Today we’d like to introduce you to Yayi Nkisi Malongo (Tee).
Hi Yayi , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m Yayi Nkisi Malongo — a Southern-born Black woman with a long memory, deep roots, and a heart for truth. I come from the Brama Con Brama lineage of Palo Mayombe, and I’ve walked this spiritual path with intention for a lot of years as a rootworker, Lucumi practitioner, diviner, and intuitive gifted since the age of three.
Now let me say this up front:
I’m kind, but I ain’t nice.
There’s a difference.
I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, in a house so full of old folks you could hear history breathing before anybody said a word. Most of the people who shaped me were already in their eighties when I was still learning my ABCs men and women who had lived through wars, slavery, Jim Crow, Black Codes, heartbreaks, revivals, and dished out more prayers than I can count.
I didn’t know it then, but I was being raised inside a living archive.
There was always somebody on the porch in the red and white sliding chair, humming a hymn older than the floorboards. Somebody shelling peas. Somebody telling a story that started before the street we lived on was even paved. Their hands were wrinkled, but their spirits were sharp, and they carried wisdom the way some folks carry pocket knives always ready, always useful.
My grandmother was the first one to teach me that plants talk if you’re willing to listen. She’d tell me:
“A poke plant’ll kill you if you fix it wrong… but sassafras? Baby, sassafras’ll make your whole inside smile.”
That’s the kind of education you don’t get from books.
Mint grew right up the side of the house like it had claimed the land before we did. Rose bushes stretched across the back yard, blooming whether life was sweet or sour. And along the side were those Sweet Sud bushes smelling like childhood innocence with just a little grown-folk wisdom hiding underneath. The whole yard was a map of medicine, protection, and memory… though I didn’t understand that I was surrounded by conjure till much later.
Back then, it was just home.
Just sweetness.
Just safety.
But now?
Now I see the truth: I was growing up inside a soft circle of quiet rootworkers, healers, quiet conjurers, and praying people who let Spirit weave itself through everyday life.
What I thought was just my childhood was actually my initiation. Especially going to a Catholic School but living in a Baptist household.
The elders who raised me didn’t preach magic they lived it. They brewed it in pots, tucked it away in drawers, planted it in the soil, whispered it in stories, and prayed it into my bones.
Those moments, those hands, that land… that’s how I got my start and is how I learned that conjure isn’t something you do. It’s something you are.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road there have definitely been ups and downs. What has sustained me is the knowing that The Divine (God) has blessed me to know that even my worst days are often someone else’s best. That perspective keeps me grounded and grateful. I’ve also been deeply fortunate to have elders wise and intellectually sound elders in my life, experienced voices who guide me and remind me of the importance of learning, listening, and honoring those who came before me.
One of the most daunting struggles has been coming to terms with my own inner knowing and accepting that The Divine (God) called me to help people. That realization isn’t always easy, especially when you don’t fit the traditional “cookie-cutter” image or sound people expect from someone in a spiritual role. But time and experience have shown me that impact doesn’t come from appearance or performance it comes from sincerity, patience, and obedience to Spirit (God). Those I’ve helped will tell you that a little guidance goes a long way, and that listening to Spirit has carried them further than stubbornness ever could. I might not say what you want to hear but I told you what God said and that is enough.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work centers on creating meaningful spiritual offerings that honor faith, reverence, and personal connection. I am known for crafting spiritual gifts and altar pieces designed for people of various faith traditions items meant to live in sacred spaces within the home or to be gifted to those who hold deep spiritual influence in one’s life. Each piece is created with intention, respect, and an understanding that spirituality is deeply personal.
I specialize in helping people find God on their own terms. For many, traditional church spaces may not always feel like the right fit, and my role is never to persuade someone toward or away from any institution. Instead, I focus on guiding individuals toward a deeper, more authentic connection with God one that feels accessible, affirming, and aligned with their lived experience.
What I am most proud of is the trust people place in me during some of their most intimate spiritual moments. What sets me apart is my ability to meet people exactly where they are, without judgment or expectation, and to help them recognize that a relationship with God does not have to look one specific way to be real, powerful, or transformative.
What’s next?
Looking ahead, my focus is on intentionally growing my online business so that my work can reach people beyond my immediate community while still maintaining the depth and care that defines it. I am excited about expanding my offerings in a way that remains rooted in authenticity, craftsmanship, and spiritual integrity.
Equally important to me is my continued growth spiritually, mentally, and personally. I believe that in order to serve others well, I must remain committed to my own evolution and learning. The future, for me, is about balance, expanding my reach while staying grounded, and continuing to serve my community with clarity, purpose, and devotion.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.africancrystalgoddessapothecary.com
- Instagram: Africancrystalgoddess
- Facebook: Africancrystalgoddess
- Youtube: Africancrystalgoddess
