Michael B. Jordan and the New Wave of African Spirituality

Alaafia to the fam,

It’s your people’s Babalawo Esuwale Adigun (King Brujo), and I’m back with another message for these spiritual streets.

We are living in the age of spiritual end games. The rise of African Traditional Religion (ATR)—be it Ifa, Palo Mayombe, Voodoo, Hoodoo, or others—is not just a trend. It’s a movement. A reclamation. A return to ancestral wisdom that many of us have been longing for. But with this rise comes resistance. And lately, that resistance is becoming loud, public, and strategic.

The Growth of African Traditional Religion

Across social media, in communities, and even in pop culture, African spirituality is blossoming. We’re seeing people reconnect with their roots, learn about Orisha, participate in initiations, and make offerings not just on altars—but in how they live their lives. This is a beautiful, powerful thing.

But not everyone is happy about it.

Institutional forces—religious, cultural, and even political—are starting to push back. They’re used to controlling the narrative. They’re used to being the dominant voice. So when African Traditional Religion steps into the light unapologetically, it becomes a problem for them. What we’re witnessing is an effort to undermine, distort, and discredit the spiritual truth we’ve inherited from our ancestors.

Michael B. Jordan's African spirituality and the Firestorm of Criticism

A recent and glaring example of this resistance involves actor Michael B. Jordan's African spirituality, a brother who has recently spoken of his connection to African spirituality and how a Babalawo within the Ifa Tradition gave his middle name of Bakari. His involvement in the film Sinners has sparked a firestorm of criticism—and not just from casual viewers, but from some of the very institutions that feel threatened by the presence of African spiritual themes in mainstream media.

The backlash against Michael B. Jordan's African spirituality isn’t really about a film. It’s about visibility. It’s about influence. When someone as high-profile as Michael B. Jordan associates with African spirituality—even indirectly—it forces people to confront a truth they’ve been conditioned to reject. Suddenly, the spiritual systems they were told were “primitive” or “evil” are being seen on red carpets, on screens, and in press interviews.

And that scares them.

Some critics claim Sinners promotes “dangerous ideas.” Others say it glorifies “pagan practices.” But we know the truth: they’re afraid of what happens when Black people remember who they are.

Why This Matters

This isn’t just about Jordan. It’s about all of us.

What we’re seeing is a spiritual war disguised as entertainment criticism. We’re seeing attempts to police identity, restrict belief, and suppress cultural evolution. But let it be known—we are not going back into the shadows. The rise of African Traditional Religion is not a fad. It’s a spiritual reckoning.

So to all my people walking this path: stay grounded. Stay informed. And most importantly, stay unified.

These end games aren’t just spiritual—they’re cultural, historical, and ancestral. And we were born to win them.

Ase.

Written by Baba Esuwale Adigun (King Brujo)