“No person is worth of being a Haitian who is not a good father, good son, a good husband, and especially a good soldier.” (1)
This is no way meant to downplay the formidable role of the women in the revolution (2), but it is consistent with the traditional role of Afrikan man as “vanguard of the family, community, nation and civilisation and the architects and builders of homes and cities.” (3)
However, Afrikan manhood certainly seems far from this ideal today, caught in the crosshairs of European cultural onslaught and what some regard as internal misandry against Black male activists. (4) One consequence of these are the predictions that “Black men’s mental health is the next pandemic.” (5)
Thus, an organised strategy to arrest this decline is necessary. One such initiative is being offered by My Brotha’s Keeper International: “an online Afrakan-centered institution offering membership plans to BLACK men who want to progress in various areas of their wellbeing, empowering the mind, body and soul.” (6)
In this vein MBK International have organised Black Men’s virtual open day on Umoja-day (Sun) 27th February hosted by the MKB International team Suraj O T Odekunle, JasiriHapi RaNūt and Hugh Mayers. The event features guest speakers Dr Rick Wallace, Eugenius Huge, Amosu Awoyemi and Alton D Walden (https://mbkinternational.org/events/)
Given the challenges currently facing the global Afrikan family it is imperative that Afrikan men (and women) are able to define their roles in order to safeguard the nation for future generations.
(1) Emperor Jacques I Dessalines (20/05/1805) The 1805 Constitution Of Haiti – Second Constitution Of Haiti (Hayti) May 20, 1805.. http://faculty.webster.edu/corbetre/haiti/history/earlyhaiti/1805-const.htm
(2) Bayyinah Bello and Kervin Andre (2021) SHEROES of the Haitian Revolution. Thorobred Books
(3) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (04/11/2019) The divine cycle of life series – Part 3: Initiation Pt. I https://www.mixcloud.com/AfrikaSpeaks/the-divine-cycle-of-life-series-part-3-initiation-pt-i-041119/
(4) Mwalimu K Bomani Baruti (2005) Mentacide and other essays. Akoben House. p. 63.; Miranda Lovett (21/07/2020) Reflecting on the Rise of the Hoteps. https://www.sapiens.org/culture/hotep/
(5) Alex Holmes (05/10/2020) Black men’s mental health is the next pandemic. https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/lifestyle/article/black-men-mental-health
(6) MBK International (2022) About. https://mbkinternational.org/about/
Afrika Speaks dealing with Health Issues:
Prostrate Cancer: https://www.mixcloud.com/AfrikaSpeaks/do-we-take-prostate-cancer-seriously-enough-170619/
Maternity Mortality: https://www.mixcloud.com/AfrikaSpeaks/can-we-be-liberated-if-black-maternal-mortality-rates-are-so-high-130519/
we ask the question:
Are you MAN Enough? The Challenge of modern manhood.
1) Have Black Men declined from their traditional role?
2) How do we define manhood in today’s context?
3) Is a Black men’s “mental health pandemic” really coming?
4) What strategies should Black Men be using for self/community development ?
5) What aspects do we feel are most pressing?
Our Special Guest:
Bro. Hugh Mayers: is a father, psychotherapist and relationship coach with over 14-years’ experience of working in the fields of mental health and psychological wellbeing. He is a senior staff member at MBK International and is committed to seeing the development and sustainability of healing spaces for Afrikan men. Bro. Hugh is also a group facilitator and trainer with a central idea that all things are mental, for the mind and the body are one. In addition to counselling one-on-one and facilitating group therapy sessions, he hosts a podcast series “It Takes Two” to discuss all things psychology from personal/interpersonal development and relationship coaching.