"using experience as a guide, thinking in social terms (particularly the high values of social mores), connecting all being and happening to one's own history through the ancestors, and last but not least maintaining one's own spirituality, all stand out as fundamental features of traditional African thinking. ... it is a specific feeling for something occurring just behind the numerous visible manifestations and indicated more by suggestion. Delight in dealing with words, always with much humor, which makes seemingly hard facts fall apart and leaves everything, even the rules of society, floating in mid-air, a constant balancing between spontaniety and thoughtfulness, seriousness and serenly looking for an underlying deeper meaning, a sense of obligation and relaxed generosity - this is the soul of Africa." (Soul of Africa - Magical Rites and Traditions; Muller, Klaus E.; Ute Ritz-Muller, 2000, p. 129)

Technically, BCE stands for before common era, referring to the years before January 1st, 0000. OK, so our story doesn't really take place in a time that would be considered BCE. Actually, this BCE doesn't really take place in any specific period in time. This is the story of group of people living in the ancient African city of Ife *, the center Yoruban culture, before various tragic events would forever change the face of the African continent and her people.

By the way, did we mention that although BCE takes place in Ife, the characters and events are inspired by Africans from many places, ancient and modern, as well as the people of the African diaspora. For example the inspiration for our friend Nefertari comes from New Kingdom Ancient Egyptians, while Amina is named after the legendary Amina Kulibali of Gabu, and Jazz owes her name to the form of music made popular by African Americans.

Of course all these people didn't actually live in the same place at the same time, but we don't really care. So come break bread with us while we tell you about a time we call BCE.

* = BCE is not based on actual people or events.

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** Support the Victims of Hurricane Katrina, Emergency Programs in Haiti or the Sudan.