GARVEY LIVES!!! GARVEY LIVES!!! GARVEY LIVES!!!
MOSIAH LIVES!!! MOSIAH LIVES!!! MOSIAH LIVES!!!
As the Mosiah season 6265 (2025) continues, we explore what we classify as Afrikan Spiritual Orthodoxy, that, along with Race First, Self Reliance and Nationhood form the essential principles of Afrikan Fundamentalism. (1)
Not only is this aspect that Afrikan must see God and the divine according to our own culture, and reject the imposition of others upon us (2), frequently overlooked in terms of the Garvey legacy, it is also the case more generally with regards to our liberation history:
As Bro. Shakara Mbandaka explained:
“If we look at the life and legacy of Papa Garvey and the UNIA-ACL that spirituality was fundamental as a cohesive organising force within the organisation. If we look at our Ancestors in various different uprisings on plantations on and off the continent we will see that spirituality was a fundamental organising cohesive tool… Much of our organisational capacity was destroyed through the demonisation of our spirituality and the indoctrination into a psychology that had us demonising our spirituality… So if we want to know what role spirituality plays in our liberation then we only need look into our history. There is no successful movement of Afrikan people that is devoid of spirituality. It doesn’t exist. None whatsoever. And even if we use the Abrahamic religions we have to supplement them with something indigenous and organic and Afrikan-Centred.” (3)
In the context of Marcus Garvey’s Jamaican homeland, one exemplary antecedent is that of the so-called Maroons (also known as Kromanti), from which some sources say Marcus Garvey is directly descended. (4)
The controversies, contradictions even (e.g. around treaties with the British) notwithstanding, the Maroons were certainly for a period “righteous warriors against injustice.” (5)
A new film, Ireke: Rise Of The Maroons, hailed as a “watershed moment in the history of Nollywood storytelling” represents this part of the history in an explosive, truly Pan-Afrikan way, as a Caribbean story directed a continental Afrikan – in the tradition of the likes of Haile Gerima. (6)
The debut feature by Emmy-nominated Gbolahan Peter Macjob, Ireke is a cinematic reckoning that tackles head-on the wearying “trauma porn” endemic so so many films of slavery. Bro. Gbolahan says: “I, too, am tired of slavery-focused narratives, which is why Ireke is about the rebellion and the small victories our ancestors recorded.” (7)
As a devotee of the Ifa tradition, although raised Catholic, the director was determined to represent Afrikan spiritual traditions faithfully in the film:
“As someone who grew up watching TV content describe African spirituality as “devil worship”, and watching movies that present African traditions and belief systems as inferior to Western beliefs, I know first-hand the importance of agenda setting through media. So, it is my responsibility to change the narrative in my work, especially considering how the religion practised by the slaves was one of their sources of strength, and has endured to this day in the Americas.” (8)
This sentiment certainly falls with framework of Afrikan Spiritual Orthodoxy, as outlined above, connecting us with our Ancestral mores and values as we strive towards liberation.
Ireke: Rise Of The Maroons is showing at Vue Cinemas:
Birmingham (Star City): 10/08/25
Bromley: 11/08/25
Westfield Stratford: 12/08/25
More details: https://www.myvue.com/cinema/birmingham/film/ireke-rise-of-the-maroons
(1) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (12/08/19) How well have we defended Marcus Garvey’s legacy? https://alkebulan.org/2019/08/12/afrika-speaks-with-alkebu-lan-on-galaxy-radio-12-08-19-how-well-have-we-defended-marcus-garveys-legacy/. Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka states: “Papa Garvey commanded us to see our God in our own image and sought to guide us to an African-centred spiritual consciousness with a liberation thrust. “If the white man has the ideal of a white God, let him worship his God as he desires. If the yellow man’s God is of his race, let him worship his God as he sees fit… We believe in the God of Ethiopia (Afrika)… and we shall worship Him (Her) through the spectacles of Ethiopia (Afrika).”
(2) Tafdazwa ShakaRa. Mbandaka (2011) The Undying Spirit: Nationalsit Pan- Afrikanism Lives On. The Whirlwind, Edition 9, p. 33
(3) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (24.08.20) What is the connection between spirituality & Afrikan Liberation? https://www.mixcloud.com/AfrikaSpeaks/what-is-the-connection-between-spirituality-afrikan-liberation-240820/
(4) Conrad Worrill (1999) Perspectives. https://www.finalcall.com/perspectives/m_garvey8-17-99.html
(5) Gordon Barnes (19/06/16) From Freedom to Suppression: The Problem of Jamaica’s Maroon Heritage in “Queen Nanny.” https://opencuny.org/activity/2016/06/19/freedom-suppression-problem-jamaicas-maroon-heritage-queen-nanny/
(6) Jerry Chiemeke (27/07/25) Out Of Africa: Gbolahan Peter Macjob Talks … Ireke: Rise Of The Maroons. https://thebritishblacklist.co.uk/out-of-africa-gbolahan-peter-macjob-talks-ireke-rise-of-the-maroons/
(7) Ibid.
(8) Ibid.
we ask the question:
Can we be free without spirituality?
1) Is it true there is no successful movement of Afrikan people devoid of spirituality?
2) In what ways were the Maroons/Kromantis “righteous warriors against injustice”?
3) How were our spiritual traditions demonised?
4) What can we do to “change the narrative” about them?
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 almost 40 years standing and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.
Bro. Gbolahan Macjob: is a writer, journalist, multimedia producer, and Emmy-nominated investigative reporter. He received acclaim for known for his work on the BBC Africa Eye documentary Black Axe: Nigeria’s Mafia Cult. He is also the author of Claws, Hooves and a Red Dart. Bro. Gbolahan’s debut feature film Ireke: Rise of the Maroons, is out now. He is a devotee the Ifa spiritual system.
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