Christianity and Islam were never the only story.

A documentary platform exploring African spirituality, the people who practise it, and the stories behind it — told by journalist Abisola Alawode.

“I made this documentary because sharing these stories is vital to understanding the cultural fabric of Africa.” — Abisola Alawode, creator
About the series

Field notes on faith, before it was written down

Exploring African Spirituality (EAS) is a documentary platform exploring African spirituality, the people who practise it, and the stories behind it.

Abisola started EAS out of curiosity, wanting to understand the spiritual traditions that have existed across Africa for generations, and how they continue to shape the lives of people today.

Through documentaries, conversations and personal stories, EAS explores the different ways Africans and people of African descent understand spirituality, belief, identity, ancestry and tradition.

The goal isn't to tell people what to believe. It's to listen, ask questions and understand.

EAS is a space for exploring where these traditions come from, what they mean today, and how they continue to evolve.

Abisola Alawode, creator of Exploring African Spirituality About the creator

Abisola Alawode

  • RoleJournalist & storyteller
  • Experience13+ years in media
  • FocusMultimedia & documentary
  • Based inLagos, Nigeria
  • SeriesSelf-produced, independent
Latest episode

I Was Raised Christian. Then Osun Started Appearing in My Dreams

Featuring Tomilola Coco Adeyemo — on dreams, Ọ̀ṣun, and becoming an Ọmọ Omi.

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From the notebook

Posts

Ep. 01

Why Are Young Africans Abandoning Christianity and Islam For Traditional Religion?

The episode raised the question on camera. The post goes further into why a growing number of young Africans are turning back toward the traditions their parents left behind.

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Ep. 02

The Ogboni: A Secret Society Struggling to Stay Hidden

A closer look at the Ògbóni fraternity — its rites, its ranks, and what it actually shares with Freemasonry.

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Ep. 03

Why Are Americans Turning to African Spirituality?

Notes on the Americans travelling to Nigeria to be initiated into Ìṣẹ̀ṣe and Ifá worship — and what draws them there.

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Ep. 04

Olokun's Realm: The Hidden Spiritual Power of the Ocean

On Olokun, the deity of the deep sea, and what devotion to the ocean means for the communities who practise it.

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Ep. 05

From Islam to Ifa: The Story of Musician Moelogo

Musician Moelogo's path from Islam to Ifá — and what that journey says about faith as a personal, evolving choice.

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Ep. 06

We've Been Taught to Fear African Spirituality, We Shouldn't

Dr Princess IvieOkun on the fear built up around indigenous belief systems, and what gets lost because of it.

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Ep. 07

Why Are Russians Practising Ifá?

How African spirituality reached Russia — and what it looks like practised thousands of miles from where it began.

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Ep. 08

A Day in the Life of an Osun Priestess

Featuring Tunrayo Semiloore Egbetunmise Daramola — what does a day in the life of an Osun priestess actually look like?

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Ep. 09

I Was Raised Christian. Then Osun Started Appearing in My Dreams

Tomilola Coco Adeyemo on the dreams that led her from a conservative Christian upbringing to identifying as an Ọmọ Omi, a child of water.

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