Wakale - The Ancestors

Wakale (wah-KAH-lae) is the Kiswahili word for the Ancestors.  The Ancestors are integral to

Dagara culture, to the Dagara people.  We have a close and intimate relationship with them, with all of our family and loved ones who have passed over into the Other World.  The Dagara perform a ritual in which the recent Dead are sent fully and powerfully into the Other World so that they can be empowered by their presence there, free of the restrictions of this physical world and fully able to provide all the healing, guidance, vision and protection that is possible through our continuing, constant connection to them.


We pour libation to them to empower and maintain our relationship with them and put some food aside at every meal to feed them and keep them connected to our daily lives.  We create Ancestor shrines upon which we place items that represent and symbolize them, our relationship with them, photos and red candles to enliven the active energetic portal that we keep open for our connection to stay vibrant and empowered.



Vun, Fire is the element of the Ancestors and provides our main portal through which to connect with our Ancestors.  Candles and the color red are important ways to help keep that portal open and to resonate the energy of Vun and the Wakale.

Ancestor Workshops & Rituals:
We will be exploring basic Dagara concepts around Ancestors, ritual, community, Spirit and cosmology. We will be doing work with the Ancestors on engaging issues of race and oppression, spiritual and cultural liberation and creation of a compassionate world along with other work/issues as we are intuitively guided. It is important to us that we apply our spiritual wisdom to the challenges that our hurting society presents, to not only engage it on political and social/cultural terms, but also in the important area of spirituality and energetics.

Part of this work will also involve calling the names of Africans and other people of color who have been killed by police over the last number of years and beyond. It is important in the Dagara tradition to call all Ancestors close to us, to say their names and enlist their help in solving our problems. Our ability to speak to them in community about this is a part of the work. 

Attendees should bring photos of their Ancestors (family, friends or others, e.g., Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X, Queen Nzingah) that they wish to work with and acknowledge. It is advised that photos be covered in plastic or in a durable frame as offerings of water, other liquids and ash are likely to get on them. Also, be free to bring red or fire-themed fabrics and items along with items and symbols that are resonant of those Ancestors (e.g., toy boat for a relative who was a sailor) to create our Ancestor shrine. Bringing red candles would also be helpful. The above items are suggested, encouraged strongly, but not required. If you are an experienced drummer, please be free to bring one to support the ritual guided by the facilitator.

This and other sessions will be facilitated and guided by Ukumbwa Sauti. Please also see the facebook group, Dagara Spiritual Awareness Practice.