The ''Flying African''

By Crusader1307

A component of many African Tribal beliefs – especially those captured and forced into Slavery, was that such captured people could invoke various Gods to ‘’transform’’ themselves into Birds. As such, They could ‘’fly away’’ from such horrible and cruel captivity back to Their Homeland. Often accepted by Cultural Folklorist as a ‘’coping mechanism’’ used to inspire ‘’hope’’ of Freedom, many oral Tales would become interwoven into traditional African American Mythos. The Igbo Tribe were well known for invoking the prayers of Their People to ‘’change’’ into various Birds, to ‘’escape’’ (and even fish to swim home). Some beliefs assigned the conclusion of such Tales – with the death of a Slave (from a variety of causes). The Soul of the deceased would then change in to a Bird – and fly away Home (thus establishing to survivors that hope of ‘’seeing’’ Their Homes ‘’again’’ – was ensured. With the adaptation of Christianity among African Americans, such ‘’Flying African’’ mythologies waned and disappeared.