For tonight’s show we’ll looking back at Afrika Speaks shows over the year with our take on the big stories and some of our personal favourites and hopefully some of yours too.
The first clip deals with probably the biggest story of the year, in terms of impact on the Afrikan world – the passing on April 2nd of the Queen Mother of the international Afrikan Nation, Queen Mama Nomzamo Madikizela-Mandela, popularly known as Winnie Mandela. We devoted two shows to her life and legacy, the second of which on April 16th asking the question What is the best way to honour Queen Mama Nomzamo’s legacy? It featured special guests also hailing from Azania South Africa veteran activist Mana Lindiwe Tsele & young lioness Sis Tabisa Raziya. Here they reflect on the impact of Queen Mama Nomzamo on their lives and the Afrikan world at large.
The Libya slavery story that broke last year carried on into this year, so for a proper historical analysis there was only one call to make, Esteemed warrior scholar Baba Chinweizu who joined us on January 15th to explore the roots of the Libya crisis.
One the major news stories of the year was the Windrush scandal – a major betrayal of Afrikan people who had spent their lives building up Britain only to be treated like criminals, denied services, threatened with deportation and in many cases (it was later revealed, actually deported). Patrick Vernon is an activist and former local councillor who at the heart of the Windrush campaign. His petition on behalf of the Windrush generation garnered 180,482 signatures, triggering a historic debate in parliament on April 30th. On May 5th he joined us to address the question: Windrush: A successful campaign?
One of the highlights of the year was definitely the Dessalines Toya Garvey campaign, spearheaded by France based organisation Nation Kamit, intended to forge a viable Pan-Afrikan reality, ulilising the legacies of the Ayiti Revolution and the Garvey Movement. The headline speaker was renowned Ayitian Warrior Scholar Mama Professor Bayyinah Bello. She joined us on May 21st to help answer the question Are we using the right liberation ideology?
We continued to deal with Black deaths in custody, asking the perennial question will we ever get justice? We briefly spoke to Mama Myrna Simpson on July 23rd in advance of an event commemorating 25 years since the killing of her daughter Joy Gardner. We also dealt with other cases, first, Bro. Rod Charles came into the studio on July 2nd to reflect on the ‘farcical’ inquest into the death of his nephew Rashan in 201. Afrika Speaks frequent flyer Sis. Marcia Rigg spoke to us on 20th Mosiah as she observed 10 years since the killing of her Brother Sean, asking What’s Changed?
On the 18th June we observed the 1st anniversary of the Grenfell tragedy (some might say massacre) with Ras Asheber, who from his base at Acklam Village was still providing much needed support and sustenance to survivors of the atrocity. He reflected on where things were at one year on and the prospects for justice.
July 16th marked the 20th anniversary of the transition into the Ancestral realm of grand mater teacher and warrior scholar Nana John Henrik Clarke. So who better to assess his legacy and address the question Where are today’s Warrior Scholars? than his ideological daughter Mama Marimba Ani?
We interviewed a living legend on October 8th in the form of Baba Eric Huntley in anticipation of the blue plaque unveiling organised by the Nubian Jak Community Trust, and Way Wive Wordz in commemoration of the life, work and immense contribution of Baba Eric Huntley and his late wife Mama Jessica. Baba Eric waxed about a range of topics including the founding of Bogle-L’Ouverture publications. For Baba Eric (and Mama Jessica), Doing nothing was never an option.
Bro. Ldr Mbandaka made a welcome return to Afrika Speaks in October, although the circumstances were tragic. On October 29th he called to pay tribute to Prince Ethan Nedd-Bruce, a former student of the Alkebu-Lan Academy of Excellence who was murdered on October 22nd. Following this, Bro. Ldr came in to the studio for a two part special on November 12th (where he was joined by Bro. Davis Williams of the Manhood Academy for Boys) and November 19th entitled: In memory of Prince Ethan: Youth violence – who is responsible? Since this broadcast we have learned that main person of interest in the case is a white man in his mid 20s.
Also on October 29th was perhaps one of our most important interviews ever on Afrika Speaks. We spoke to Elder Ewart Layne, one of the Grenada 17 and the man who was in charge of the military on that fateful day October 19th 1983. Even 35 years on, the implosion of the Grenada Revolution evokes strong feelings. In this clip Elder Ewart addresses the ongoing perception of the revolution as well as the events on October 19th 1983.
Afrika speaks took it’s first trip to Brazil on November 26th when we interviewed Sis. Tamiris Pereira Rizzo. In the wake of the murder of Sis. Marielle Franco in March and the October electoral victory of Jair Bolsonaro who campaigned on an anti-black and hard-right agenda, Sis. Tami broke down the myth of racial democracy in Brazil, it’s programme of genocide and the challenges of forging a Black identity.
In this clip from her December 3rd Lecture Sis. Rosemary looks ahead to the coming challenges around community and identity that organisations are going have to grapple with.
Sisters and brothers that was our whistle stop review of the year. We had many, many more outstanding guests that unfortunately could not fit in but most of our past shows are available on our mixcloud plage.
But we do want to honour some of the amazing guests we had over the year including: Sis. Ezili Dantò, Baba Mwalimu K. Bomani Baruti, Sis. Nubia Wardford Polk, Bro. Mario Gousse, Sis. Shanice Lindsay, Sis. Francine Mukwaya, Bro. Makola Libanga, Baba Dawud Anyabwile, Bro. Roosevelt Pitt, Jr, Bro. Sbusiso Xaba, Bro. Rashid Nix, Bro. Abiola Sow, Ras Ho-Shing, Bro. Minkah Adofo, Minister Malak, Dr. Carole Boyce Davies, Sis. Christina Falzon, Bro. David Simon, Sis. K.N. Chimbiri, Bro. Ifayomi Grant, Sis. Patricia Wharton, Baba Tifase John Somorin Howell, Baba Buntu, Ifágúnwà Tèmítópé and last but by no means least we have Sis. Rosemary Campbell-Stephens. Sis. Rosemary is an internationally renowned education consultant, now based in Jamaican. She joined us a record breaking five times between September and December. The high point of which was her lecture series education strategies for nation building that aired on the first Monday of the month in October, November and December. In her ground-breaking lectures Sis. Rosemary provided strategies for parents and young people, educators and the community at large.
There were also some key people in the community that gave vital assistance in helping put some of the shows together, these include bro. Glenroy Watson, Bro. Jak Beula, Sis. Michelle Yaa Asantewaa and Bro. Dennis Bartholomew. A massive tatenda to all of you and apologies to any names that we’ve missed.
As we approach the close of Kwanzaa, it’s fitting that we finish with the Tamshi La Tutaonana (The Farewell Statement)
Strive for discipline, dedication and achievement in all you do.
Dare to fight and sacrifice and gain the strength that comes from this.
Build where you are and dare to leave a legacy that will last as long as the sun shines and the water flows.
Practice the Nguzo Saba, daily!
UMOJA (Unity); KUJICHAGULIA (Self-Determination); UJIMA (Collective Work & Responsibility); UJAMAA (Cooperative Economics); NIA (Purpose); KUUMBA (Creativity); IMANI (Faith).
And may the wisdom of the ancestors always walk with us.
May the year’s end meet us laughing and stronger.
May our children honour us by following our example in love and the fight.
And at the end of next year, may we sit again together, in larger numbers, with greater achievement and closer to liberation and a higher level of human life.
HARAMBEE!
HARAMBEE!
HARAMBEE!
HARAMBEE!
HARAMBEE!
HARAMBEE!
HARAMBEE!
– Maulana Karenga