Back in the Day: On the Organization of African Unity

 [embed]https://soundcloud.com/crossatlantic/oau-welcome-to-liberia[/embed]  The Creator has given us this share of the earth that goes by the name of the African continent; it belongs to us and we are its only masters. - Patrice Lumumba, African Unity and National Independence, 1959By 1963, there were thirty-two liberated African nations. For any newly freed nation, the question of, "what now?" always arises, as forming policies and a flourishing nation post-colonialism is a hard task. One must understand how to unbind the country from the damaging grasps of white-colonial policies. The question of "what now?" was proposed in two ways; The Cassablanca Bloc of 1961, which comprised of  the so-called progressive states Ghana, Libya, Mali, Algeria, Guinea and Egypt, who believed in a federation of African states. Nkrumah, perhaps the most radical of them, also believed that a united African army would protect itself from colonialism.  The second asking of "what now?" came in the form of The Monrovia Bloc, consisting of Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroon and other nations who believed in Pan-Africanism, however did not believe in a federated continent.These two groups merged and on May 25, 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, these thirty-two African nations established the Organization of African Unity. The purpose of the OAU, was to, above all, create a better life for Africans. Member nations thought this possible through the objectives of the OAU Charter. By ridding the continent of white-colonial rule and apartheid, maintaining the sovereignty of the Member States and creating a coordinated political, economic, civic and social policies, the OAU felt true African liberation could exist.The Founding Fathers of the OAU Are:Kwame Nkrumah, GhanaWilliam Tubman, LiberiaHIM Emperor Haile Selassie I, EthiopiaAhmed Ben Bella, AlgeriaCoutoucou Hubert Maga, Dahomey (now Benin)Maurice Yaméogo, Burkina FasoKing Mwami Mwambutsa IV, BurundiAhmadou Ahidjo, CameroonDavid Dacko, Central African RepublicFrançois Tombalbaye, ChadJoseph Kasa-Vubu, DR CongoFulbert Youlou, Republic of CongoFélix Houphouët-Boigny, Ivory CoastGamal Abdel Nasser, EgyptLéon M'ba, GabonAhmed Sékou Touré, GuineaIdris I, King of Libya, LibyaHamani Diori, NigerNnamdi Azikiwe, NigeriaGrégoire Kayibanda, RwandaLéopold Sédar Senghor, SenegalMilton Margai, Sierra Leone (Margai was a Prime Minister, Sierra Leone was a commonwealth until 1971Aden Abdullah Osman Daar, SomaliaIbrahim Abboud, SudanSylvanus Epiphanio Olympio, TogoHabib Bourguiba, TunisiaEdward Frederick William David Walugembe Mutebi Luwangula Muteesa II, UgandaPhilibert Tsiranana, MadagascarModibo Keïta, MaliMoktar Ould Daddah, MauritaniaJulius Nyerere, Tanganyika, now TanzaniaWe Must Unite or Perish. - Kwame Nkrumah, Speech to the OAU, May 24, 1963Fifty three years after the creation of the OAU, the state of Africa as a continent is both disheartening and inspiring. Most of the leaders who founded the OAU are long gone, most by deception, exile or death. White-colonial rule has reinvented itself in various forms and still plagues us in the form of debt, foreign investors, foreign aid and missionaries, to name a few. Outside of the foreign detriment to the continent, many African leaders have sold their countries to the highest bidder in exchange for wealth; leaving a vulnerable and weakened continent.We must ask ourselves, what was the struggle for and how will that struggle not be in vain? As the child of immigrants, my African identity has always been important and a large factor in knowing myself. I am an African because it was born in me - to paraphrase Nkrumah. The pride that comes with being an African must not just be in name, but also in action. It is important that we use ourselves to the fullest capacity to ensure the longevity and prosperity of that great Continent.  What does Africa Day mean to you?  Song: OAU Welcome to Liberia (The Theme Song for 1979 OAU Conference, held in Monrovia, Liberia)Artist: The Liberian DreamAlbum:Writer(s): C. Alake Williams, Zack Roberts, Joseph Toomey, Geebah Swaray, Evan Dukuly and E. Tonieh WilliamsReleased: 1979

