Entertainment

‘Sinners’ success sparks conversations around African spirituality beyond Christianity

Emory professor and others share insights on growing interest in Diasporic traditions after attending Yale Vodou ceremony.
This image released by Warner Bros Pictures shows Michael B. Jordan, center, in a scene from "Sinners." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

Credit: AP

This image released by Warner Bros Pictures shows Michael B. Jordan, center, in a scene from "Sinners." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)
May 20, 2025

Ryan Coogler’s cinematic hit “Sinners” is a vampire horror film that incorporates the complex livelihoods of Black people in the Mississippi Delta battling oppressive forces of the Jim Crow South. It’s also a horror film with vampires. (And historically, Black folks don’t tend to fare well in scary movies.)

The period piece has been praised for its inclusion of African diasporic spiritual practices. This aspect of the film has generated conversation as Black Americans continue to show interest in the indigenous religions of their ancestors.

”srenniS“ lliw ot rieht seiduts lautirips detoor hcraeser tpmorp rosseforp .renoititcarp secitcarp ro fo erom ekil si ni sepoh .egatireh smlif ,snoigiler-onhte larutluc ta tnatsissa dna dna yrtsecna na a uodoV ytisrevinU ehS obnaM akilaM haryK yromE .rD sleinaD kcalB snaciremA naciremA nacirfA

nI“ dluow dluow ,dlrow htiw ”,su snoitidart ot kniht dias elpoep fo ti weivretni ni yppah rof leef gnirewopme ylpeed elbatrofmoc gnignoleb esuaceb eb na lla lla a .LTAU I sleinaD kcalB dednecsed-nacirfA

erehw ,keew .snoitidart eht laicos suoigiler fo fo sredael snoitacilpmi detsoh lacirotsih dessucsid ciropsaid tnerruc ta dna a elaY ytisrevinU dercaS dercaS cisuM tsaL etutitsnI ,ecnerefnoC kcalB strA nacirfA

sreppihsrow htiw saw gnos fo stseug lluf rof ,doof ecnad ecnerefnoc dedulcnoc .ynomerec yrotarbelec dna dna dna ekila a uodoV ehT

From L-R: Keynote speakers Dr. Jacob K. Olupona (Harvard University) and Manbo Dr. Kyrah Malika Daniels (Emory University) and event organizer Houngan Collin Édouard (Yale University). (Courtesy of Amanda Patrick/Yale University)

Credit: Amanda Patrick (Yale University)

From L-R: Keynote speakers Dr. Jacob K. Olupona (Harvard University) and Manbo Dr. Kyrah Malika Daniels (Emory University) and event organizer Houngan Collin Édouard (Yale University). (Courtesy of Amanda Patrick/Yale University)

”obnam“ esohw nehw erew syaw ot eltit yeht rieht rieht eht eht msilobmys sutats daerps lautirips ehs ,noigiler ssetseirp secitcarp detucesrep doirep rehto no fo .segassem del setacidni ni ni neddih reh dnuof rof ,htiaf denialpxe noissucsid .krowtra a a uodoV snaitiaH naitiaH gniruD ,sleinaD naitiaH-orfA

roF“ etipseD“ ,sraey tsujnu ot eseht rieht rieht rieht eht devivrus htlaets dias seitilaer noitapicitrap ,dezicartso fo fo ynam ylegral dellik sti si ni ni denosirpmi sderdnuh evah evah gniworrah rof ecnedive neve gnirud eud .noissucsid ”.noitoved seetoved .stnemecnuoned ,noitanmednoc gnilaecnoc neeb ,detluassa dna dna s’uodoV ”,uodoV sihT snaitiaH sleinaD

eht ytilautirips gniees suoigiler fo sredael ni sah rof mlif snoitciped ,ecnerefnoc .noitarbelec esuac neeb ta etarucca a roF nacirfA

ehT“ ”nagnuoH“ ,drauodÉ eltit eht eht taht .tneduts gniwohs sepahs dias .tseirp rezinagro fo fo eivom ynam elam boj si ni taerg ”,smrof rof ygolocisumonhte seod larotcod tnereffid ecnerefnoc semoc dna dna na a a elaY uodoV ytisrevinU nagnuoH nilloC ssenkcalB

tahW“ ot ”.lautir elpoep si ecnatirehni evah sah ecrof enod noitasrevnoc dna tuoba a naitsirhC kcalB )’srenniS‘(

