Dr. Desir will aim to explore the core tenets of Pan-African spirituality, with a focus on Haitian Vodou, highlighting its guiding principles and healing practices.

Pan-African religions and spirituality have long been marginalized and misrepresented, often labeled as demonic or inferior to traditional world religions. However, as global conversations increasingly emphasize inclusivity, there’s a growing recognition of the importance of Pan-African religions and spirituality in shaping a more liberated world where the human spirit thrives. This presentation aims to explore the core tenets of Pan-African spirituality, with a focus on Haitian Vodou, highlighting its guiding principles and healing practices. Furthermore, it will examine the implications of Pan-African spirituality for fields like education and psychology, which have historically been dominated by Christian Western Eurocentric perspectives. By grounding its praxis in the notion of liberation as fundamental to human existence, this presentation seeks to inspire a reimagining of spirituality that honors diverse cultural traditions and promotes holistic well-being.

Exploring Human Origins: Promoting a National Conversation on Human Evolution is administered by ALA’s Public Programs Office in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s (NMNH) Human Origins Program.