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“Sinners” and the Essence of African Religion | What the Film Gets Right About African Spirituality
What does Sinners reveal about African spirituality? How do traditional West and Central African religions differ from Western faith systems like Christianity or Islam? In this video, I explore the film Sinners and its subtle, profound portrayal of African religious attitudes — particularly through a powerful scene between Michael B. Jordan and a Hoodoo priestess.
Director Ryan Coogler draws inspiration from Yoruba religion and African spiritual systems, weaving them seamlessly into the story. I analyze how one short but significant moment reflects a living, dynamic approach to faith, one where belief is not rooted in dogma, but in practical relevance and lived experience.
I also answer some questions like:
What is the African religious attitude toward suffering or unanswered prayers?
Do traditional African religions believe in a Supreme Being?
How does African religious philosophy differ from Abrahamic traditions?
Why can traditional African religion be considered a “living system”?
Drawing from African philosophers like Kwasi Wiredu and Olusegun Oladipo, I break down the idea that African religion is not atheistic nor dogmatic — it’s flexible, results-driven, and centered around human experience and well-being.
I also address how African spirituality has been historically misunderstood and mislabeled
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#africanspirituality #yorubareligion #ryancoogler #michaelBJordansinners
#traditionalafricanreligion #africangods #sinnersmovie
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Kemet was also represented when you notice that it followed The 7 Hermetic Principles which come from the divine being ḏḥwty also known as Thoth or Hermes Trismegistus.
i greatly enjoyed the movie but had difficulty understanding this aspect of the movie due to lack of knowledge even basic concept. so happy there is a video exploring it.
FYI, 'Hudu' is 'Foundational Black American' Spirituality.
i loved the film sinners! it was so original and the story so interesting that i saw it twice in theaters. we need more movies like this one (and with a black cast)!
Why is bro always mewing
I was curious if anyone would compare this movie to Ganja and Hess because they’re both love stories that dabble in vampire-ism and African spirituality.
A lot of these worldviews are things I resonate with and are why I never eeally belived in Christianity and fully denounced it at a young age.
That makes me happy, I feel connected to my ancestors' way of life, like those ideas have been conserved in me despite everything.
This is also making it click how we fell to Christianity in the first place. When people so effectively and brutally subjugate you, it can seem like their gods MUST be right if they were able to do this to you.
I'm glad that the inherent human morality of "this cruelty CAN'T be right, even it is powerful" is within us.
Sinners covered Hoodoo (not to be confused with Voodoo). Hoodoo is a Foundational Black American spiritual practice NOT AFRICAN! Stop with the erasure and quit trying to shoe horn yourselves into everything that we do! This disrespect of our culture will no longer be tolerated.
Well said! Know thy self!❤
The movie sinners definitely Incorporated a lot of culture and history briefly also let me say this . Sinners is far more than a horror movie, it’s a cultural reckoning. Beneath the chilling suspense and supernatural intrigue, also touch of The prodigal Son parable in the Bible and other so-called holy literature lies a deeply rooted homage to the spirit, struggle, and survival of Foundational Black American Freedmen.
At its heart is Hoodoo—not mere “folk magic,” but a sacred West and Central African spiritual systems (such as those of the Bakongo, Yoruba, and Igbo), Hoodoo evolved through in Foundational Black American Freedmen culture due to ethno-genesis into a unique, homegrown spiritual path. Blending indigenous foundational black American Freedmen customs,cosmologies , some Christianity , Hoodoo became a powerful tool for healing, resistance, and survival. In Sinners, it’s more than mysticism, it’s memory, legacy, and defiance.
The film also masterfully weaves key elements of Foundational Black American Friedman history, distinct from African or Caribbean diasporas:
1. Slavery & Jim Crow– Foundations of systemic oppression and generational trauma.
2. The Cotton Industry – Economic exploitation of Black labor and bodies.
3. The Ku Klux Klan – Institutionalized violence and psychological terror.
4. Cultural Evolution – From FUBU to juke joints, hip-hop to high fashion, Black Americans turned pain into power.
These aren’t just stories—they’re living testimonies. As Foundational Black Americans, Freedmen created entire genres of music, Ragtime, Doo-wop Bebop, Blues, Jazz, Gospel, soul, R&B, rock & Roll, funk, P-funk, hip-hop, Country, Punk, Soul, Rap, Grunge, and more. While we honor the motherland, called Africa today, as the cradle of humanity, we also recognize that Black genius has flourished wherever we've been, shaped by environment, struggle, and unbreakable spirit again due to ethnogenesis,
Sinners, doesn’t just scare it awakens. It challenges us to remember that our spiritual systems, artistic innovations, and cultural contributions are not relics of the past, but enduring forces of identity and excellence. I love my people everywhere we are, and I honor the creativity and resilience that has emerged from every corner of the diaspora. But let us never forget: Foundational Black American culture is singular, sovereign, and sacred.