Back in the Day: Before the War Came: Nostalgia and Liberian Independence

[embed]https://youtu.be/TRCMJCx7o6I[/embed] Song: Comin' HomeArtist: Tecumsay RobertsAlbum: Comin' HomeWriter: Tecumsay Roberts, Anthony James, Boni BoyerReleased: Bamboo Records, Year UnknownAll Hail Liberia, Hail:Liberia, West Africa was colonized by freed slaves from the United States of America, through the sponsorship of the American Colonization Society. It was their belief that freed blacks would have more opportunity for success in Africa, and more than five-thousand black Americans were sent to Liberia. These Americo-Liberians or "Congo People" as my mother references them, created a socio-political caste system that mirrored that of the United States; a minority ruling class maintaining complete control of the country's socio-economic and political endeavors. This imbalance of power lasted for more than one-hundred years and erupted into a twenty year civil war. Liberia, a country of almost three-million lost close to one million of its population.History tends to sterilize the effects of imperialism and neocolonialism; as a Liberian I am both politically and personally aware of how brutal the effects can be. I often see the word revolution and war thrown around loosely during these times of activism in the United States and I remain silent at the casual manner of it all. It is important to understand that revolution is not fancy, it is bloody and brutal and becomes entangled with politics and greed; civilians always paying the price. So when the term revolution is spoken, it is important to understand the total implications and how much it changes everything in an instant. My family's history and so many Liberian's histories are indicative of how swiftly life changes.It All Began on July 26, 1990:I recently read a letter that described the death of my grandmother during the First Liberian Civil War (1989-1997). The fourth line read, "It all began on July 26, 1990. . ." and went on to describe the events that led to the passing of my grandmother, Mary Jumah Stevens. The letter read like something out of a book on human rights I may have read in college; however what is simple political literary fodder for many is a part of my family history. For many Liberians, this mixture of personal tragedy and political history is not uncommon. Liberians were given the fate of knowing how bitter war can be. Yet, in all the bitterness  we continue to be resilient and happy with what life we are blessed to have; we are a prime example of black strength and survival.My mother is from Gardnersville, Liberia and my introduction to Liberian culture was from the source of the children of Liberia's Golden Age. An era before the twenty year long civil  that ravaged the country between 1989-2003. My parents met and married during the Presidency of William R. Tolbert, an Americo-Liberian who ruled under the True Whig Party, which ruled the country for more than one-hundred years under the hand of the minority Americo-Liberians.From their memories, I know of a Liberia that thrived economically and socially, my father worked for the government and my parents enjoyed a life of privilege, until the war came. There are always two memories I am given about Liberia; life before and after the war came. When the war came, my parents fled to the United States in the early 80s and my mother has not returned since. Her story is not unlike many others, which both saddens and inspires me. What strength refugees carry to make a life when their old life has been buried in political and literal mass graves.But Liberia Will Always Be My Home:I grew up in a house hold that always smelled of clean linen and red palm oil. Where we ate rice every day and cassava leaf was my favorite. Where at any time a revolving door of aunts and uncles and cousins visited and we would sit down to eat rice with them. I grew up attending weddings where I always wanted to have a partner as the grand march wrapped around the reception hall, eating rice bread and watching men discuss politics and drink Heineken, the women discussed the men. Everyone discussed the war. I grew up experiencing early morning phone calls, having to speak loudly because of poor connections and relatives asking for help because "eh nah easy." I grew up always scared when the phone rang, because more often than not news from home was not  good news. I grew up not knowing half of my bloodlines because civil war tends to split families apart and mine was no exception. Despite these things, I also grew up surrounded by a people who laughed and danced and ate and joked their way through trauma. I grew up part Liberian.Growing up, the word "home" always meant Africa. For my mother and various aunts, uncles, and cousins (usually not blood related), "home" always meant Liberia. In retrospect, everyone I grew up with was a refugee. So the idea of going home meant returning to a land that purged itself of its native sons and daughters. Even I, who was born in the States, have a heavy longing to return to Liberia, in order to know the part of myself I've never met. All of us yearn to see the faces of people who are no longer, to return to the places that are burned down. Going home for a lot of Liberians means to return to a place that no longer exists. This is the aching nostalgia so many Liberians experience; the longing of a time and space that was violently taken and the only thing left to hold on to are memories of people and places and things gone by.  

