Million upon millions of Afrikans around the world have been observing Easter, seen as only second to Christmas in the Christian calendar – representing the crucifixion and subsequent resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, many are not clear why, like Christmas, Easter does not fall on a set day or what eggs or rabbits have to do with it.

Religious scholars suggest that Easter was “derived from a combination of Jewish lore and pre-Christian and pagan practices. It is named after Eostre, the goddess of fertility and birth, worshiped by first-century pagans at the vernal equinox… Christian missionaries saw that this celebration took place around the time of the resurrection of Christ, so they adopted Easter as a Christian holiday to increase conversion.” (1)

Moreover, “the early church grappled with how Easter is determined, and the processes for scheduling the holiday weren’t fully set in stone until the 16th century.” As a consequence Easter can fall on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. (2) The inclusion of the Easter egg and rabbit/hare to “represent Jesus’ resurrection.. came much later when Roman Catholicism became the dominant religion in Germany in the 15th century and merged with already ingrained pagan beliefs.” (3)

Consequently, it appears that the connection of these disparate elements has less to do with underlying faith or philosophy than adopted customs. As Afrikan-centred educator Khufu Aakhu Mentuhotep asserts: “Easter has no significance of celebrating, unless you are celebrating the spring equinox; the rebirth & resurrection of life (Trees, Vegetation, Fruit).” (4)

Indeed, the late Warrior Ancestor Rev. Ishakamusa Barashango equated Afrikan people celebrating European holidays as “mental genocide,” adding:

“One of the many things among the many we must examine is the celebration of European holidays. Black people must ever keep in mind that these holidays are tributes to white-nationalism. Generally holidays have a special political and cultural significance, in short they institutions of the mind and as such can be and most often are used as control mechanisms.” (5)

(1) IBW21 (13/04/20) Easter’s Black Roots? https://ibw21.org/commentary/easters-black-roots/

(2) Tom Metcalfe (06/04/23) Why does the date of Easter change every year? Bhttps://www.livescience.com/why-does-the-date-of-easter-change-every-year

(3) Lauren Effron (20/04/10) How’s the bunny connected to Easter?.https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna36149164

(4) Khufu Aakhu Mentuhotep (25/12/21) Un-Afrikan Holidays; Why Do We Celebrate Them? https://raisingawarenessgroup.com/visionary-thoughts/khufu-aakhu-mentuhotep/un-afrikan-holidays-celebrate/

(5) Ishakamusa Barashango (1980) Afrikan People European Holidays: A Mental Genocide. Book I. Barashango and Associates. p. iv.

we ask the question

Easter: What is it really about?

1) Why can’t Easter be on set dates?

2) Do all the elements associated with Easter make sense?

3) In what ways are holidays “control mechanisms”?

4) Do European holidays really represent “A Mental Genocide” for Afrikans?

Our Special Guest:

Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of over 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.