New Afrikan Funeral Rites of Passage
It has been my experience that too often deceased ‘Conscious New Afrikans’ are buried by their family members generally ‘Unconscious New Afrikans’ who impose a funeral on the deceased that does not represent their beliefs, views, values, actions, or culture. Unfortunately ‘Unconscious New Afrikans’ are able to impose their traditional Black funeral rites over ‘Conscious New Afrikans’ because we have failed to develop burial directives.
As conscious New Afrikans we must set aside time to make advance arrangements for our death and burial. This gives us a better chance of seeing our wishes followed and respected. Indeed, make your funeral rites plans before you face a life-threatening situation.
The following is an example of a New Afrikan Burial Rites Template outline. This example can be improvised and tailored:
INTRO
My <Name> is and I greet you all in the spirit of Peace. I am here today to preside over the funeral rites of our deceased New Afrikan Brother/Sister. Most of you here today are not conscious New Afrikans and will maybe not understand some of the significance of the ceremony that we are about to perform, so as the Presider I will explain what we are about to do. There should be nothing in what we are about to do that can cause offense to anyone, but if you would prefer to wait outside, then I am sure that <NAME> will understand.
The purpose of a New Afrikan funeral rite is not about highlighting a deceased Conscious New Afrikan’s wife/husband, partner(s), children, education level, job titles, hobbies, etc. It is about highlighting the deceased self-determination and freedom activities against white supremacy. For a New Afrikan the Creator created in us a spirit to be free, thus freedom is our birthright and mission.
The life purpose of a conscious New Afrikan is to be an embodiment of our Freedom-Fighting Ancestors so as to be worthy of becoming an honorable and remembered Ancestor after death. In the spirituality of New Afrikan life does not end with death, but continues in another realm of Ancestry. Death is perceived as the beginning of a person's deeper relationship with all of creation, the complementing of life and the beginning of the communication between the visible and the invisible worlds.
We begin with Invocation and Libations
We begin in the Name of the Creator Whom all Thanks is due!!
We invoke the name of ‘Asuo Gyebi’ an African male Ancestral Spirit who is a protector and a great healer. It is said that his spirit came to the United States to help the enslaved Africans reclaim their spiritual past.
We invoke the presence of all of our Freedom Fighting Ancestors both known and unknown.
THE LIBATION (TAMBIKO)
We call upon our ancestors far and near Fathers of our fathers, mothers of our mothers To bear witness to what we have done, And by their example, to continue to inspire us toward, Reclaiming our African minds, regenerating our African spirit, Liberating our home land, and reclaiming our greatness as a people.
We pour this libation to bring into our midst their venerable African spirit, radiating their great wisdom, courage, dedication, and unyielding commitment to victory by any means necessary. It is in the honor of our Creator, our Ancestors, our Children and their children that we pour this libation.
For the Creator, and the various manifestation of the Creative spirit;
We Pour Libation (Audience respond "Ashay"/Be with us)
For our esteemed ancestors, who laid the foundation for human civilization, and who provided the wisdom by which we live and the models by which our lives are guided; We Pour Libation (Audience respond "Ashay"/Be with us)
For our esteem ancestors who have suffered the atrocities and horrors of our MAAFA(The African Halucost), and yet demonstrated the victorious power of the African spirit against adversity, by maintaining their dignity no matter the cost. We Pour Libation (Audience respond "Ashay"/Be with us)
For those ancestors who survived and made it posible for us to be here today to continue on their valiant struggle for African liberation and vindication. We Pour Libation (Audience respond "Ashay"/Be with us)
And finally, for our Children and their children and future generations of Africans to come, that they too in their time will vindicate our race from all adversaries and continue to imprint upon the world the great genius of african humanity; We Pour Libation (Audience respond "Ashay"/Be with us)
May their venerable African spirit engulf this occasion to reaffirm our Africanity. - So be it - It is done.
PRAYER
We call upon the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe to Inspire Us to live and work together in Unity, Love, and Respect. To remind Us that We are Servants of the Greater Good; and to Illuminate Our hearts and minds that We may draw from the best of Our Great Teachers and Leaders.
Give Us the Capacity to envision Ourselves and the World through Marcus Garvey’s Eyes; so We may know Our Greatness and Our Rightful Place in the World.
Grant Us Dedication and Vision to serve Our People, like Harriet Tubman; that We may realize that Freedom and Goodness must always be shared.
