“Repair — to pair again with other alliances — making us alive in ways we don’t even know how to speak to yet.”

— Báyò Akómoláfé

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In this first episode of Wild Heart Revival, Bayo guides us into an exploration of a timely concept that he calls 'A Politics of Tenderness,' navigating the fluidity of identity and challenging societal norms. From radical accompaniment to the wild wisdom of tricksters, Bayo invites us to embrace an animist’s ethics along our mythic quest for deeper self-and-other understanding. The conversation also traverses the transformative territory of initiatory rites, the wisdom of death as an advisor, and the vibrant playfulness of creation. Through Bayo's lens, we contemplate 'Wild Heart Revival' as a dynamic space for questioning, repair, and forging new alliances beyond human-centric perspectives. Thematic show notes below.

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Thematic Show Notes

A Politics of Tenderness:

• Bayo advocates for a politics rooted in tenderness, urging inquiry into the fluid boundaries of identity and the crisis of rigid categorizations.

• He challenges the violence inherent in framing concepts like home and identity, proposing a reevaluation of these constructs.

• Emphasizes the need to blur the lines that divide individuals and cultivate empathy for the "fugitive other."

Radical Accompaniment and Stranger Solidarities:

• Explores the concept of radical accompaniment and the formation of solidarities beyond familiar boundaries.

Animist Ethics:

• Discusses the necessity of embracing an animist ethics that recognizes the interconnectedness and vitality of all beings.

The Trickster in Times of Change:

• Considers the role of the trickster archetype during periods of significant societal transformation.

• Questions the consequences of taking life too seriously and the value of embracing ambiguity.

Initiatory Rites and Personal Growth:

• Reflects on the transformative experience of initiatory rites, particularly in Bayo's journey to manhood following his father's death.

A New Cosmology of Death:

• Views death as a trusted advisor, proposing a reimagining of its role within a new cosmological framework.

The Playfulness of Creation:

• Explores the playful nature of the universe and its ongoing process of self-interrogation, highlighting the intersection of dread, wonder, and play.

Wild Heart Revival:

• Bayo shares his interpretation of "Wild Heart Revival," rejecting a simplistic return to past ideals and instead advocating for a dynamic, Dionysian spirituality.

• Envisions it as a space for questioning, repair, and forming new alliances beyond human-centric perspectives.