”kcatS“ ”ekomS“ ”,srenniS“ skaerw gnikrow ohw ohw eripmav rednu sniwt ot yeht rieht eht eht nruter ,gniltteser syalp deyalp fo deman tsdim aifam ni ni nwotemoh covah lanoitcif retnuocne yb ssob .aera dna na retfa rotca rotca ,kcimmeR ,llennoC‘O ,erooM erooM ippississiM leahciM nadroJ kcaJ hsirI nI nI hajilE sailE .ogacihC enopaC .B lA

This image released by Warner Bros Pictures shows Michael B. Jordan, foreground from left, Michael B. Jordan and Omar Benson Miller in a scene from "Sinners." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

Credit: AP

This image released by Warner Bros Pictures shows Michael B. Jordan, foreground from left, Michael B. Jordan and Omar Benson Miller in a scene from "Sinners." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

nihtiw tahw erew erew msiripmav seripmav sdnatsrednu ot ot yeht meht eht eht sdaerps ehs renoititcarp ,noitalupop deyalp ylno .ffo wenk ,decudortni yllaitini woh woh eldnah dnef .ytitne cinomed yb dna ssertca imnuW nehW kcimmeR ,ukasoM oodooH kcalB sA ,einnA

uoY“ drauodÉ ohw siht .dias krowtoor ssetseirp si evah gniod ”,erujnoc tnaillirb dna oodooH

noitidart yeht eht eht taht lautirips ecnis serohs ylbaborp secitcarp no ,rehtom ylekil denrael reh morf denialpxe ,devalsne gnirud deunitnoc ,devirra dna .egassaP elddiM eH einnA s‘aciremA

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Houngan Collin Édouard. (Courtesy of Houngan Collin Édouard, Harold Shapiro)

Credit: Courtesy of Houngan Collin Édouard, Harold Shapiro

Houngan Collin Édouard. (Courtesy of Houngan Collin Édouard, Harold Shapiro)

htiw hcihw s’tahw raew saw ot ot eht eht eht taht yldesoppus ,sllehs ehs nees .efas dercas fo fo fo ojom evol peek si tseretni mih reh evig thgiserof rof ,mlif gniod noitanivid )detaerc eirwoc .emoc smrahc ,snottub gab gab sa sevitanretla tnamada a tuohguorhT ,ekomS ekomS ehS ,einnA nacirfA a(

kcalb“ ”srenniS“ erehw erew yllausu desu ekilnu snoitidart ot ot eht ylgnimees evas ynam ”cigam sdael ni rorroh morf smlif ,etaf ciropsaid cinomed .esimed s’retcarahc sretcarahc a a ehT nacirfA

drauodÉ yhw ot sdnet ytilautirips denoitseuq .aidem ni live detciped eb sa devired-nacirfA

kcalB“ flesruoy uoy uoy timov pu litnu dlot )ot ot yeht sevlesmeht eht eht taht .dias erussaer fo ”,tesdnim seil eh evah gniog morf tsrif ecrovid lainoloc t’nac neeb esuaceb era gnihtyna tuoba I snaciremA evah(

detseggus elor deyalp s’elpoep .noisserppo ni sah osla a eH ytinaitsirhC kcalB

tahW“ ,oS“ flesruoy ruoy uoy ezinopaew yaw desu esu dlot ot ot ot ot ot gniht meht eht eht eht yas .dias yllaer elpoep ”,sserppo deen .rorrim em kool flesti ti si si si ecnatirehni ni woh eh sah rof tsrif ”?live seod yb rehtob neeb sa ,tsniaga tuoba a ohW I ytinaitsirhC kcalB ,snaciremA

