The Parents and Ancestors Day organised by Galaxy Radio in association with Starlight on June 9th was a roaring success and has firmly established itself as an annual fixture on the Afrikan calendar.

Such an event is an indication of the reach of and regard that the station is held in – built up over the three and a half decades of its existence. The are few conscious institutions in the community that have been around for as long and remained as vibrant. But afiwestation was established on one simple Ancestral principle – build for eternity.

This principle is sharply juxtaposed against the rootless ideologies presently assailing the Afrikan psyche. Instead of the Ancestral exhortation to Know Thyself (1) many of us are pursuing derivatives of German philosophy, English political economy, French socialism and the like. However, it must be said that there has been an elaborate mission to separate Afrikans from our Ancestral legacy.

For example, in spite of masses of monumental evidence left by Afrikan civilisation builders, the white supremacist agenda has been to take Afrikans out of Kemet (Ancient Egypt and the Nile Valley) and then take Kemet out of Afrika. It’s an agenda born in European academe presenting itself as being universal and objective (2) while being devilishly parochial and subjective. (3)

The academic deceit could not last forever and in the mid to late 20th century a plethora of warrior scholars began dismantling the European fallacies. (4)

In this vein a landmark event was the 1974 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) symposium: The Peopling of Ancient Egypt and the Deciphering of Meroitic Script, more commonly known as the Cairo Symposium, after the city where it took place. Senegalese polymath Cheikh Anta Diop and his Congolese assistant Theophile Obenga took on 20 of the leading “Egyptologists.” Prof. Manu Ampim describes the outcome:

“The conclusion of the official UNESCO report indicates the triumph of Diop and his colleague Obenga. It stated, “Although the preparatory working paper sent out by UNESCO gave particulars of what was desired, not all participants had prepared communications comparable with the painstakingly researched contributions of Professors Cheikh Anta Diop and Obenga. There was consequently a real lack of balance in the discussions.” In laymen terms, Cheikh Anta Diop and Theophilé Obenga gave out an important academic spanking on a world stage. Western Egyptologists now unsuccessfully try and downplay the significance of Diop’s triumph over their colleagues.” (5)

In spite of the western Egyptologists best efforts not only has more evidence incontrovertibly determined the Afrikan origin of Kemetic civilization, it is also clear that it was preceded by the Nubian dynasties further south. (6)

Diop called on “future generations of Black African scholars” to continue the work. One of those Answering the call was renowned writer and historian Anthony T Browder, who on the back of books like: Exploding The Myths, Vol. I: Nile Valley Contributions to Civilization and Egypt on the Potomac: A Guide to Decoding Egyptian Architecture and Symbolism in Washington, D.C. established The ASA Restoration Project in 2008 to support excavation and restoration work at the site where the tombs of 25th Dynasty Kushite nobles, Karakhamun and Karabasken were discovered. (7)

Not as well known in this field is Sis. Nubia Wardford who has been undertaking archaeological study, research and excavation work in Ancient Nubia, present day Sudan. She spent four years doing this between 2003 and 2007. More recently in 2015 Sis. Nubia uncovered the first artefact of an unprecedented discovery at the Abu Eritrea site at the Isle of Meroe in Sudan. A large temple that dates back to the first century BC (circa 5 – 20 BC) was uncovered as well as some sherds that were dated to 10,000 BC.

Sis. Nubia has to fundraise to participate in archaeological work but while not doing this she remains active as a broadcaster on Detroit TV station WHPR and is involved with Professor Manu Ampim’s Save Nubia Project that is set to document sites and information from flooded due to the construction of dams.

For some, all this digging around ancient sites for dusty artefacts has no relevance in todays world. However, those of this mind may want to ponder why the enemies of Afrikans and Afrika have invested so much effort in trying to conceal so much of our history from us. Indeed, the concealment has been so profound that many have no idea who our enemies are. Few scholars have dealt with this specific issue as forensically as Chancellor Williams.

