Colloquium on Afrikan History in Rio De Janeiro

10-14 November 2008 I was invited to present a paper at the International Colloquium on "Teaching and Propagating Afrikan History and Culture to the Diaspora and Teaching Diaspora History and Culture to Afrika" in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The colloquium was organized by CBAAC (Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization) in Nigeria and the Secretariat for the Promotion of Racial Equality in the President's Office of Brazil.

The colloquium gathered scholars and practitioners from around the Pan-Afrikan world and it was very exciting to meet so many visionaries propagating the importance of Afrikan history and culture. Themes were varied and included language, litterature, ancient and recent history, music, racism, arts, spirituality and identity. My presentation was on creative methodology in teaching history in communities, especially to young people.

What struck me was how the gap between Afrika and the Afrikan Diaspora have both been partly bridged and partly further widened. The discourse on Afrikan commonalities and bonds between the continent and its' diaspora is better understood and informs a Pan-Afrikan identity. Yet, at the same time, from an academic point of view, it is evident that our research, bibliography and methodological developments still exists in pockets without reaching out to the different countries, communities and institutions we operate within. Hopefully, this gap is made more narrow by initiatives like this colloquium.

This was my first time in Brazil and it was a humbling experience meeting many of the Afrikan Brazilian scholars and activists. Brazil has one of the largest Afrikan populations in the world (app. 100 million people of Afrikan descent), yet they are made virtually invisible and powerless. I met three community education colleagues, Fabio Gomes, Andre Luiz and Robson Cruz, who I spent time with and visited two favelas ("ghettos"). We exchanged information, methodology and teaching modules. Also, through meeting journalist Thais Zimbwe, I was able to visit a Black Film Festival and meet some of the organizers in Brazil's Afrikan community.

Visiting Brazil was en eye opener (especially in terms of how desperately we need to bridge the language gap in the Pan-Afrikan world) and great experience, it was only frustrating to stay so short. So, obviously, I want to go back!

Some of the participating scholars and audience in the Rio Colloqium

Panel presentation on Afrikan culture and development

With community educators Robson Cruz, Andre Luiz and Fabio Gomes in one of Rio's favelas.

Favela community in Rio De Janeiro

With Sister Chi (Brazil) , Brother Bankie (Ghana/Namibia) and Sister Thais (Brazil) at opening night of the Black Film Festival in Rio.

Press Release, KWANZAA 2007

Media release for Kwanzaa Celebration 2007

South Africans are getting ready to celebrate KWANZAA this December

The Global Afrikan Congress of Azania, in collaboration with Amen Ra Institute, U.N.I.A. South Africa, Sounds of Edutainment, R.I.S.E. Mzansi/Phakamani, cultural entrepreneurs and community organizations is currently preparing for the 6th annual celebration of Kwanzaa; a Celebration of the Afrikan Family, Our Community and Achievements.

The celebration will take place on 26th December from 12h00 noon, on 7th Street in the famous community known as Fietas (Vrededorp) next to Auckland Park. The program will include spiritual processions, presentations by children, short speeches from community Elders, poetry and music. The guests will come from all over Gauteng and are all expected to bring some food for the Common Table, from which everyone will feast together, before dancing away to cultural sounds.

Preserving Our Afrikan Cultural Heritage

The theme for 2007 is ‘Preserving our Afrikan Cultural Heritage’. We have chosen the theme “Preserving our Afrikan Cultural Heritage”. But, what is meant by “preserving”, and what is our Afrikan cultural heritage anyway? According to Brother Buntu - Secretary General, Global Afrikan Congress: ‘In our recent Afrikan experience (over the last 500 years), our culture has been ridiculed, suppressed and made to appear non-functional and remote. And this is, sadly, a view many of us have adopted ourselves. Some of us now think we are clever because we excel in European languages, look fly in Western suits and feel powerful for driving the latest Japanese car. It is almost like some of us believe we have “transcended” Afrikan-ness; this backward, non-sensical culture of mambo-jambo! That’s how many of us feel today. Our culture is under siege, and needs to be defended. Hence, part of our “preserving” action is to analyze what Westernization has done to us, psychologically, spiritually and economically. And find practical means and ways to rebuild our cultural foundation.”

7 days of yet another Kwanzaa Celebration

The Pan Afrikan Holiday of Kwanzaa will be observed by millions of Afrikans and Afrikan Descendants around the world this year. The holiday is observed from 26 December until 1 January. We call all Afrikans in Gauteng and other provinces to unite and gather around the seven principles of Kwanzaa, Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith).