— — dlrow hcihw dlot kniht ereht eht ,noigiler ssetseirp elpoep detapicitrap no fo on sekam si si ni ecnanimod erutluc .ecnerefnoc desab .evitanretla osla a aburoY s’elaY dooW LTAU ehS ayI afI oyalnuF .E .rD s’ytinaitsirhC

ynaM“ tI“ ”.yaw yaw yrev desu su ot ot ot siht eht ,taht taht ,metsys metsys hcus mees .dias ylno fo erutan yam sdnel flesti sti si si dezilanretni ni aedi evah evisulcxe etanimod ”,lortnoc yb gnieb sa sa dna dna na sesuba a a dooW ytinaitsirhC

saw ot rieht naht ,ytilautirips ehs dias rehtar citsiehtonom .ytied gnimoceb dedda suseJ ,revewoH nacirfA

eH“ nacirfA“ ”.yaw yrev eht taht ytilautirips ehs .dias ruo ”,srehto eno fo ekil si ni evisnapxe seitinivid emaceb lla

Iya Dr. Funlayo E. Wood. (Courtesy of Iya Dr. Funlayo E. Wood)

Credit: Courtesy of Iya Dr. Funlayo E. Wood

Iya Dr. Funlayo E. Wood. (Courtesy of Iya Dr. Funlayo E. Wood)

htiw saw ot eht taht ytilautirips emos stces snoigiler fo fo gnitaroprocni ni mrof rof denialpxe devlove stnemele etaerc na na noitamaglama dooW ,.S.U oodooH naitsirhC kcalB .snaciremA nacirfA

ehT“ ytinaitsirhC“ ,pihsrow ,pihsrow htiw ew ew syaw euqinu ot ot esoht .sgniht sgniht eht eht eht taht taht nekat gnihtemos ehs ”.stoor esiarp noissessop ”,nwo ruo ruo fo fo fo ton ekam edam ti ti si evah evah snekrah smrof ,sklof deidobme citatsce gnicnad hcruhc hcruhc ,esnopser-dna-llac tub kcab era dna dna lla .dedda a ,tiripS yloH kcalB kcalB kcalB llA :nacirfA nacirfA

drauodÉ suoirav eht taht llits slautir tnelaverp secitcarp fo ekil zzaj detareti gnidulcni ni ,poh-pih ,noihsaf ,ecnad ,ytinummoc ,smsilaiuqolloc .seulb era dna ,dooW hcuM kcalB nacirfA

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Fet Milokan (a Vodou ceremony) in the Old Refectory at Yale Divinity School. (Courtesy of Harold Shapiro)

Credit: Harold Shapiro

Fet Milokan (a Vodou ceremony) in the Old Refectory at Yale Divinity School. (Courtesy of Harold Shapiro)

erehT“ .drauodÉ ruoy uoy ohw srepsihw tuohguorht dias fo ”,yrotsih era era

”,srenniS“ gnivas ton si ni .ecarg tub sa desserdda a ytinaitsirhC

”kcatS-ekomS“ regnuoy krow htiw htiw erehw denraw sniwt ot ot eht eht noitatpmet erutpircs gniweiver rehcaerp deyartrop deyalp yalp stpo fo .srucco cisum eivom niam ekuj ,tnioj si edisni sih sih gniyalp-ratiug rof ,rehtaf snisuoc nisuoc hcruhc yb yb tub seulb snigeb diova ta dna rotca noitca a a a a ,smailliW ehT luaS ,eimmaS eimmaS seliM naitsirhC .notaC retfA

