Reflections of Africa: Investigating the subsidiary of African indigenous culture and its applications in the contemporary scenario through Sing, Unburied, Sing

While considered a distinctive genre, multiple elements can be observed in the African American culture and literature that overlap with indigenous African culture. However, there is limited research on the African roots of African American culture. Additionally, there is still scope left in exploring how African indigenous practices can lead to sustainable living. The main objective of this comparative study is to highlight the indigenous African connections of African American culture and to explore the applications of African indigenous wisdom on global issues through Jesmyn Ward’s novel, Sing, Unburied, Sing. The analysis revealed that African American culture is rooted in the African indigenous cultural practices. Moreover, with the concepts of oral tradition, spirituality, Ubuntu, and eco-bio-communitarianism, African indigenous wisdom can help resolve various contemporary complications, such as communal friction, irreligiosity, diasporic trauma, and environmental issues, including biodiversity loss, natural resource depletion, and climate change, leading to a sustainable future.