S.P.I.R.I.T.S. is a Chicago based, African arts and research organization. The mission is to bring to life authentic, ancient, and contemporary African masquerades, along with music, magic, and mysticism that surrounds the culture and traditions of masquerade societies in Africa and throughout the Diaspora.

S.P.I.R.I.T.S. was born from the family of MUNTU DANCE THEATER OF CHICAGO, where Alyo Tolbert (first artistic director of MUNTU) undertook the goal of creating a company of teachers and ambassadors to spread the importance and relevance of African culture to the inner cities of America and throughout the world. After the untimely passing of Mr. Tolbert in 1983, Abdoulaye Camara, Regisseur General Director de Spectacle of the National Ballet of Senegal, came to MUNTU as an artistic director and teacher of culture. As Mr. Camara began to share mny of the spiritual and mystical aspects of African village life and the "sacred forest" culture, the concept of S.P.I.R.I.T.S. was born in 1988 to address his desire to tap into this treasure chest of uncharted information and experience. Thanks to Mr. Camara, the founders of the organization were provided with the necessary nourishments to maintain their resourcefulness to eat, and their water of hope to drink. In 1992, S.P.I.R.I.T.S. was incorporated in the State of Illinois as a not-for-profit, tax exempt, arts organization. Armed with the self determination to expand on the knowledge firmly implanted about African history and culture, the founders began their ongoing research and their acquisition of the necessary skills and techniques to present themselves before the community and the world.

Having been disconnected from the many aspects of the traditions and culture of Africa, the social benefits from African spirituality practiced by many cultures throughout Africa, must be investigated and practically applied to facilitate healing, balance, and restitution to African American communities and families. S.P.I.R.I.T.S. seeks to to promote the communication with our "kindred" African spirits throughout the Diaspora, who long to interact, communicate, and share visions & secrets of the great African ancestors. Such communication and interaction facilitates the maintainence of a harmonious and spiritual equilibrium which will in turn make the world a better place.