“We must recapture our heritage and our identity if we are ever to liberate ourselves from the bonds of white supremacy. We must launch a cultural revolution to un-brainwash an entire people.” (1)
- Omowale Malcolm X
“We are going to show the world what the black man can do when he works in freedom, and we are going to make the Congo the focal point for the development of all of Africa.” (2)
- Patrice Lumumba
“Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it.” (3)
- Franz Fanon
As the Afrikan world observes the USA’s machinations against Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traore, we are reminded that this is part of their century-long war against Black leadership. For it was one hundred years ago this year that the USA government jailed The Eminent Prophet and King – His Excellency Marcus Marcus following a sham trial for which he was only recently, belatedly pardoned (though not yet exonerated). (4)
Yet it was that same year that some significant revolutionary seeds germinated, which would go on to flourish three to four decades later before their brutal extermination but leaving ideological spores that would indelibly inspire successive generations.
The ‘seeds’ we speak of are Omowale Malcolm X (born 19th May 1925), Patrice Lumumba (2nd July) and Franz Fanon (20th July) whose most notable work flourished in a thirteen year period from 1952 to 1965. Thus, in an upcoming message at Alkebu-Lan Shumira, Bro. ShakaRa Mbandaka will break down the legacies of all three in a message entitled: ‘TRIPLE CENTENARY: Honouring 3 Giants Of The Afrikan Liberation Fight’ on Umoja-day (Sun) May 4th at Chestnuts Community Centre.
Some may dismiss such endeavours as idle hero worship. However, such renderings are part of our deepest spiritual tradition and what Baba Maulana Karenga refers to as “praise poetry.”:
“Praise poetry is a model of verbal celebration of both the secular and sacred which is although distinct and undeniable African institution and achievement. A other people in other times engaged in poetic praising, it was and is not as pervasive or vital to the secular and sacred as in Africa. And the fact that praise poetry of both kinds – or “songs of praising and glorifying”as they are called in the Book of Coming Forth by Day – was so pervasive and vital to Ancient Egypt reinforces the truth of its African rootedness. The praise poem is both aesthetic and spiritual. In fact, its beauty is a part of its spirituality, for it enhances the sense of wonder, grandeur and oneness with the God on person praised.” (5)
The challenge in the present is to ensure, as our Ancestors did, that “Praise Poetry” is indeed converted into meaningful action towards nationbuilding, liberation and the establishment of a Pan-Afrikan world order.
(1) Omowale Malcolm X (28/06/64) Speech at the OAAU Founding Rally. https://www.icit-digital.org/articles/malcolm-x-s-speech-at-the-oaau-founding-rally-june-28-1964
(2) Patrice Lumumba (30/06/60) Speech At Proclamation Of Independence. https://www.columbia.edu/itc/history/mann/w3005/lumumba.html
(3) Fanon, Franz (1985) The Wretched of the Earth. Penguin. p. 166.
(4) Staff Reporter (22/04/25) US General Wild Accusations Against Captain Ibrahim Traoré Spark Outrage Across Africa. https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/world-news/us-general-wild-accusations-against-captain-ibrahim-traore-spark-outrage-across-africa/; Damon K Jones (22/04/25) When Defenders of Sovereignty Are Branded as Threats: The Hypocrisy of General Langley’s Words on Burkina Faso. https://blackwestchester.com/when-defenders-of-sovereignty-are-branded-as-threats-the-hypocrisy-of-general-langleys-words-on-burkina-faso/; The Gleaner (19/01/25) Holness says pardon of Garvey a ‘first step’ toward total exoneration. https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20250119/holness-says-pardon-garvey-first-step-toward-total-exoneration; Colin Grant (21/01/25) Joe Biden was right to pardon Marcus Garvey. https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/joe-biden-was-right-to-pardon-marcus-garvey/
(5) Maulana Karenga (1989) Selections from the Husia: Sacred Wisdom of Ancient Egypt. University of Sankore Press. p. 13
https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/219667486/PURE_Movement_intellectuals_engaging_the_grassroots.pdf
What is the TRIPLE CENTENARY?
1) Is honouring X, Lumumba and Fanon just ‘idol worship’?
2) Is ‘Praise Poetry’ a viable approach?
3) How are their legacies connected and where can we find evidence of them today?
4) How can we fulfill their missions?
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 Kimbunga Media, the UK’s number 1 conscious platform (https://kimbungamedia.com/).
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