Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan celebrates its 500th show on Galaxy Radio! We give I-ternal love to Nana Pa Kombrabia and the Galaxy Management for their vision, and resilience for four decades in building and maintaining the towering edifice that is “The Only De-Brainwashing Station.”

Our first show was December 15th 6254 (2014), hosted by Sis. Kai and Bro. Omowale with Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka as resident guest and they were joined in the studio by Bro. ShakaRa, who would not only go on to be a formidable host of the show but was also instrumental in raising the profile of Afrika Speaks across various media platforms. Although Bro. ShakaRa does occupy the hosts chair from time to time, Bro. Kweku has become a regular fixture, alongside Bro. Olatunji.

In the last ten years we’ve scoured the globe for guests with insight and resonance (such as Baba Chinweizu, Prof. Kwesi Prah, Obadele Kambon and Baba Buntu in the Motherland, Mama Bayyinah Bello and Mutabaruka in the Caribbean, Mama Marimba Ani, Mwalimu Bomani and Mama Ena Yaa Baruti, Molefi Kete Asante Ani, Mambo Ama Mazama and Dr Maulana Karenga in the USA and Bros Abiola Sow, Abuy Nfubea Jean-Jacques Lumumba in Europe), providing Afrikan-centred analyses of the current condition of Afrikan people – always with the objective of moving us towards nation building and ultimately liberation.

We always strive to address the breaking news from an Afrikan-centred perspective as well as taking deep dives into the issues that effect the Afrikan issues in the UK from a nation building standpoint like, education, deaths in custody, political engagement

So we say a massive, Tatenda, Medase Pa, Modupe, or even thank you to our numerous guests over the last ten years but even more to you the listeners that have tuned in, phoned and texted in to support Afrika Speaks and help make Galaxy Radio the very definition of A FI WE STATION. Now, the work continues…

Over the next few days approaching half a million Afrikan children will be returning to school. (1) It’s fair to assume it will be accompanied by a fair amount of trepidation given that Black boys in particular are still being “failed”, “Black Caribbean girls disproportionately excluded”, the increased liklihood of strip-search and the “cultural barriers” faced by child with additional needs. (2) And after the summer’s activties, the prospect of sharing the school space with rioters – if they manage to escape jail. (3)

Attainment wise, “Black” children still languish behind all other groups, except Roma/Traveller (who account for more than half of school absences) and “white” children. (4) The upshot of all this is that schools are neither safe or conducive places for too many Afrikan children amid the contention that “racism in education is the single biggest factor holding back Black educational achievement.” (5)

Such pressing issues require a thoughtful, practical response. The like of which were proffered by the interim National Afrikan People’s Parliament in its 2015 working draft manifesto. Under the education section it pledged to:

• Establish a department of Education and training employing a team of practitioners and experts to advise the parliament in all Education matters for NATION BUILDING and to undertake the following:

• Conduct comprehensive, professional research and ‘Community Inquiries’ into the historical pattern of disproportionate underachievement and exclusions of Afrikan children in the British educational system.

• Devise and promote a comprehensive Afrikan-centred education curriculum (from primary to tertiary) and train teachers in Afrikan-centred models of education.

• Build and promote Afrikan-centred community schools and other educational and training services, including adult provisions; as well as invest in and support the Foundation (Saturday) Schools, with a view to developing them into fulltime Afrikan-centred schools.

• Empower parents and the community through establishing Afrikan Parents-Teachers Community Associations, to actively engage same as primary educators. and hold their children’s educational institutions and practitioners to account.

• Lobby the government, local authorities, local and Afrikan MPs and councilors, concerning their duties to meet the specific needs and requirements in the education of Afrikan Children.

• Facilitate the support of children and families in state education, providing advocacy as well as educational provisions for excluded pupils; while lobbying the British government to eradicate school exclusions.

• Invest in the further and higher education and skills training of our young people (apprenticeships, degrees, masters, PhDs), via special scholarships and awards for academic accomplishments, in context with commitment to culture, community and nationhood; thus, producing the intellectual and skills capital for NATION BUILDING.

• Establish Rites of Passage Programmes to prepare our children and young people for manhood and womanhood and the adult responsibilities of family, community and nation. This to include a Jegna (Leadership training/so called ‘mentoring’) programme. (6)

The fledgling Pan-Afrikan People’s Parliament is now in a position to asses the viability of these proposals. However, it will require a critical mass within the community to make them work.

(1) Gov.uk (10/06/24) Schools, pupils and their characteristics. https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics. 2023/24 Headcount: “Black African:” 406,246 (4.8% of all pupils); “Black Caribbean:” 78,817 (0.9%).

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(2) Shanine Fasasi (18/09/23) Let’s break the cycle of black boys being failed by the education system. https://www.cypnow.co.uk/content/blogs/let-s-break-the-cycle-of-black-boys-being-failed-by-the-education-system; Agency Reporter (19/02/24) Black Caribbean girls disproportionately excluded from English schools. https://www.ekklesia.co.uk/2024/02/19/black-caribbean-girls-disproportionately-excluded-from-school/;Rajeev Syal (19/08/24) Black children in England and Wales four times more likely to be strip-searched, figures show. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/aug/19/black-children-in-england-and-wales-four-times-more-likely-to-be-strip-searched-figures-show; Morgan Ofori (31/03/24) UK’s black children ‘face cultural barriers’ in accessing help for autism and ADHD. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/mar/31/uk-black-children-cultural-barriers-accessing-help-autism-adhd.

(3) Eirian Jane Prosser and Matt Strudwick (13/08/24) Britain’s youngest rioters, aged just 12, face JAIL: Judge says one of the thugs was ‘more involved in the violence than anyone’ after attacking a bus, a police van and joining a mob outside migrant hotel. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13737081/Britains-youngest-rioters-aged-just-12-face-JAIL-Judge-says-one-thugs-involved-violence-attacking-bus-police-van-joining-mob-outside-migrant-hotel.html; Connor Parker (29/08/24) The children as young as 11 caught up in UK anti-migrant riots. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/children-uk-anti-migrant-riots-154737413.html; Lucy Fisher and Alistair Gray in London and Jennifer Williams (05/08/24) UK rioters as young as 14 charged as government promises ‘swift justice.’ https://www.ft.com/content/3655a220-a9bd-4080-8ba5-32e9cd3fbf2d

(4) Gov.uk (17/10/23) GCSE results (Attainment 8). https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/education-skills-and-training/11-to-16-years-old/gcse-results-attainment-8-for-children-aged-14-to-16-key-stage-4/latest/. “Black” comprises “Black African,” “Black Caribbean” and “Balck Other.” Average Attainment 8 score (out of 90.0) was 48.6. For Asian it was 54.6, Chinese – 66.1, White – 47.8

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(5) Sinai Fleary (03/10/23) Racism ‘the biggest barrier to achievement’ in education. https://www.voice-online.co.uk/black-british-voices/2023/10/03/racism-the-biggest-barrier-to-achievement-in-education/

(6) Interim National Organising Committee (28/11/15) MANIFESTO: Working Draft: For Community Consultation. interim National Afrikan People’s Parliament. p. 13-4

we ask the question:

Afrika Speaks #500: Can we solve our education crisis?

1) Is “racism in education is the single biggest factor holding back Black educational achievement.”?

2) Are we equipped to tackle the challenges they face?

3) How do we measure whether we are or not?

4) What successful examples can we draw upon?

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.

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