Talk Back to Me

The first time I met the Jenbe kids, I wondered why everyone talked over one another (no more than some young people do, maybe), and talked back to the "elder", the person who had the floor. I found out at one Saturday morning meeting. In the Afrikan culture, the act of "talking back" to a speaker is a way of showing respect to not only the speaker, but to the ancestors as well. The act of talking back represents that the one talking back is paying attention, and moved by what the speaker is saying. It's support.

In my culture, it's a sign of disrespect to talk while someone else is talking, but it's expected and embraced in others. Now I understand.

Talk Back to Me

Talk back to me if you hear what I’m saying. Let me know that you hear me!

Amen!

Say Amen if your spirit is hearing what I’m saying to you!

Amen!

Understand that when you talk back, you aren’t just talking back to me – you’re talking back to our ancestors, to the ones who came before us! And they are here with us, in spirit form, listening to what we are doing. They’re supporting us as we carve a future for the ones who have yet to come. They’re our framework, and we need to respect that! Did we not invoke our ancestors, our blood, before we began this meeting?

Yes, we did!

I can’t hear you!

YES, WE DID!

Amen. Let’s carry on, then.