Grace Us with the Dignity and Humility of Dr. King; and give Us the Will to fight for a Moral and Just society.
In the spirit of David Walker, grant Us the Courage and Ability to stand up against oppression and speak Truth to Power.
Help Us develop the Self-transforming Abilities of Malcolm X; that We may reshape Ourselves into a New and Restored People.
Bestow upon Us the Faith, Strength, and Perseverance of Queen Mother Moore and Kwame Toure; that We may Repair, Heal, and Restore Ourselves back to a Self-Determining People.
Provide Us with Leaders who possess the Wisdom and Statesmanship of W.E.B. DuBois; that they may Walk Implacable upon the path of Justice, Truth, and Freedom. Give them the Will to live, work, and sacrifice for the good of the People, while never betraying Our trust through self-serving agendas.
Help Us to Recognize good leaders and enable Us to Trust, Love, and Follow them; that We may be victorious over the oppressors that oppress Us, and live to see Our sacrifices and hard work create our own ‘Nation’ and a better life for our people.
Inspire Our daily thoughts, words, and actions; so they may give Honor to Our Ancestors and Ourselves. Grace Us with a constant yearning to be ‘Free’ and good works that stand, like the Great Pyramids, as an everlasting Monument of Noble Strength for future generations.
May We Practice the teachings of Fannie Lou Hamer; by never forgetting where We came from, and always Praising the Bridges that carried Us over.
We pray Your Eternal Peace be with those who crossed over before Us; the named and un-named, the great ones and the small ones. May the Energy of their Spirits, their Wisdom, and their monumental Deeds be with Us. And may We forever dwell within YOUR Grace. - Amen,Medasi,Hotep,Ashe
SPEAKER
At this time let us take a few deep slow breathes so as to focus ourselves. Breathe deeply and remember the love, respect, or appreciation you have for <NAME> Let us also take a moment of silence to remember < name>, to call her/him up in our minds and to speak to her/him in the private places of our heart, saying to her/him those things that we always wanted to say to her/him (2 minutes of silence with some favorite music of the deceased, that will evoke memories of life with her/him).
MEMORIES OF <NAME>´s LIFE
This is for personal memories who they were, their interests etc. People can speak of them here.
EULOGY
The Eulogy should begin with reflections on death; the following poem can be recited:
What Is Death?
Oh Creator, ‘Death’ is part of the unending cycle of nature
Part of the immensity
of creation rather than
a mere abyss at the end of life.
Death is to be understood as
an integral part of existence
rather than shunned as
a dreaded enemy.
Death is a great teacher,
offering striking insights
into life rather than a
mercilous threat to all that
we hold dear.
Death is to be faced
consciously, even embraced,
rather than avoided at all costs.
Death is to be discussed and
prepared for openly with
those we love, rather than a
social taboo to be hushed up
or hidden away.
Death, and all that surrounds
it, is a precious interval for
both the dying and the
living. At funerals death deserves and rewards profound respect.
After the reflecting on death the rest of the Eulogy remarks should reflect a summary of the deceased ‘Conscious New Afrikan’ personal struggle history.
Closing Judgment Ritual
We met here today to say a righteous farewell to< NAME>, a much loved <BROTHER/SISTER, WIFE/HUSBAND, AUNT/UNCLE>. We were here to witness a transition of a life-chapter that has closed so a new relationship chapter can begin. We met to commend <NAME> to the blessing of the Creator, that he/she may rest, free from illusion or regret, as they now stand at the Ancestral realm gate waiting for the selected 42 New Afrikan Ancestor Judges approval to enter.