South Afrikans in Gauteng are ready to celebrate Kwanzaa

It is estimated that more than 25 million Afrikan People around the world are celebrating Kwanzaa. Also many South Afrikans are celebrating this significant ceremony, with deep roots in Southern Afrikan culture.. The Global Afrikan Congress has every year since 2002, hosted and engaged children, youth, women, adults and elders in and around Gauteng townships and locations, to remember this celebration of unity and oneness, ‘Matunda ya Kwanzaa’.

Afrikan culture must be transmitted to the youth

One of well respected radio personalities, Mama Kenalemang Kgoreadira, attested that “Culture and heritage must be transmitted and shared to the young generation and that in terms of the Batswana practice Kwanzaa means “Go Loma” or “Letlhabula” and that the role of the King/Kgosi and the tillers\Balemi of the soil is the highest significance.’

Remembering our heroes

In advocating and representing the youth of today, former Pan Africanist youth congress of Azania (PAYCO) President Sbusiso Xaba said: “This Pan Afrikan cultural holiday reminds us where were come from and where we are going, this year is significant in the sense that we remember Steve Bantu Biko 30 years on and now 2008 will mark 30 years since Mangaliso Sobukwe passed on -27th February 1978.

Kwanzaa 2007 quotes

“Kgosi ke Kgosi ka Batho”

“A people without their history or culture are lifeless leaves, drafting aimlessly over the oceans of time”

Ntate Kgalushi Koka

“Among the principles of Afrikan Culture the following are to be noted: Hospitality, Respect-especially to Elders, Importance of Woman-especially in cases of inheritance, Humane treatment of law breakers, Spiritual reflection, Common use of land, Constant employment of music-especially drums and bright colours"

Walter Rodney

“One of the most difficult things to do these days is to talk with authority on anything to do with Afrikan Culture. Somehow Afrikans are not expected to have any deep understanding of their own culture or even of themselves”

Steve Bantu Biko

“Culture: The manifestation and expression of the Afrikan spirit through cultural mediums, eg language, names, garments, rituals, ceremonies, music, dance, value systems, art, aesthetics, agriculture, politics, economics and education. This culminates into a process which gives a people a general design for living and patterns for interpreting their reality”

AAD WCAR 2002 Official Report



INFO & CONTACT:

Contact: Ras Sipho Gideon Mantula, Media and Liaison Coordinator, GAC Azania

Phone: 084 781 5587 or 011 830 2546

E-Mail: gacsecretariat [at] gmail [dot] com

Blog info and updates: Read more info about Kwanzaa and daily updates on other events during this year’s celebrations at http://www.brotherbuntu.blogspot.com/

Why should Afrikans preserve their Afrikan cultural heritage?

For this year’s Kwanzaa celebrations in Johannesburg, South Afrika, we have chosen the theme “Preserving our Afrikan Cultural Heritage”. But, what is meant by “preserving”, and what is our Afrikan cultural heritage anyway?

Let us start by history. It is a sad fact to notice that a majority of South Afrikans today do not have much knowledge about their own history, let alone Pan-Afrikan history. Also, most are not really that interested in knowing history. History is, in most minds, associated with boring lectures on years, names and facts of no relevance to modern day life. What is the point of studying history?, many ask themselves. Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey provides a thoughtful reminder:

“…history is the landmark by which we are directed into the true course of life…”

This means that without knowing history we cannot really grow, expand, develop or understand our mission in life. To use the Garvey quote differently, we can say that by not knowing our history we will be directed into the WRONG course of life. Knowledge of history is a foundation in cultural identity because it locates us, it tells us where we came from and how we ended up where we are now. It gives us direction. Frantz Fanon told us that

“…every generation, out of relative obscurity, must seek to redefine itself, discover its mission, fulfil it or betray it…”

History is, of course, not the only aspect of cultural identity, but it is a fundamental one. Other aspects include ideology, behaviour, values and attitudes – which, in the Afrikan sense, is taught and developed through symbolism, practices and ritual ceremonies. Aspects that many of us have lost, forgotten or neglected. Dr Wade Nobles defined culture as:

“…a process which gives people a general design for living and patterns for interpreting their reality…”

In our recent Afrikan experience (over the last 500 years), our culture has been ridiculed, suppressed and made to appear non-functional and remote. A view many of us have adopted. Some of us now think we are clever because we excel in European languages, look fly in Western suits and drive the latest Japanese car. It is almost like some of us believe we have “transcended” Afrikan-ness; this backward, non-sensical culture of mambo-jambo. That’s how many of us feel today. Our culture is under siege, and needs to be defended. Hence, part of our “preserving” actions is to analyze what Westernization has done to us, psychologically, spiritually and economically. And this, in turn, becomes a process of rejection, as Steve Bantu Biko pointed out:

