Support My Journey To Brazil: Reconnecting to Ancestral Roots and Healing Arts
Hello, my name is Kaiya! I am an artist and activist with a deep passion for connecting with my ancestral roots and sharing that connection with my community. I teach dance and somatic ritual movement arts and help people remember and connect to the wisdom of their bodies and healing power of movement. For the past 10 years, i have been teaching, studying and training in different expressive art modalities and creating my own movement technique "Dance Alchemy", the healing power of ritual embodied through movement.
> My Website https://Kaiyaashanti.com
The divine feminine was revered in the forms of goddesses and gods, called the Orishas in West African regions, like a lot of the world before Colonialism.
In this audiovisual project directed by Amy Seceda, I embody the goddess of OBA, Obba Nani is a delicate, and powerful Orisha who brings stability to the home and defends the rights of
women and children.
Through beautiful cinematography and dance we strive to showcase West African spiritual traditions and divination, rooted in ancestral culture of people of the African diaspora before colonialism.
We create to honor the Orishas and spread their wisdom, through artistry and dance we can educate are youth and people of the African diaspora and all over the world, and develop ways to help afro indigenous reconnect with their ancestral traditions through workshops, performances, and activism that combine art and advocacy.
I am raising money for the opportunity to travel to Brazil, where I will immerse myself in the rich history of the African diaspora, learn from Indigenous elders, and deepen my understanding of healing arts through dance and prayer. Asking for support to attend the Afro Indigenous Immersion where we explore the intersection of African and Indigenous cultures in the Americas.
The Immersion i am raising money is called > IXA : A Current of prayer, an Afro- Indigenous Immersion
in Bahia, Brazil.
Amy Secada Projects
http://www.youtube.com/@AmySecada
This immersion takes place in Serra Grande, Bahia,
Guided by
Candomblé High Priestess Mainha
Huni Kuin | Yawanawa | Amy Secada
This journey is more than personal, it’s a mission to bring knowledge, healing, and empowerment to others, particularly people of the African diaspora. I believe that dance, prayer, and ritual are profound ways to reconnect to our history, honor our ancestors, and create spaces for spiritual and cultural healing.
Through this trip my intentions are to learn and connect with Indigenous elders and gain wisdom on earth-based healing practices and the transformative power of movement and prayer. Reconnect with the African diaspora , study the historical and cultural ties between Brazil and the African diaspora, understanding how these connections shape identity and resilience.
I really hope that with this education i can create pathways for others and develop ways to help people of the African diaspora reconnect with their ancestral traditions ,through workshops, performances, and activism that combine art and advocacy.
This is not just a trip; it is a bridge. By connecting with ancestral wisdom and cultural practices, I will be able to share this knowledge with people of the African diaspora seeking to reconnect with their roots. Together, we can reclaim traditions of dance, prayer, and ritual as tools for healing, empowerment, and resistance against environmental and social injustices.
How You Can Help:
I am asking for your support to help make this vision a reality.
Your contributions will directly fund:
Travel Expenses: Flights, accommodations, and meals during my time in Brazil.
Learning Opportunities: Workshops, mentorships with Indigenous elders, and cultural immersions.
Creative and Educational Projects: Tools and materials to document my journey and create workshops that bring this wisdom back to my community
Video Credits
Direction + Music Producion + Edit @amysecada
️ OXALÁ + Vocals @jeremykeith_
[email redacted]anti
Abiã @Nikila_mamawisdom1
DP + Drone @ghostdigi
Production Assistants @its_r.o.x.y._ @cnvsblvck
Photography @ericasimone
⚔️ Costume Design @amysecada
️ Assistant Stylist @its_r.o.x.y._
Organizer