Back in the Day: The Liberation of Ghana

Song: Hwehwe Mu Na Yi Yo MpenaArtist: K. Frimpong & His Cubano FiestasAlbum: K. Frimpong & His Cubano FiestasReleased: Ofo Bros ‎- OFBLS 1012 (LP) Ghana 1977.Writers: Alhaji Kwabena Frimpong 

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Independence Day. March 6, 1957.

At long last, the battle has ended!  And thus, Ghana, your beloved country is free forever! Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah   (March 6, 1957)

And with these words, Ghana became the first African nation to gain its independence from Europe. I make the distinction of using the word gain, to stress that Ghanaians were not given autonomy over our land, we fought to control what is rightfully ours. We all know that independence is taken and not given. Revolutions do not just happen over tea and biscuits. Or fufu and soup for that matter. It is important that we remember the revolutionaries who fought British colonialism before independence, specifically Yaa Asantewaa, one of the most important women in Ghanaian history.Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of a liberated Ghana spoke widely about the philosophy of Pan-Africanism, which asserts the need for a global black community, one that shares an understanding of cultural, historical and socio-political aspects of black people. If one looks at the movement of African Independence, beginning with Ghana in 1957, there is a clear parallel between this and the American Civil Rights Movement. There was an international parallel of black struggle for autonomy. Nkrumah recognized this, and spoke adamantly about the African man understanding and showcasing his brilliance, without the crutch of European hands and pockets. This idea that black men recognizing their capabilities would generate a successful people, resonated through the Continent and Diaspora.

June 19, 1950. Keta, Volta Region, Ghana, West Africa

My father and maternal grandfather are from Keta, in the Volta Region of Ghana, West Africa.  My father is a tall and proud man, as are most African men. It took me becoming an adult and him moving to Ghana, for me to fully grasp how Ghanaian my father is. By his very breath and existence he is Ghanaian. The normalcies of my childhood, were in part cultural lessons and preservation. The traditions and nuances I hold dear are things I will tell my children to remember. For example, receiving things and eating with your right hand. This was something taught as my father would feed me small, rounded handfuls of fufu he'd dipped into steaming bowl of okra stew.  Learning to remember and honor my ancestors, by Western measures nothing more than tribal voodoo, was given to me through our frequent libations.  Speaking in Ewe, he would would call out the names of our ancestors, asking them to guide and protect us. There would be a handle of gin and roots, a glass of water and black eyed peas or farina as offerings. It is customary for each person to taste the gin and water, to share a toast with your family. In thirds, he would then offer the gin, water and food. I remember always feeling very moved when he would speak the names of those who'd gone before us, but through libations and reverence were with us still.  Or even just watching my father tend to his garden, of tall stalks of okra and corn. Boiling ground nuts and making me sweet potato custard. As a child, you don't understand the importance of traditions passed down, they seem very common place. However, as I am growing to know myself these seemingly common traditions, become increasingly important in my identity. My African heritage is something that I intensely honor. It is the thing that made me.

Gold All on My Watch and Other Cultural Leanings

I grew up in a house filled with music. Most Saturday evenings, our house was filled with music, the smell of a clean house, and something stewing on the stove. This tradition my parents gave to me the love for the very thing Africans created; music. The music of their generation consists mainly of traditional African rhythms influenced by the funk and jazz of America. Highlife is a genre that is strictly Ghanaian. Striking horns borrowed from jazz, plucky guitars, a steady base and drum beat and a maintenance of Ghanaian vocal structure, these are the bones of highlife music. These are the songs that remind me of my childhood and my people. The songs are long and meant to be danced to, meant to be enjoyed. This need for rhythm and movement, is an inherently African expression of life and one that can be seen throughout the Diaspora.