“…In rejecting Western values, therefore, we are rejecting those things that are not only foreign to us but that seek to destroy the most cherished of our beliefs – that the corner-stone of society is man himself – not just his welfare, not his material wellbeing but just man himself with all his ramifications…”

But our cultural development cannot focus only on rejection. We must be very clear about what we want to embrace. And to know that, we need to understand more about our cultural heritage. South Afrikans, psychologically and spiritually, are still wounded and scarred today. And looking for identity. This creates a platform for opportunity. An arena to operate from. To do more research. To develop and grow. But this growth must be linked with the heritage of the past, so that cultural development becomes a continuation. “Going back” does not have to mean getting stuck in the past. But to re-link with the profound knowledge or our Foremothers and Forefathers. And during Kwanzaa 2007 we want to re-link, re-awaken and re-discover. So that our wounds can be healed and we can progress to higher levels. Like Dr Amos Wilson reminded us:

“…to discover our history is to discover our somethingness (beingness) before someone else created us […and we will…] be in charge of our own becoming.”

Have a blessed and Happy Kwanzaa 2007!

What Is Kwanzaa?

Some critical voices have dismissed the holiday of KWANZAA as a constructed, Americanized substitute for Christmas, adapted to Black people interests. But the same people who write Kwanzaa off as shallow and unfounded have failed to research their claims themselves. Here is some background on KWANZAA:

Established in the 1966, Kwanzaa is a holiday based on the various “First Fruits Festivals” found around the African continent (Umkhosi among the Zulu, Incwala among the Swazi, Incwala among the Thonga, Odwira among the Ashanti, Eje among the Yoruba etc.). The African American scholar, Dr. Maulana Karenga, together with other researchers, undertook studies to look at commonalities between celebrations around Africa. Out of this research evolved the Kwanzaa holiday which is celebrated 26th December – 1st January by millions of African and African Descendant people around the world. As the holiday draws on pan-African traditions it serves as a unique opportunity for African people – regardless of faith, nationality, language and birthplace – to come together in unity.

The meaning of the word “Kwanzaa” is “the first fruits of the harvest” and derives from the Ki-Swahili language spoken by millions of Africans in Eastern Africa. The significance of the festival today is that, although, many of us are not necessarily farmers, we still need to take stock of what we have produced, achieved and accomplished so far and set ourselves goals for overcoming challenges we are facing in the future. The practices central to the celebration are ingathering, reverence, commemoration, recommitment and celebration. The foundation of Kwanzaa is expressed through seven principles, the Nguzo Saba.

Nguzo Saba articulates seven principles of particular importance to Afrikan communities. The principles serve as reminders of what we need to uphold in order to build ourselves, our families and our communities:

1. UMOJA (Unity)
2. KUJICHAGULIA (Self determination)
3. UJIMA (Collective work and responsibility)
4. UJMAA (Cooperative Economics)
5. NIA (Purpose)
6. KUUMBA (Creativity)
7. IMANI (Faith)



Photo: Part of the Pan-Afrikan family celebrating Kwanzaa at Ebukhosini in Johannesburg, South Africa, 2004

Teaching Afrikan History in Cameroon

In March 2007 I was invited for three weeks to teach Afrikan history at the African American Academy (AAA) in Doula, Cameroon. AAA is an Afrikan-Centred school founded by Mrs and Mr Tchameni, two great Pan-Afrikanists.

The shool has 50 students from pre-school to high school level. A very dedicated staff work day and night (literally!) to impart knowledge in all general school subjects. Only that these students go further than your average curriculum. They are taught critical thinking and are given practical assignments.




The school uniforms have Kente designs and the call out the Afrikan Pledge at morning assembly every day. Class rooms are all decorated with pictures of Afrikan heroes and charts displaying information about Afrika. A truly stimulating learning environment for Afrikan children.

My assignment was to take all classes through seminars on Afrikan history and culture, culminating in a presentation for parents and family members. I was greatly inspired by the incredible enthusiasm showed by the pre-school students. They were just extatic whenever I came into the classroom; Another session about Afrika - yeeeeaaaahhh! My job was to get the older students just as excited. And, although many did not exactly jump with excitement in the beginning, they asked very good questions and gradually woke up to the fact that Afrikan history is relevant and can be enjoyable.



AAA is a golden example of how enlightened, engaged and knowledgable our children become when they are in a learning enviornment that affirms them and continuously reminds them of who they are. I just know that when these students go out in the working world, they will create some radical, positive changes.

I owe big thank you's to all the students, the Tchameni's and the hard working teachers for the inspiration they gave me. Merci!