We now make an ‘Appeal for Acceptance’ to the 42 Freedom-Fighting Ancestors. As the New Afrikan Funeral Presider I offer testimonials ‘Bearing Witness’ to the 42 Ancestor Judges/Assessors preferably of the deceased own choosing to accept the deceased into the Ancestral realm; these 42 Ancestor Judges are named. If the deceased did not specifically name 42 Ancestor Judges then names will be submitted for them; the following are examples of 42 Ancestor Judges names:
1.David Walker, 2. Henry Highland Garnett, 3. Nat Turner, 4. Gabriel Prosser, 5. Denmark Vessey, 6. Joseph Cinque, 7. Paul Cuffee, 8. David Ruggles, 9. Harriet Tubman, 10. Sojourner Truth, 11. Henry Adams, 12. Pap Singleton, 13. Marcus Garvey, 14, Noble Drew Ali, 15. Elijah Muhammad, 16. W.E.B. DuBois, 17. Carter G. Woodson, 18. Ida B. Wells, 19. Queen Mother Moore, 20. Martin Luther King, Jr., 21. Rosa Parks, 22. Ella Bker, 23. James Merideth, 24. Kwame Toure, 25. Bunchy Carter, 26. Fred Hampton, 27. George Jackson, 28, Jonathan Jackson, 29. Robert Williams, 30. Imari Obadele, 31. Bobby Wright, 32. Amos Wilson, 33. John Henrik Clark, 34. Assa Hilliard, 35. Barashango, 36. Hanibal Afrik, 37. Herman Ferguson, 38. Safiya Bukhari, 39. Albert ‘Nuh’ Washington, 40. Medahochi Kofi Zannu, 41. Malcolm X, 42. Stanley ‘Tookie’ Williams, Etc.
One’s list of 42 Ancestral Judges can include esteemed family members, relatives, friends, and other individuals. The names of the 42 Ancestral Judges are put in a decorative wooden keepsake box and then placed on top of the closed casket of the deceased.
The New Afrikan Funeral Presider stands in front of the casket holding an Ostrich feather representing the spirit of truth and judgment - MAAT. The scale or criteria of judgment is the New Afrikan Creed particularly points 9–15 as follows:
9. Therefore, i pledge to struggle without cease until We have won sovereignty. i pledge to struggle without fail until We have built a better condition than the world has yet known.
10. i will give my life if that is necessary. i will give my time, my mind, my strength and my wealth because this IS necessary.
11. i will follow my chosen leaders and help them.
12. i will love my brothers and sisters as myself.
13. i will steal nothing from a brother or sister, cheat no brother or sister, misuse no brother or sister, inform on no brother or sister and spread no gossip.
14. i will keep myself clean in body, dress and speech, knowing that i am a light set on a hill, a true representative of what We are building.
15. i will be patient and uplifting with the deaf, dumb and blind, and i will seek by word and deed to heal the Black family. To bring into the movement and into the community, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters left by the wayside.
Now freely and of my own will i will pledge this creed for the sake of freedom for my people and a better world. On pain of disgrace and banishment if i prove false. For i am no longer deaf, dumb or blind. i am by the inspiration of Our Ancestors and the Grace of Our Creator, a New Afrikan.
The New Afrikan Funeral Presider provides proofs of acceptance by providing bear witnessing examples of each points of the New Afrikan Creed 9 – 15 as it relates to the deceased persons struggle history. The Presider begins each example point by saying ‘I Bear Witness’.
Guided by honesty, objectivity, integrity, and the Ancestors spirits the New Afrikan Funeral Presider weighs the deceased conscious actions against the feather of truth, to determine the fate of the deceased acceptance into the New Afrikan Ancestral Realm.
After the New Afrikan Funeral Presider highlight proofs for each point, he concludes by saying: “With decision-making vested in me by the Ancestors I have provided bear witnessing proof that the deceased <Name> has met the criteria and is worthy to enter the gates of the Ancestral Realm as an Ancestor.” So be it!
Closing Quotation
The following quote is from a Marcus Garvey speech titled, ‘Look for me in the World Wind’, Garvey tells his followers: “If I die in Atlanta my work shall then only begin, but I shall live, in the physical or spiritual to see the day of Africa’s glory. When I am dead wrap the mantle of the Red, Black and Green around me, for in the new life I shall rise with God’s grace and blessing to lead the millions up the heights of triumph with the colors that you well know. Look for me in the whirlwind or the storm, look for me all around you, for, with God’s grace, I shall come and bring with me countless millions of black slaves who have died in America and the West Indies and the millions in Africa to aid you in the fight for Liberty, Freedom, and Life.”
Burial Site Libations:
We are gathered here for the final resting place of the deceased (Name) physical body. We pour libations to water, to nourish the ground that will receive our respected Brother/Sister. We witness his/her body being lowered in the earth but we know his/her spirit has already risen to the Ancestral realm. We pour libations to honor our Brother/Sister and his/her active participation and contribution to our historical struggle for self-determination and freedom. We will continue to pour libations for his/her remembrance as he/she is returned to the soil as a New Arikan Ancestor. We salute him/her with the clenched fist! He/She is now free - long live his/her sprit that now communicates with us an Ancestors – Ashe!
