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In our 5th instalment for our Afrika Liberation Day Special, Afrika Speaks will engage in some sharp self critique of the Pan-Afrikan Movement at home and abroad. We live in an era in which the phrase “we need to stop talking an start doing” – can be heard in many a Pan-Afrikan meeting and though the statement and those who repeat it may be considered questionable, it does speak to a certain perception of Pan-Afrikanist as long winded intellectuals who do little to manifest the worth of their words in action.
This however, was not always the case. The template for Pan-Afrikan organisation was no doubt set by The Most Eminent Prophet & King His Excellency Marcus Mosiah Garvey and the UNIA-ACL. When he said:
“It is necessary for the Negro to pay close attention to developing the appreciation for institutional life… It is incumbent upon him that he also have and control his own institutions, based upon his own cultural and civilized idealism”
He certain was not joking….
Though often ridiculed for the “pomp & pageantry” surrounding it’s street parades, accusing Garveyite meetings of being a talk shop, would have very been difficult to prove indeed. The UNIA-ACL had under its auspices The Negro Factories Incorporated, which through housing Grocery Stores, Laundrettes, Factories for Dress Making & Doll Making, a Printing Press, Restaurant’s and even farms, was able to employ over 100 Afrikan in the New York Borough of Harlem Alone.
The Black Star Line, Black Cross Nurses, Afrikan Legion, Juveniles and African Orthodox Church speak to the operations of a comprehensive organisation that was indeed “universal” in its approach to liberating Afrikan people by addressing every possible area of people activity. Based upon a significant measure of success, the UNIA-ACL was able to launch a $2 Million Dollar African Investment Programme which actually sent $50,000 worth of industrial equipment to Liberia in 1924. Despite this programme and the Black Star Line being effectively destroyed by the forces of global White Supremacy, the UNIA-ACL was able to amass the funds among the people to establish another shipping line, The Black Cross Navigation Company based on the strength of the people in the vision of a Liberated Afrika.
It would be true to say however, that with greater resources and less overt restrictions in comparison to the UNIA-ACL, no Pan-Afikan Organisation of today can boast such achievements. While COINTELPRO and Western intelligence paved the way for destabilised communities and Neo-Colonial governments throughout the Afrikan World, the entire concept and viability Pan-Afrikanism has come into question. Yet by all historical indicators Afrika’s last period of significant Political, Economic, Social and Cultural growth was championed by its great Pan-Afrikan leaders such as Nkrumah, Lumumba, Cabral and the movements of men women and children they lead.
It would therefore appear ludicrous that the concept of organisation and leadership comes under fire so often even in Pan-Afrikan circles. Perhaps a self-indictment on the fact that we on the whole are not achieving the very things we celebrate in our historical greats
So Tonite we ask the question:
HOW CAN WE MAKE PAN-AFRIKANISM MORE PRACTICAL?
Do our people even know what Pan-Afrikanism is?
What is Pan-Afrikanism designed to achieve?
Why are the movements of today not as productive as their predessors?
Is Pan-Afrikanism now a dead ideology that has (not) served its purpose?
Is it time for us to revaluate our practice of Pan-Afrikanism in order to make it more effective?
Our very special guest:
Baba Buntu (Amani Olubanjo Buntu): founder and Executive Director of Ebukhosini Solutions a community development capacity building organisation based in Azania (South Africa), specialising in cultural events, education, training, production, management and social entrepreneurship.
Hear weekly discussions and lively debate on all issues affecting the Afrikan community, at home and abroad. We talk it straight and make it plain!
ASwA Hosted by Sis Kai Ouagadou-Mbandaka and Bro ShakaRa
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Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan
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