GARVEY LIVES!!!
MOSIAH LIVES!!!
About a century ago the Most Eminent Prophet and King, His Excellency Marcus Mosiah Garvey delivered one of his most iconic messages, which included the passage:
“If I should die in Atlanta, my work will only just then begin. For I shall live in the physical or the spiritual to see the day of Africa’s Glory.
When I am dead, wrap the mantle of the red, the black and the green around me, for in the new life I shall RISE UP with God’s grace and blessings to lead the millions of the heights in the triumph, that you well know!
Look for me in a whirlwind or a storm! Look for me all around you! For with God’s grace, I shall come back with countless millions of Black men and women who have died in America, those who have died in the West Indies, and those who have died in Africa, to aid you in the fight for liberty, freedom and life!” (1)
The speech demonstrated a prophetic thrust that was certaininly embraced by the Rastafari Movement and separated him from his contemporaries who were primarily focused on political concerns. (2)
In a message called Litafute Kwenya Kimbunga (Look For Me In The Whirlwind), delivered at the Mosiah Opening Ceremony on 4th of Mosiah, Bro. ShakaRa posed the question: how do we conceptualise the process of Afrikan liberation within our own Afrikan spiritual consciousness? He affirmed that:
“It is through the wisdom and guidance of our Ancestors that we ascertain what our mission and purpose is in life as they represent the collective consciousness and life force of our people… so Afrikan people who connected to our Ancestral consciousness derive mission and purpose from that connectedness.” (3)
Referencing Mama Marimba Ani, he stated that the development and use of icons or sacred symbols touch the consciousness of our people at a deep level so that even our children can begin to recognise those icons or sacred symbols as part of their learning. Examples of such symbols could include the Ankh, deities or historical figures. (4)
(1) Marcus Garvey (c1924) ‘Look for me in the whirlwind’, Freedom speech. https://speakola.com/political/marcus-garvey-look-for-me-in-the-whirlwind-1924
(2) Kwende Anbessa-Ebanks (2004) Rastafari Livity: A basic Information Text. Kwemara Publications. p. 24-8
(3) ShakaRa Mbandaka (04/08/24) Litafute Kwenya Kimbunga (Look For Me In The Whirlwind). Mosiah Opening Ceremony Presentation.
(4) Ibid.
What is The Whirlwind?
1) Why did Marcus Garvey use the symbolism of The Whirlwind?
2) How important was spirituality to the mission of Marcus Garvey?
3) Can we liberate ourselves in the absence of an Ancestral connection?
4) How can we utilise icons or sacred symbols ?
Our Special Guests:
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.
Bro. ShakaRa Mbandaka: the son of Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka, Father, Partner, Universal Afrikan Nationalist, Organiser, Spoken Word Activist, Writer, Cultural Scientist, Educator, Sema Tawi and graduate of the UNIA-ACL’s Course In Afrikan Philosophy (ShakaRaSpeaks.com). Bro. ShakaRa is also director of GotKush TV/Kimbunga Media, the UK’s number 1 conscious platform (https://gotkushtv.com/).
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