The African Rites of Passage and the Black Fraternity

Abstract

Traditional West African organizations, called Asafo, bear a striking resemblance to Black Greek-letter organizations. The common bonds that link the Asafo companies of Ghana with the Black Greek-letter organizations of the United States lie within their rites of passage, the guiding principles, philosophical views, and overall character inherent to these organizations. While slavery and colonization strained, it did not completely break the cultural bond between Africans in Africa and those who reside in the West (the United States). Moreover, wherever people of African descent may reside, their cultural practices have always remained an intricate part of their lives. This article seeks to analyze the presence of African culture found within the Black Greek-letter organization and determine how African Americans were able to materialize, communicate, and ultimately sustain these African identities under antagonistic social conditions.