It has been my experience that too often deceased ‘Conscious New Afrikans’ are buried by their family members generally ‘Unconscious New Afrikans’ who impose a funeral on the deceased that does not represent their beliefs, views, values, actions, or culture. Unfortunately ‘Unconscious New Afrikans’ are able to impose their traditional Black funeral rites over ‘Conscious New Afrikans’ because we have failed to develop burial directives.
As conscious New Afrikans we must set aside time to make advance arrangements for our death and burial. This gives us a better chance of seeing our wishes followed and respected. Indeed, make your funeral rites plans before you face a life-threatening situation.
The following is an example of a New Afrikan Burial Rites Template outline. This example can be improvised and tailored:
INTRO
My <Name> is and I greet you all in the spirit of Peace. I am here today to preside over the funeral rites of our deceased New Afrikan Brother/Sister. Most of you here today are not conscious New Afrikans and will maybe not understand some of the significance of the ceremony that we are about to perform, so as the Presider I will explain what we are about to do. There should be nothing in what we are about to do that can cause offense to anyone, but if you would prefer to wait outside, then I am sure that <NAME> will understand.
The purpose of a New Afrikan funeral rite is not about highlighting a deceased Conscious New Afrikan’s wife/husband, partner(s), children, education level, job titles, hobbies, etc. It is about highlighting the deceased self-determination and freedom activities against white supremacy. For a New Afrikan the Creator created in us a spirit to be free, thus freedom is our birthright and mission.
The life purpose of a conscious New Afrikan is to be an embodiment of our Freedom-Fighting Ancestors so as to be worthy of becoming an honorable and remembered Ancestor after death. In the spirituality of New Afrikan life does not end with death, but continues in another realm of Ancestry. Death is perceived as the beginning of a person's deeper relationship with all of creation, the complementing of life and the beginning of the communication between the visible and the invisible worlds.
We begin with Invocation and Libations
We begin in the Name of the Creator Whom all Thanks is due!!
We invoke the name of ‘Asuo Gyebi’ an African male Ancestral Spirit who is a protector and a great healer. It is said that his spirit came to the United States to help the enslaved Africans reclaim their spiritual past.
We invoke the presence of all of our Freedom Fighting Ancestors both known and unknown.
THE LIBATION (TAMBIKO)
We call upon our ancestors far and near Fathers of our fathers, mothers of our mothers To bear witness to what we have done, And by their example, to continue to inspire us toward, Reclaiming our African minds, regenerating our African spirit, Liberating our home land, and reclaiming our greatness as a people.
We pour this libation to bring into our midst their venerable African spirit, radiating their great wisdom, courage, dedication, and unyielding commitment to victory by any means necessary. It is in the honor of our Creator, our Ancestors, our Children and their children that we pour this libation.
For the Creator, and the various manifestation of the Creative spirit;
We Pour Libation (Audience respond "Ashay"/Be with us)
For our esteemed ancestors, who laid the foundation for human civilization, and who provided the wisdom by which we live and the models by which our lives are guided; We Pour Libation (Audience respond "Ashay"/Be with us)
For our esteem ancestors who have suffered the atrocities and horrors of our MAAFA(The African Halucost), and yet demonstrated the victorious power of the African spirit against adversity, by maintaining their dignity no matter the cost. We Pour Libation (Audience respond "Ashay"/Be with us)
For those ancestors who survived and made it posible for us to be here today to continue on their valiant struggle for African liberation and vindication. We Pour Libation (Audience respond "Ashay"/Be with us)
And finally, for our Children and their children and future generations of Africans to come, that they too in their time will vindicate our race from all adversaries and continue to imprint upon the world the great genius of african humanity; We Pour Libation (Audience respond "Ashay"/Be with us)
May their venerable African spirit engulf this occasion to reaffirm our Africanity. - So be it - It is done.
PRAYER
We call upon the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe to Inspire Us to live and work together in Unity, Love, and Respect. To remind Us that We are Servants of the Greater Good; and to Illuminate Our hearts and minds that We may draw from the best of Our Great Teachers and Leaders.
Give Us the Capacity to envision Ourselves and the World through Marcus Garvey’s Eyes; so We may know Our Greatness and Our Rightful Place in the World.
Grant Us Dedication and Vision to serve Our People, like Harriet Tubman; that We may realize that Freedom and Goodness must always be shared.
