Friday 27 December 2013

The Vision - Free Spirit Crusaders


The Free Spirit Crusaders


Once upon a time, yesterday in London, here on a winters day, lives a nomadic storyteller who comes from a long line of storytellers. Ironically this nomad has been static for a very long time. Her name is Griot Chinyere. She once travelled in a mobile home between communities nurturing Afrakan culture through the stories she shared, being a free spirit. Now she has been static for so long, her bones creek out of sync and the dust clouds her memory. Her ancestors are unhappy. Last night in her dreams they visited. “The time is here to unifest the vision we gave you as a child. Try to remember. You must build a sacred geometrical structure for the children lest they forget who they are. And you will call it a storytelling retreat. But first you must seek an ancient story to guide your destiny. On your search you will encounter magic, wisdom and the healing ancient traditions of Afraka”.

This morning Griot Chinyere wakes up to squawking crows, shivering. Fore she knows where she must construct the sacred building. You see, many moons ago, a young spirit guide named, Kweku led her to the Kepko community in Ghana and their Chief. Under the bobao tree at the heart of the community, they poured libation and harnessed the positive energies of the universe. Griot Chinyere then presented the idea of an eco friendly storytelling retreat, running on natural renewable energy. There were many conversations, on the necessity, to preserve Afrakan heritage through storytelling and to conserve Mother Earth using renewable energy. A small circular ritual was enacted. All forces who needed addressing were addressed. The Chief received the message from a divine force, to donate 4 acres of land and install Griot Chinyere as their Queen Mother. It is agreed the storytelling retreat will be the keeper of ancient traditions in both the oral and written forms.

Today Griot Chinyere cycles through the cold and icy roads, to meditate in the Flower garden Park, she is conscious a dedicated team is required to help set a story trail blaze overland from England to Ghana; a trail that others with good intent will follow. A smile crosses her face as she considers the team name. “The free spirit crusaders”. A laugh jumps out of her mouth. It has a nice ring to it. Griot Chinyere sits meditating, hidden from view, engulfed by the snow laden hanging branches of an antiquated pine tree. The vision becomes clear. The free spirit crusaders are travelling through Afraka in a 4-wheel drive box trucks, about 7.5 ton. It has been converted into a fully furnished mobile home. Their conversion includes solar panels, windmill energy, a wood-burning stove, a bed, a dinning table, kitchen sink, herb rack, a shower etc etc all the creature comforts


The excitement, the verve and the energy this expedition inspires, motivates all manner of celebrity to endorse the Story Trail Blazer. And millions from the universal community support the project. There is much media attention everyone is trying to get in on it, with radio interviews, newspaper headlines and television coverage. The team set aside approximately 18 weeks to voyage 6,867 miles through 13 countries. This significant quest gives them unique exposure to communities and people of historical and social value. In the heat of the night under the rays of the full moon, the sound of the crackling fire bounces on the airways. The fire flies are the starlight of the surrounding forest. Griot Chinyere looks into the faces of this newly formed team and wonder if they wonder as she does how they will ever explain the spiritual evolution she has experienced. her day to day life is transforming from ordinary to extra ordinary. The learning that comes from acclimatising to a new way of being. Will the stories gathered, the video clips, the photographs the drawings be enough to show the emotional, mental and physical challenges on this odyssey? Will these tales become time honoured legends as they, seek the wisdom of the indigenous?

Something in the air changes and simultaneously they all avert their attention away from the fire. The eyes rest on the figure of an elder. It is hard to tell the gender. When Griot Chinyere receives the gaze of the elder she is compelled as the others are, to stand up and follow this figure into the darkness of the forest. They stop at a clearing framed by twelve trees. And in the night on this full moon there comes a chorus of animal spirit chants. The eyes of the elder light up. As clear as the stars in a night filled sky, Griot Chinyere realises this is the elder who will pass on the gift of the ancient story. Vibrations run up her spine and through her head. This is a rites of passage, a mystical, definitive moment.

Griot Chinyere meditation moves forward; she is stepping out of the truck. The Kepko community call and response causes an eruption of energy to ricochet throughout the land. They celebrate the safe return of their Queen mother. The free spirit crusaders are welcomed with open arms. The long awaited festivities begin. A colourful ceremony of singing voices, dancing bodies, clapping hands and drumming hearts generates continuous pulsations. The master crafters are called to begin the work. The ancient story lays the foundation. Red clay from spirit mountain forms the structure, bamboo from ancestral swamp decorates the walls, wood from old furniture, panels the floors and a thatched roof adorns on top. The energy flow divinely shines through the large open windows. At the centre of the 6-roomed retreat is the inner temple of sacred story divination.


This divinely creative space attracts an international circle of Griots and storytellers. Beautiful spirits sojourner here during the Solstice, for the Sesa Wo Suban Storytelling Festival. These eager ones go on a magical journey of the imagination as they enjoy annual renditions of ancient & contemporary stories. Many ones, fall in love with Ghana. A chosen few are gifted land in exchange for producing community projects promoting Afrakan culture and the potency of Mother earth! Some repatriate, attracted by; the excellent lifestyle opportunities, the ability to further develop the stable infrastructure, and a chance to contribute to the growing economy. Others return time and again to their favourite holiday destination.

The ancestors smile as the prophecy is fulfilled. The Kepko community live happily for eons.  Their centre of magic, wisdom and healing traditions, spurs the children to pass on Afrakan stories to their children, their children’s children and all the children throughout the generations. At the end of the meditation Griot Chinyere gives thanks to the ancestors for the vision and with a humble bow to the tree, an inwardly smile to herself she exits the snow laden garden to raise energy and resources. Isé