Great video. Sinners was great and Coogler continues to amaze. His ability to speak to the soul of black folks worldwide is truly wonderful. Sinners was no exception and at the core of it is our people’s journey in North America while still being rooted in mother Africa.
One other visual reference I personally picked up with the little leather pouch worn around the neck by Michael B Jordan’s character and at some point he even snatches it and throws at his girlfriend. It was referenced that the little pouch was to keep the evil spirits away or keep the person safe and Jordan’s character is upset it failed to do so. It is the exact same little pouch worn around the neck in the northern region of Ethiopia for centuries and for the exact same reason as stated in the film which is to keep the evil spirits away or keep people safe. It is still worn by many especially in the country side of northern Ethiopia.
I was simply blown away to see such a detailed referenced to centuries old tradition found in Africa. Ryan truly is ushering in the new age of black collective consciousness and I’m here for it.
"Know thy self, remember your ancestors"
WE AS BLACK AMERICANS ARE NOT AFRICAN AND GOT NOTHING FROM AFRICANS!!
He said, "Our Baby" not son
I appreciate you and your work brother
Big BlockBluster Movie 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
I critiqued sinners in a video and disagree strongly.
HOODOO IS NOT AFRICAN SPIRITUALITY. IT IS 100% BLACK INDIGENOUS AMERICAN SPIRITUALITY. THIS IS A VERIFIABLE FACT AND MY TRIBE HAS BEEN PRACTICING HOODOO SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL. I HAVE ALSO LEARNED THE WAYS OF THE VOODOO/ VODUN RELIGION. THEY ARE TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PRACTICES. WHO DO IS AN HERBALIST PRACTICE ALONGSIDE SPIRITUALITY, BUT IT IS NOT A RELIGION. VOODOO IS AN ACTUAL RELIGION. PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH BETTER AND STOP CONFLATING THE TWO. IT IS DISRESPECTFUL TO US AND TO OUR ANCESTORS WHO CREATED HOODOO. BLACK AMERICANS ARE 97% INDIGENOUS BLACK FOLKS TO NORTH AMERICA AND THE USA, WHICH WE BUILT.
MOST OF US HAVE LITTLE TO NO AFRICAN ANCESTRY WHATSOEVER. THESE ARE DOCUMENTED AND EASILY RESEARCHABLE FACTS. IF YOU'RE GOING TO CLAIM HISTORIAN, DO IT RIGHT!
Some Afrocentrics address a topic related to African beliefs.
https://www.youtube.com/live/uw7zGGWt_Yw?si=GPmL6CvkVHmrbsEz
This movie is about Africans it's beautiful
As a devout ultra-orthodox practitioner of A fat Roog (Seereer spirituality), I'm glad to see African spirituality being represented respectful. I look forward to the day when African spirituality takes back its noble place and relegate these new Abrahamic cults to the dustbin of history for all the wickedness they've done, and their arrogance.
The "I lied to you" scene is so good.
There's something about it that just touches your soul and makes you awake.
i love how he represents African spirituality with dignity and its existing might!
I appreciate your explanation and historical references of Spirituality on the African Continent with regards to the excellent movie, Sinners. Finding "Balance," versus dichotomies (Good vs Evil/Female vs Male/Conflict vs Comprise/etc) is an important guide through many African Spiritual approaches/thoughts/philosophies. This is a difficult and challenging philosophy for many African-american people who were victims of practically all cultural foundations being erased from their African lineage. On a side observation, VooDoo/Voudon/Yoruba Spirituality has many parallels in Esoteric forms of Christianity (Gnostic)/Judaism (Kabbalah)/Islamic (Sufism). I hope that you and your team consider exploring these similarities one day, as well as the parallels between Yoruba, Dogon and Ancient Kmet/Egypt too. Àse.
Thank you you for this video. Your calming voice and beautiful imagery are welcoming. The information you present is easily absorbed on an intellectual and on a sensory level because of the esthetic you created in this video. Blessings to you and your team.
Annie practiced hoodoo. Im from Clarksdale and we are in north MS Delta so we don't have that connection to voodoo. I am a root worker.
Thank you for taking out the time to handle this beautiful discussion with care, compassion, tact as well as concern. Thank you for taking out your time to educate and encourage even from your perspective as a Christian. You are appreciated🙌🏾🙏🏿
I'm a Black American and I always had a deep intrigue and respect for indigenous African religions, I'm Jewish now but those are the religions my ancestors practiced, but there was always so little info on it. Glad to see this is changing!!!
Idfw western view of spirituality , its not only toxic its VILE !
Bro, i am an african and this video completely explained in truth the true nature of our disposition toward God/gods/religion in a manner that is so fundamentally true but not immediately recognizable … well until it is laid out quite completely as it is here!
Maybe that religion helped our people to survive.
Thanks for the spoiler warning, I wasn't thinking about that until I heard you say it. Even though that should have been obvious.
2:58 told my mom and sister bout this part after the theaters, they said they didnt peep it, i think they blinked. Weird but interesting
I need igbo and shayo 🎉