Grace Us with the Dignity and Humility of Dr. King; and give Us the Will to fight for a Moral and Just society.
In the spirit of David Walker, grant Us the Courage and Ability to stand up against oppression and speak Truth to Power.
Help Us develop the Self-transforming Abilities of Malcolm X; that We may reshape Ourselves into a New and Restored People.
Bestow upon Us the Faith, Strength, and Perseverance of Queen Mother Moore and Kwame Toure; that We may Repair, Heal, and Restore Ourselves back to a Self-Determining People.
Provide Us with Leaders who possess the Wisdom and Statesmanship of W.E.B. DuBois; that they may Walk Implacable upon the path of Justice, Truth, and Freedom. Give them the Will to live, work, and sacrifice for the good of the People, while never betraying Our trust through self-serving agendas.
Help Us to Recognize good leaders and enable Us to Trust, Love, and Follow them; that We may be victorious over the oppressors that oppress Us, and live to see Our sacrifices and hard work create our own ‘Nation’ and a better life for our people.
Inspire Our daily thoughts, words, and actions; so they may give Honor to Our Ancestors and Ourselves. Grace Us with a constant yearning to be ‘Free’ and good works that stand, like the Great Pyramids, as an everlasting Monument of Noble Strength for future generations.
May We Practice the teachings of Fannie Lou Hamer; by never forgetting where We came from, and always Praising the Bridges that carried Us over.
We pray Your Eternal Peace be with those who crossed over before Us; the named and un-named, the great ones and the small ones. May the Energy of their Spirits, their Wisdom, and their monumental Deeds be with Us. And may We forever dwell within YOUR Grace. - Amen,Medasi,Hotep,Ashe
SPEAKER
At this time let us take a few deep slow breathes so as to focus ourselves. Breathe deeply and remember the love, respect, or appreciation you have for <NAME> Let us also take a moment of silence to remember < name>, to call her/him up in our minds and to speak to her/him in the private places of our heart, saying to her/him those things that we always wanted to say to her/him (2 minutes of silence with some favorite music of the deceased, that will evoke memories of life with her/him).
MEMORIES OF <NAME>´s LIFE
This is for personal memories who they were, their interests etc. People can speak of them here.
EULOGY
The Eulogy should begin with reflections on death; the following poem can be recited:
What Is Death?
Oh Creator, ‘Death’ is part of the unending cycle of nature
Part of the immensity
of creation rather than
a mere abyss at the end of life.
Death is to be understood as
an integral part of existence
rather than shunned as
a dreaded enemy.
Death is a great teacher,
offering striking insights
into life rather than a
mercilous threat to all that
we hold dear.
Death is to be faced
consciously, even embraced,
rather than avoided at all costs.
Death is to be discussed and
prepared for openly with
those we love, rather than a
social taboo to be hushed up
or hidden away.
Death, and all that surrounds
it, is a precious interval for
both the dying and the
living. At funerals death deserves and rewards profound respect.
After the reflecting on death the rest of the Eulogy remarks should reflect a summary of the deceased ‘Conscious New Afrikan’ personal struggle history.
Closing Judgment Ritual
We met here today to say a righteous farewell to< NAME>, a much loved <BROTHER/SISTER, WIFE/HUSBAND, AUNT/UNCLE>. We were here to witness a transition of a life-chapter that has closed so a new relationship chapter can begin. We met to commend <NAME> to the blessing of the Creator, that he/she may rest, free from illusion or regret, as they now stand at the Ancestral realm gate waiting for the selected 42 New Afrikan Ancestor Judges approval to enter.
