Review by Osunyemi

Edward Bruce Bynum

The African Unconscious is a tour de force tracing not only the origin of humanity to Africa, but equally important tracing human thought and consciousness to its origins in Africa. An origin of mysticism, religion, philosophy and medicine that was dispersed across the earth and repeatedly refreshed and imbued with new African contributions throughout human history.

The author Edward Bynum traces the dispersion of prehistoric man from Africa into Asia Minor, India, China, later into Europe, England and most surprisingly into the Americas. All of the world’s wisdom traditions clearly are rooted in Africa and in the dispersion find new flower in such cultures as Greece, India and China.

Specifically he addresses the African roots of modern science and religion, as first articulated in Egypt from whence it went to ancient Greece and became the archetypal foundation of modern science. He traces the origin of kundalini to Africa from which it most notably traveled east and found its greatest expression in India in the Dravidians and later was adapted by the Hindus and even later articulated in Buddhism and Taoism.

The African roots of which we are so frequently unaware and are therefore a part of our unconscious, continues to operate in contemporary thought. It is fascinating that Judaism is one of the branches of this African school of thought, however it separated the spirit from the material and therefore became a branch too thoroughly dependent on the intellect. Equally fascinating is the contribution of African thought to the Declaration of Independence; as many of the founders of the United States were members of various fraternal organizations such as the Masons who owed a great debt to their intellectual and spiritual roots in Africa.

While this book may at times overreach conservative scholarship, it is a clarion call to all humanity to recognize and celebrate, not only our African mother but also our African soul.

Review by Yeye Siju Osunyemi/Valeria Watson-Doost (C)2007

The African Unconscious: Roots of Ancient Mysticism and Modern Psychology (Counseling and Development Series)