As far as I can remember, we have always been a gold wearing family. You will not find silver 'round these parts. Before independence, Ghana was called the Gold Cost, aptly named for the thing Europeans were stealing the most of. The Ashanti believe that gold is a reflection of the sun, the source of life. You will find chiefs draped in gold, from head to toe. This natural inclination towards gold has traveled with the Diaspora, showing in the gold in our watches, necklaces and teeth. We've always been a gold people. The kente cloth that is so frequently used throughout the Diaspora as a symbol for Africa, is strictly Ghanaian. These, amongst so many other traditions, are the things that Ghana has given to the world.

Back in the Day: The Arrest of Sekou Odinga

[audio mp3="https://blackloveproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/1-04-the-revolution-will-not-be-televised.mp3"][/audio] On October 23, 1981 Sekou Mgbozi Abdullah Odinga was arrested for the attempted murder of a police officer. He was later charged and convicted for the liberation of Assata Shakur and attempted murder of a police officer, given forty (40) and twenty five (25) years to life, respectively. He has been imprisoned since and is not eligible for parole until 2033. Sekou is responsible for bringing the Black Panther Party to the Bronx, New York in 1968, which implemented various programs to the benefit of poor and working class black families.I do not have cable in my apartment, so Twitter has been my go to source to discover what is occurring, particularly in Ferguson, Missouri. There has been rampant media coverage of international protests, from Ferguson to Hong Kong. Younger generations have often been accused of lacking in revolutionary spirit, yet lately there seems to be a growing consciousness and action throughout the youth of the world. The Revolution Will Not Televised begins with the line, "You will not be able to stay home brother, you will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out." and how true that is becoming. Twitter has been pivotal in keeping us informed of what is occurring, yet the real work is to be done in the streets and from the people and that is keeping in the spirits of Sekou. We cannot forget our true revolutionaries, those who do not receive media coverage and are hidden under the unjust political system of this country.

Black people will be in the street looking for a brighter day, the revolution will not be televised.

All of us have a duty to respect the existence of Sekou, as it is he and countless of other men and women who have sacrificed their freedom for our benefit. Sekou believes so much in the freedom of his people that he forfeited his ability to live as a free man for that cause. There are currently seventeen members of the Black Panther Party who are collectively serving more than eight hundred years in prison. It is important to understand that we do not need television to support and remember those who have given their lives for our existence. It is important for us to carry that revolution in our actions and thoughts, as so many have done before us.Let us remember the following brothers and sisters who are imprisoned for fighting for the sovereign existence of black people.Comrades Currently Imprisoned:Sundiata Acoli, Jamil Al-Amin, Herman Bell, Veronza Bowers, Romaine 'Chip' Fitzgerald, Robert Seth Hayes, Mumia Abu-Jamal, Mendo We Langa, Ruchelle 'Cinque' Magee, Abdullah Majid, Jalil Muntaqim, Sekou Odinga, Hugo 'Yogi' Pinell, Ed Poindexter, Kamau Sadiki, Mutulu Shakur, Russell 'Maroon' Shoatz, Albert WoodfoxIf you'd like to discover more ways to support Sekou, please visit the following sites:Web:SekouOdinga.comVia Mail:The Sekou Odinga Defense CommitteePO Box 380-122Brooklyn, New York 11238718.512.5008Via Email:info@SekouOdinga.comYou may also write to directly to Sekou:Sekou Odinga#09A3775Clinton CF, PO Box 2001,Dannemora, NY 12929Song: The Revolution Will Not Be TelevisedArtist: Gil Scott-HeronAlbum: Small Talk at 125th and LenoxReleased: 1970Writer: Gil Scott-Heron