We now make an ‘Appeal for Acceptance’ to the 42 Freedom-Fighting Ancestors. As the New Afrikan Funeral Presider I offer testimonials ‘Bearing Witness’ to the 42 Ancestor Judges/Assessors preferably of the deceased own choosing to accept the deceased into the Ancestral realm; these 42 Ancestor Judges are named. If the deceased did not specifically name 42 Ancestor Judges then names will be submitted for them; the following are examples of 42 Ancestor Judges names:
1.David Walker, 2. Henry Highland Garnett, 3. Nat Turner, 4. Gabriel Prosser, 5. Denmark Vessey, 6. Joseph Cinque, 7. Paul Cuffee, 8. David Ruggles, 9. Harriet Tubman, 10. Sojourner Truth, 11. Henry Adams, 12. Pap Singleton, 13. Marcus Garvey, 14, Noble Drew Ali, 15. Elijah Muhammad, 16. W.E.B. DuBois, 17. Carter G. Woodson, 18. Ida B. Wells, 19. Queen Mother Moore, 20. Martin Luther King, Jr., 21. Rosa Parks, 22. Ella Bker, 23. James Merideth, 24. Kwame Toure, 25. Bunchy Carter, 26. Fred Hampton, 27. George Jackson, 28, Jonathan Jackson, 29. Robert Williams, 30. Imari Obadele, 31. Bobby Wright, 32. Amos Wilson, 33. John Henrik Clark, 34. Assa Hilliard, 35. Barashango, 36. Hanibal Afrik, 37. Herman Ferguson, 38. Safiya Bukhari, 39. Albert ‘Nuh’ Washington, 40. Medahochi Kofi Zannu, 41. Malcolm X, 42. Stanley ‘Tookie’ Williams, Etc.
One’s list of 42 Ancestral Judges can include esteemed family members, relatives, friends, and other individuals. The names of the 42 Ancestral Judges are put in a decorative wooden keepsake box and then placed on top of the closed casket of the deceased.
The New Afrikan Funeral Presider stands in front of the casket holding an Ostrich feather representing the spirit of truth and judgment - MAAT. The scale or criteria of judgment is the New Afrikan Creed particularly points 9–15 as follows:
9. Therefore, i pledge to struggle without cease until We have won sovereignty. i pledge to struggle without fail until We have built a better condition than the world has yet known.
10. i will give my life if that is necessary. i will give my time, my mind, my strength and my wealth because this IS necessary.
11. i will follow my chosen leaders and help them.
12. i will love my brothers and sisters as myself.
13. i will steal nothing from a brother or sister, cheat no brother or sister, misuse no brother or sister, inform on no brother or sister and spread no gossip.
14. i will keep myself clean in body, dress and speech, knowing that i am a light set on a hill, a true representative of what We are building.
15. i will be patient and uplifting with the deaf, dumb and blind, and i will seek by word and deed to heal the Black family. To bring into the movement and into the community, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters left by the wayside.
Now freely and of my own will i will pledge this creed for the sake of freedom for my people and a better world. On pain of disgrace and banishment if i prove false. For i am no longer deaf, dumb or blind. i am by the inspiration of Our Ancestors and the Grace of Our Creator, a New Afrikan.
The New Afrikan Funeral Presider provides proofs of acceptance by providing bear witnessing examples of each points of the New Afrikan Creed 9 – 15 as it relates to the deceased persons struggle history. The Presider begins each example point by saying ‘I Bear Witness’.
Guided by honesty, objectivity, integrity, and the Ancestors spirits the New Afrikan Funeral Presider weighs the deceased conscious actions against the feather of truth, to determine the fate of the deceased acceptance into the New Afrikan Ancestral Realm.
After the New Afrikan Funeral Presider highlight proofs for each point, he concludes by saying: “With decision-making vested in me by the Ancestors I have provided bear witnessing proof that the deceased <Name> has met the criteria and is worthy to enter the gates of the Ancestral Realm as an Ancestor.” So be it!
Closing Quotation
The following quote is from a Marcus Garvey speech titled, ‘Look for me in the World Wind’, Garvey tells his followers: “If I die in Atlanta my work shall then only begin, but I shall live, in the physical or spiritual to see the day of Africa’s glory. When I am dead wrap the mantle of the Red, Black and Green around me, for in the new life I shall rise with God’s grace and blessing to lead the millions up the heights of triumph with the colors that you well know. Look for me in the whirlwind or the storm, look for me all around you, for, with God’s grace, I shall come and bring with me countless millions of black slaves who have died in America and the West Indies and the millions in Africa to aid you in the fight for Liberty, Freedom, and Life.”
Burial Site Libations:
We are gathered here for the final resting place of the deceased (Name) physical body. We pour libations to water, to nourish the ground that will receive our respected Brother/Sister. We witness his/her body being lowered in the earth but we know his/her spirit has already risen to the Ancestral realm. We pour libations to honor our Brother/Sister and his/her active participation and contribution to our historical struggle for self-determination and freedom. We will continue to pour libations for his/her remembrance as he/she is returned to the soil as a New Arikan Ancestor. We salute him/her with the clenched fist! He/She is now free - long live his/her sprit that now communicates with us an Ancestors – Ashe!