In his major work, the classic, The Destruction of Black Civilization, after surveying six thousand years of history, Baba Williams concludes : “the whites are the implacable foe, the traditional and everlasting enemy of the Blacks.” (8)

More than this though, he uses the history to make a searing analysis of what was then the current predicament of Afrikan people. Though writing almost fifty years ago it’s questionable if things have markedly improved. For instance “leaders and an African ideology” is still required (9) and Black unity remains a potent “threat” to the system of global white supremacy. (10). But what marks Chancellor Williams out as a visionary is his proposal of a “Master Plan,” encompassing the economic, political, educational, youth, spiritual, intelligence and defence divisions.” (11) He concludes:

“All this talk about ‘Black Power’ is empty until we begin to make Black Power a reality in the only way it can be done, and that is by building step by step, a race organisation so great that it will not only be the voice of a united people but will carry on effectively an economic development program to assist their advance on all other forms.” (12)

(1) George G.M. James (1989) Stolen Legacy. United Brothers Communications Systems. p. 3.

(2) Jacob Carruthers (1972) Science and Opression. Kemetic Institute p. 2-6.

(3) Marimba Ani (1994) Yurugu: An African-centered Critique of European Cultural Thought and Behavior: African-Centered Critique of European Thought and Behavior. Africa World Press. p. 232.

(4) See for example: George G.M. James (1989) Stolen Legacy. United Brothers Communications Systems; Cheikh Anta Diop (1974) The African Origin of Civilization: Myth Or Reality. Lawrence Hill Book; Chancellor Williams (1989) The Destruction of Black Civilization. Third World Press; Yosef ben-Jochannan (1989) Black Man Of The Nile and His Family. Black Classic Press.

(5) Manu Ampim (2005) The Vanishing Evidence of Classical African Civilizations 2005 Update: Tutankhamen Fraud Alert!. http://manuampim.com/2005_update.html

(6) Ivan Van Sertima (1989) Egypt Revisited. Transaction Publishers. p. 3

(7) IKG Cultural Resources (2014) Asa G. Hilliard, III South Asasif Restoration Project https://ikgculturalresourcecenter.com/asa-restoration-project/#

(8) Williams (1989) p. 310.

(9) Williams. P. 315

(10) Williams. P. 317

Williams. P. 350-358

we ask the question:

How does history shape our ideology?

1) Does the race of the “ancient Egyptians” matter ?

2) What is the contemporary value of uncovering ancient sites?

3) Is excavation work just ancient history of no relevance today?

4) Is it still the case that “the whites are the implacable foe”?

5) Do we need a “Master Plan” or are we generally doing ok?

Sis. Nubia Wardford Polk: Born and raised in the City of Detroit, Nubia became interested in geology and paleontology at the age of 7 while digging in the earth and researching stones, plants and animal fossils of Michigan.

After reading about the treasures of Tutankhamen at age 8 she became sure that her life interest would be investigating and researching the accomplishments of early African civilizations.

She taught science for grade levels Pre-K – grade 8, for ten years. She has dedicated a great deal of her life toward uplifting the Black community and will continue in this work. “There is much to be done. I am confident with the young brilliant minds that I have encountered are a small sample of the actual number just waiting for their chance.”

With a B. A. in Anthropology and a M.A. in Historic Archaeology, she has worked at major museums in the Detroit area, such as the Wayne State University Anthropology Museum, The Henry Ford Museum, The Detroit Institute of Arts and as a registrar, which is the caretaker of the collections, at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

Now she is proud to be involved in her greatest endeavor, which is the research and excavations of Ancient Nubia at the Isle of Meroe in the Sudan. In November of 2015 a large discovery was made at the field site in Sudan where she has previously excavated. The Abu Eritrea site has a large temple that dates back to the first century BC (circa 5 – 20 BC). Wardford recovered the first artifact at the site, a drawing of a plumed head dress, possibly of royalty, and some sherds that were dated to 10, 000 BC. This prehistoric find is unprecedented. The Butana desert contains the remains of a civilization that predates ancient Kemet. The study of Ancient Kush is a lifelong endeavor. It is the goal of Nubian Archaeological Project to produce educational materials and presentations that highlight the existence and the accomplishments of the people of The Sacred Cities of Ancient Nubia, a region of Ancient Kush.