About Sago Journal

Igbo shrine in honor of the female alusi (deity) Ogwugwu, Nibo (present-day Anambra state), Nigeria. Source: Ukpuru

Purpose

At its core, the act of storytelling is a sacred ritual that brings forth ancestral memories and shapes the essence of our human experience. Sago Journal, a digital archive, journal, and research collective, is dedicated to documenting and researching the lineages of healing through the power of storytelling and visual culture. Grounded in a de-colonial praxis, Sago Journal operates at the intersection of two essential axes: the archive and the journal. Through archival research, Sago Journal delves into the past as a profound étude, allowing for critical reflections on historical documentation of healing rituals, practices, and belief systems. Simultaneously, the journal engages in the dynamic practice of live archiving contemporary global anthropologies of health, acknowledging the living nature of healing traditions and their evolution over time.

By bridging the past and the present, Sago Journal fosters an inclusive space where healing narratives are respectfully preserved, shared, and studied. It embraces the multiplicity of cultural expressions of healing, celebrating the richness and diversity of human experiences in the realm of health and wellness.

Mission & Values

Sago Journal takes a distinct approach to anthropological visual material on healing practices by rejecting voyeuristic and colonial narratives. Instead, we aim to offer an inclusive space that challenges the fetishization of indigenous spiritual, cultural, and material practices. Operating on a praxis of critical ethnography and ethical storytelling, the journal aims to amplify contemporary healer narratives and foster meaningful dialogues on human relationships to healing. By de-centering colonial perspectives, the Sago Journal seeks to present healing practices in a culturally respectful and sensitive manner, emphasizing the importance of ethical representation and authentic engagement with the subject matter.

Methodology

Through a participatory approach, Sago Journal collaborates & co-creates with healers globally, placing embodied narratives and cosmologies of healing at the forefront through an array of visual and written mediums, from photography, photo essays and short films to published prints & journals.

Sago / sæh - goh /

a word of Wolof origin, referring to an innate state of calm, serenity & self-discipline. One who takes full command of their "sago" is one who is cool, measured & healed. To embody one's sago is to show calm, tranquility, confidence.

Behind Sago Journal