, mental dysfunctions, how we get through it, and how we heal."
The Africa Centered Ancestral Healing Conference will be held from March 16th to March 17th,2024, from 8 am to 7 pm at the iconic Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute in the heart of the Central District. Tickets are available for purchase here.
"I've come full circle with this. I don't want to give away all that he did because it'll be addressed at the conference, but we all have a story," Awodola said. "The difference between ancestral healing and therapy is that therapy allows us to vent and diagnose the issue. But ancestral healing is working on the divine within."
For more community stories happening in Seattle, tune into Trae every weekday at 11 am on all Converge Media platforms and The Day With Trae YouTube Channel.
