Luisah Teish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Iyanifa
Luisah Teish
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Teish in 2017
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| Native name |
Fajembola Fatunmise
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| Born | April 20, 1948 New Orleans, Louisiana |
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| Years active | 1977–present |
| Notable works | Jambalaya: The Natural Woman's Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals |
Luisah Teish (pronounced TEESH) is a well-known teacher and author. She is famous for her book Jambalaya: The Natural Woman's Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals. She is also an Iyanifa and a chief in the Yoruba Lucumi tradition, serving the deity Oshun.
About Luisah Teish
Luisah Teish is an African-American woman. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her father, Wilson Allen, Sr., was part of the African Methodist Episcopal church. His family had been servants for two generations. They were only one generation away from slavery.
Her mother, Serena "Rene" Allen, was Catholic. She had heritage from Haiti, France, and the Choctaw people. Luisah Teish also has original ancestors from the Yoruba in West Africa.
Early Life and Dance
In the late 1960s, Teish was a dancer. She joined Katherine Dunham's dance group. There, she learned and performed traditional African and Caribbean dances. After leaving the group, she became a choreographer in St. Louis.
In 1969, she joined the Fahami Temple of Amun-Ra. This is where she chose the name "Luisah Teish." This name means "adventuresome spirit." She also led the dance group for the Black Artists Group (BAG) in St. Louis. This was after their first dance leader, Georgia Collins, left.
Becoming a Priestess
In the late 1970s, Luisah Teish became a priestess. She was initiated into the Lucumi religion. She started teaching students in 1977. Today, she lives in Oakland, California.
Teish has shared that her tradition is very joyful. She said, "My tradition is very celebratory - there's always music, dance, song, and food in our services - as well as a sense of reverence for the children. It's joyful as well as meditative."
Many people recognize her work. One author called her "perhaps the most well known... Yoruba priestess... of the [San Francisco] Bay Area." Another writer described her as "well known internationally in Goddess circles as a writer and ritual-maker."
