I’m the mid night writer from the house of “O”, meaning there’s a lot of Orisha thereand this blog is in regards to a recently published Orisa and ancestor based Novel, and why I wrote and published it. For far to long non-African descended individuals in the media, the movie industry, and European writers have been seizing our spiritual traditions and interpreting and depicting them images that are misleading, misinterpreted, distorted, misrepresented. I have observed this phenomenon all too often; especially in Marvel and DC comics. I have witnessed Ogun the Orisa of the Yoruba of West Africa depicted as a European playing the role of a villain. That in and of itself is cause for me to reclaim our spiritual traditions, and culture. As an African descended writer and published author it is my responsibility to reclaim our cultural and spiritual traditions within the scope and realm of the media / entertainment that it may be represented authentically in the proper historical, cultural, and traditional context despite the avenue of expression.Being the author of Beyond Deceptions Myths & Lies a book that was published over a year ago. Beyond Deceptions Myths and Lies reveal the origins of distorted misrepresentations of traditional African spiritual systems and how the slave trade was responsible for spiritually de-Africanizing 80% of African descendent population in the Diaspora fragmenting numerous Africa cultures, spiritual systems and traditions. Beyond Deceptions Myths and Lies unlocks the truth in how systematic methods of self hate, and mis-education through western religious concepts have vilified African spiritual systems and concepts of those enslaved by Christian colonizers whose religious traditions justified and sanctioned one of the world’s most heinous atrocities in history, the trans Atlantic slave trade. The media, Hollywood, European racist scholars, and socio-political education system have dominated the realm of the publishing world in every genre including the ever grow realm of Science Fiction. In writing and publishing “Cosmic Beginnings the Chaos Chronicals Vol. 1 I am attempting to reverse negative and derogatory images them have been associated with African culture and tradition. The purpose of this novel is to empower through creativity and imagination. I hope to gain your support through this endeavor. I wrote Cosmic beginnings because I was tired of seeing African culture and traditions exploited by Hollywood, and their screen writers, producers along with other non African writers depicting African traditions and culture in a less then admirable light; despite the fact that yes we are talking about Sci-Fi we are also talking about positive images being depicted in the story. The main characters are strong courageous intelligent, and educated women, and this is a story created outside of the urban scope of what we are all use to. I wrote this story in such a way it not only removes you from your city and state; it forces you to think outside of the box. I use speculative elements being that it is not only a Sci-fi story, but it’s a historical fiction as well. All throughout the history of the trans Atlantic slave trade there was a question lingering in the air in regards to the mysterious ship wreck of the Henri-Etta Marie. It is that element which I incorporate into the story. I know you’re asking why it’s titled Cosmic Beginnings. They are part of a chronicle; an ancient prophecy, one where the war in heaven thunders across the known universe. This is a story told through the cultural eyes of mother Africa. These are her legends her heroes and heroines that have been brushed beneath the surface or politely bleached out of the world view. This is the story of African gods and goddesses that have existed long before western man’s civilization came into existence.Every culture from around the globe speaks of their deities the benevolent and the malevolent. Norse, Greek, Roman and so forth. Throughout the decades comic books, cartoons animations and novels are dedicate to them acknowledging their triumphs and defeats. Sometimes you have to ask the question… Where are mother Africa’s heroes outside of those Egyptian deities who have been so politely Europeanized and dissected away from the continent of Africa? Where are those deities with complexions like onyx, hematite, and cooper with pepper corn hair looking as if they had been chiseled from granite? Can anybody tell me why non-African persons including media, screen writers, authors, and the so called academic society write about Africa in such a degrading fashion and gain national acclaim while talented writers of color are met with numerous blocks, barricades, and barriers when attempting to bring about a truth, positive, and uplifting images. Are people of color worthy of writing sci-fi…..wasn’t Edgar Allen Poe the Steven king of his time? There is a hand full of us surviving the ocean of Eurocentric domination within the realms of sci-fi fantasy. A dominate force is writing about the gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt, and other African ethnic groups and erasing and slowly bleaching them to their favor until their origins are no longer recognized.Cosmic Beginnings contains some of the most unique and original characters bringing pages to life revealing a world shrouded in illusions and mystery, for instance unsuspecting and unknowing Kenyatta is part of an ancient prophecy despite her being unaware of the prophecy her spirit is completely aware leading her into the dream time where she encounters horrific dream imagery that literally draws blood. Her Native American ancestors urge her to seek out the blood that is strongest in her veins; thus she embarks on a deadly journey through West Africa for answers.Captain Fatima Jatari is a seasoned seafaring black woman and captain of the H20C.A.T.a vessel commission solely for the purpose of investigating unexplainable incidents, bizarre accidents and fatalities off the coast of Nigeria. When a series of mysterious events leaving a wake of turmoil and chaos erupt she and her crew are immediately dispatched to investigate the source of the upheaval, but unbeknownst to her she and her crew all share a part in the ancient prophecy. On land and sea these two woman’s paths must cross to rise up against an unimaginable malefic force.Cosmic Beginnings is a multi faceted fast pace story it’s a historical fiction in regards to the Trans Atlantic slave trade, the socio political atmosphere in Nigeria due to colonial rule by the British and the scars left on the country after Nigeria gained her independence. Political turmoil certainly played a roll for the suspenseful dynamics of the story. Cosmic Beginnings went through quite a few transitions, from a children’s book to a comic book, to a graphic novel, and then finally to a bona fide Sci-fi novel it was a couple years in the making. In order for me to properly write the ocean scenes I had to take classes with the U.S. Coast Guard on chart reading, Basic Seamen ship, Navigation, Advanced Navigation.During that time I had begun to travel back and forth to West African up and down the coast bouncing around spending time talking to anybody and every body…checking out anything to everything; especially places of historic interest.After returning back to the states I began taking Astrology and Natal birth chart classes to get a better understanding of astrology and astronomy so I could write the cosmological aspects effectively.This story encompasses a wide range of elements, at some points it could be considered horror, suspense thriller, and fantasy. I intentionally wrote a little humor into the story to show our character’s human nature.Another rather compelling aspect of the story is the cosmological elements. Here you have all these celestial bodies with personalities possessing numerous characteristics and emotions ranging from admiration, fear, curiosity, malevolence, anxiety, rage, compassion, aggression. They’re alive in the heavens performing their daily task, and interacting with one another. Imagine if you will a community of quasars, dwarf stars, suns, moons, nebulas, star constellations, and planets all playing a role weather they’re getting along with one another or not….here’s where the issues come in they exert a certain amount of influence on the atmosphere in general. It’s the roles that are being played out by these astrological and celestial bodies concerning the war in heaven before the arrival of man.The most important aspect of Cosmic Beginnings is that it’s a Nigerian genesis belonging to the people of south eastern Nigeria referred to as the Yoruba; it is their creation story originating from their traditional, and cultural spiritual system in how they acknowledge the creator. I hope to have Vol. 2 of the Chaos Chronicals published and available by the spring of 2010….ancestors willing
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