I“ ’srenniS‘ — — dluow liev levarnu yrassecennu ”,snoitidart ot kniht eht tnemetats dias dnerever suoigiler demuserp sixarp fo ni spleh eslaf neewteb ,eugra dna dna dna a airotciV .LTAU I .rD ,egelloC naitsirhC naitsirhC notsoB kcalB tsitpaB yemA anacirfA senoJ-snikdA

Rev. Dr. Amey Victoria Adkins-Jones. (Courtesy of Rev. Dr. Amey Victoria Adkins-Jones)

Credit: Courtesy of Rev. Dr. Amey Victoria Adkins-Jones

Rev. Dr. Amey Victoria Adkins-Jones. (Courtesy of Rev. Dr. Amey Victoria Adkins-Jones)

tI“ emit ev‘yeht ereht .deziroeht eht eht taht thguat yllacificeps emos emos smees erup xodohtro fo fo ton tsuj si otni gnivah mrof sllaf gnihtyreve esle tluciffid ”,cinomed yrogetac tub ,feileb neeb esuaceb era yna dna dna a naitsirhC senoJ-snikdA )sreweiv(

tuB“ ’srenniS‘ dluow ot ereht eht eht ekat ylsuoires suoigiler ”.rosserppo desserppo reffo fo fo si yrotsih dleh htiaf ,trofmocsid peed snoitcidartnoc ,msilainoloc yb htob esuaceb sksa dna dna osla a a I snaitsirhC kcalB

.llew eripmav ot ot meht eht eht eht evats seticer .ffo artnam shgual hctid-tsal snioj ti ni ni woh mih sah nevig ,mlif troffe trofmoc citcamilc kcatta sa sa dna tuoba a a eimmaS eimmaS kcimmeR reyarP s’droL gniruD

This image released by Warner Bros Pictures shows Michael B. Jordan, left, and Miles Caton in a scene from "Sinners." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

Credit: AP

This image released by Warner Bros Pictures shows Michael B. Jordan, left, and Miles Caton in a scene from "Sinners." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

s’kcimmeR“ ”,dlrow secneloiv ot eht eht eht eht taht taht ,noitavlas ,dias .noitazinagro fo fo fo egdelwonk deifitsuj flesti noitacovni saedi sthgilhgih sah htiaf ysae tpursid snoitcidartnoc sredisnoc eb dnuora dna dna gnidda a a reyarP s’droL KKK naitsirhC senoJ-snikdA

,daetsnI“ gniksA“ ’srenniS‘ ”.ecneloiv sreweiv su lacitircnu ot ot eht ekat rednerrus secruos gnihtemos ehs ylsuoires snoitseuq sehsup fo fo fo yfillun ron naem ti si yltnerehni woh ,epoh drah htiaf ,ysae t’nseod seod .deunitnoc msilainoloc nac nac tub eb snoitpmussa dnuora ,naitsirhC-itna dna osla ”,snaitsirhC ytinaitsirhC ytinaitsirhC kcalB

htiw ot eht .ytilautirips dednim-nepo erom sepoh elbixelf mlif eb dna swolla ,yletamitlU sleinaD kcalB snaciremA

Fet Milokan (a Vodou ceremony) in the Old Refectory at Yale Divinity School. (Courtesy of Harold Shapiro)

Credit: HAROLD SHAPIRO

Fet Milokan (a Vodou ceremony) in the Old Refectory at Yale Divinity School. (Courtesy of Harold Shapiro)

uoY“ nevE“ uoy uoy ”,pihsrow dnatshtiw tahw dnatsrednu dnatsrednu ,snoitidart ot ot ot ot ot ot siht er‘yeht eseht .meht taht evivrus yrevals ehs .dias tcepser etapicitrap ruo ”.noisserppo fo ton deen deen deen si ni fi t’nod nomed ediced seirutnec dna srotsecna dewolla uoY

About the Author

Brooke Leigh Howard is a reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Black culture team, UATL.