HAVE YOUR SAY: 02071930174
By now most most children will have settled into the new school term (to greater or lesser degree), while others that have previously been successful in navigating the educational terrain will be starting or returning to university.
The institutions of the UK have a major bearing on the lives of everybody, particularly the young. Given that all settings, from early years through all the length of compulsory schooling, are obliged to teach ”British Values,” (1) it might be worth asking where Afrikan children (and, if applicable, their parents) get Afrikan values from?
The current raft of statistics indicate that Afrikan young people “are more than twice as likely to live in poverty than those from a white background, are more than twice as likely to grow up in a lone parent family” and also account for some of the the increase from 16% to 41% in the last ten years of young people in prison. (2) On the affective front, we are still seeing commentaries like ”black British youth are obsessed with light skin and curly hair” to further suggest a lack of an affirmative life enhancing value system. (3)
As a proactive antidote to this, increasing numbers are turning Rites of Passage programmes in an attempt arrest some of these factors. Indeed, as an increasingly popular Ancestral maxim exhorts:
“If the children are not initiated into the village they will burn it down just to feel its warmth.” (4)
In a timely message, Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement Spiritual Leader, Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka will deliver a message entitled “Rites of Passge: the key to social and educational excellence” at the upcoming Nommo session at 7pm on Friday 29th September, Mama Afrika Kulcha Shap, 282 High Road, E10 5PW (https://www.alkebulan.org/). At the event Bro. Ldr will draw his more twenty years experience of co-ordinating Rites of Passage programmes to outline his vision of transforming the lives our young people and the community as a whole.
Another established Rites of Passage programme is Origin, based at the New Initiatives Centre in south London that, seventeen years ago “embraced the term African-centred rites of passage to best describe [their] work.” (5)
As an ultimate goal Origin ” want a society that is constantly enriched by young people who are proud and confident of their heritage and this propels them forward into productive adulthood,” while understanding that ”there are limits to working with young people in isolation of their families and we know that the impact of our work is maximised when families and community groups are working together for the benefit of the young people.” (6)
Origin has a sister programme for young girls, Akuah, also based at New Initiatives that was launched in 2015, perhaps as a affirmation that, in spite of the copious pejorative headline grabbing by their male peers, there is also a need for ”a positive context for female development to assist young women in attaining the knowledge, skills and acceptance of the responsibilities, privileges and duties of an adult member of society thereby promoting positive, and effective life choices.” (7) Akuah has an enrolment evening on Monday 25th September from 7pm to 10pm at New Initiatives (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/akuah-rites-of-passage-enrolment-evening-tickets-37809118090)
Another recent addition to the Rites of Passage network is north London’s Manhood Academy for Boys, launched in October 2016:
“The potential benefits of the Manhood Academy’s syllabus are a counteraction to the startling increase in violent youth crime in London. Teenagers participating in the Manhood Academy are encouraged to participate in a life changing Coming of Age rites of passage ceremony in Gambia. The coming of age trip to Africa can be loosely termed as a cultural exchange and will take place at the end of the program’s annual cycle.” (8)
This appraisal of the Manhood Academy’s benefits while speaking to a pressing need doesn’t necessarily emphasise the traditional role of Rites of Passage to Afrikan people ”for many, many thousands of years” as an integral part of existence “inseparable from all other aspects of life and development” (9) In the current context, the utilisation of concepts like the Nguzo Saba “the seven principles of Blackness,” developed by Dr Maulana Karenga and popularized through the the celebration of Kwanzaa, as organizations like the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement have done, can help to weave Rites of Passage into everyday life. (10) Traditionally, failure to do so is to “disobey the Ancestors.” (11)
Even though, ”it takes a village to raise a child” is an oft-quoted maxim, it must be explored the extent to which the “village” actually exists or is at least functional. Ideally, Rites of Passage should be part of an “holistic Afrikan spirituo-cultural order.” (12) In reality, it is often it sought in response to an existential (13) or portentous mishap with a challenging young person requiring some sort of intervention. (14)
(1) Department for Education and Lord Nash (27/11/14) Guidance on promoting British values in schools published. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/guidance-on-promoting-british-values-in-schools-published.
(2) David Lammu (2017) The Lammy Review: An independent review into the treatment of, and outcomes for, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic
individuals in the Criminal Justice System. Ministry Of Justice. p.4
(3) Kimberly McIntosh and Sophia Leonie (12/06/17) Yes, black British youth are obsessed with light skin and curly hair. http://www.gal-dem.com/yes-black-british-youth-are-obsessed-with-light-skin-and-curly-hair/
(4) Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement (28/11/04) The Initiation Ceremony of Tafadzwa Mbandaka Programme. Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement.
(5) ORIGIN: African-centred rites of passage(2013) About. https://originhq.wordpress.com/about/
(6) Ibid.
(7) Sister E (03/10/15) Akua Rites of Passage Programme. http://www.thecalabashhub.com/blog/akua-rites-of-passage-programme/
(8) Glen Munro (13/05/17) The Manhood Academy For Boys: “Part Of The Solution” Part 2. http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/manhood-academy-boys-part-solution-part-2
(9) Mwalimu K Bomani Baruti (2004) Asafo: Arrior’s Guide To Manhood. Akoben House. p. 126
(10) Mary C Lewis (1988) Herstory: Black Female Rites Of Passage. African American Images. pp. 101-114
(11) Malidoma Somé (1994) Of Water and The Spirit: Ritual, Magic and Initiation in the Life of an African Shaman. G.P. Putnam’s Sons p. 187
(12) Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement (2015) Origin & Ethos. https://www.alkebulan.org/originethos/
(13) Munro, Op. Cit.
(14) Gary Younge (19/09/17) The boy who killed – and the mother who tried to stop him. https://www.theguardian.com/membership/2017/sep/19/the-boy-who-killed-and-the-mother-who-tried-to-stop-him
we ask the question:
Rites of Passage: Does the “village” really exist?
- What are Rites of Passage?
- Do they function in other communities?
- Is there as much need for Rites of Passage for girls as there is for boys?
- Are the programmes mainly for the ”challenging” young people?
- What is the role of the community at large for these programmes?
- What roles do we have for the young people who have gone through Rites of Passage programmes?
Our very special guests:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and UNIA-ACL Ambassador for the UK and national co-Chair of the interim National Afrikan People’s Parliament. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of over 30 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Guide To Excellence.
Bro. Pablo Reid: Co-founder of the Origin African-Centered rites of the passage programme…
Bro. Davis Williams: Co-Founder of the Manhood Academy for Boys…
Sis. Ayoola: Co-Founder of Akuah Rites of Passage Programme for Girls
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
CLICK HERE to view latest AFRIKA SPEAKS show details. Leave a comment and contribute to the discussion.
Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan
Galaxy Radio | 102.5fm | http://www.galaxyafiwe.com (To listen live)
HAVE YOUR SAY: 02071930174
MONDAY 8pm-10pm
International Listeners:
4-6 pm Eastern Caribbean Time
12-2 pm Pacific Standard Time
1-3 pm Mountain Standard Time
2-4 pm Central Standard Time
3-4 pm Eastern Standard Time