2015 is the 40th anniversary of the concerted observance of African Liberation Day (ALD) in the UK. So by the rights the event and the movement around it should have produced a generation of children and grandchildren to secure its legacy.One way to examine what might be called intergenerational coherence is through the lens of a crisis or major social upheaval. This appears to be most pronounced in the USA where a plethora of youth based protests against state killings under the general heading #BlackLivesMatter, has galvanised young people across the country – especially in flashpoint areas like Ferguson and Baltimore. For their efforts, elected officials have labelled them “thugs” (what some are referring to as “the new n-word”), while other established leaders have criticised them for motivated by self-aggrandizement or not having real goals. Similarly, in the UK, some of the most vociferous elders, in spite of declaring their participation in uprisings three decades hence, denounced the actions of Mosiah 2011 – in spite of their being clear and direct parallels.
One inference is that many established structures have not created means by which young people can be inducted into the Movement. It can also be seen as measure of how far activists of today have deviated from the programme of The Most Eminent Prophet & King, His Excellency Marcus Mosiah Garvey – in spite of it almost being obligatory to make reference to him (although grudgingly in some cases). Sis. Natanya Duncan, Assistant Professor of History and Geography, Morgan State University, through her extensive studies of the UNIA-ACL and it’s auxiliaries has revealed that the average age of UNIA-ACL members was between 28-35, so it was very much a young person’s movement, while having programme across the entire age range.
The landscape confronting a motivated young person today will more than likely include some of these: The “intellectual elites” often engaging in self-referential discussions with colleagues with little regard to grassroots engagement; the one-person organization – while potentially well meaning and effective is not actually an organization; the family organization (with close associates) that have effective events/programmes but little scope for those outside the close (closed, even) circle. What young people don’t seem to see enough of is functional operational unity amongst or between these and other tendencies.
So we ask the question:
Are young people interested in liberation work?
- Which ALD events will you be going to?
- Do established organisations have means to induct young people into them?
- What kinds of things would attract young people to organizations?
- Are young people better off starting their own organizations?
- Do today’s organizations make only rhetorical references to Papa Garvey?
Our special guests are:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and UNIA-ACL Ambassador for the UK. A veteran activist of over 30 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An Africentric Guide To Excellence
Sis. Tamar ‘Kush’ Francis: Is the Vice-Chair of the Organization of Black Unity (OBU) a movement founded in Birmingham that have updated the Organisation of African American Unity founded in 1964 by Omowale Malcolm X. OBU have designated 2015, the 90th anniversary of his birth, as “Year X,” and will be hosting a Malcolm X Youth Conference on Saturday 23/05/15
Bro. Tafadzwa Mbandaka: Tafadzwa ShakaRa Mbandaka is the son of renowned community activist Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka and is an experienced multi-faceted performer, journalist, broadcaster & workshop facilitator. Bro. ShakaRa is the Leader of the A.R.M.Y., the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Youth. He will be also be delivering, alongside RAspect Fyabinghi, the keynote message at the upcoming Alkebu-Lan Nommo Omowale Malcolm X 90th Anniversary event: The X Agenda – Government vs. Gangs.
RAspect Fyabinghi: is one of the hottest acts on the music scene, who recently released his debut EP The Sun Has Returned that includes the underground smash “Tendai Mwari.” Bro. RAspect combines his creativity with his activism and is the spokesman for BFBP (Black Fist Black Power) youth movement.
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