On Saturday, April 13, 2013, Judy Miriga wrote:
Honoring Pan-Africanism at the Celebration of 50th Anniversay in the "21st Centuary Scramble to Africa" (May 25, 2013-May 25, 2014)
Prepared by: Judy Miriga
CEO and Executive Director of
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa
Dated: April 12th 2013
Presented at: 2015 Bunker Hill Rd. NE
Washington DC 20018
Black historical culture and tradition is deeply rooted in their struggle for freedom and this in part is recognized in honor of their valued struggle for dignity, value and virtue of Black Human Race to be recognized and respected under Human Rights as a whole. The African-American culture has its origin rooted in Africa. The Black's cultural values is a blend of chiefly the Sub-Saharan Africa and the Sahelean Cultures. Although slavery greatly restricted the ability of Americans of African descent to practice their cultural traditions, many practices, values, and beliefs survived and over time have modified or blended with those of White culture and other cultures such as those of Native Americans and the Jamaicans in the Carribean Islands. In such struggle, we recognize people like Patrice Lumumba of Congo, Tom Mboya of Kenya, Martin Luther King of USA, Nkrumah of Ghana, Nelson Mandela of South Africa etc.,
Thankfully, we are now witnessing a glimpse of the African renaissance due to the sacrifices of great leaders such as Dr. WEB Dubois, The Honorable Marcus Garvey, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie, Queen Mother Moore, Dr. John H. Clarke, Abdias do Nascimento, Ambassador Dudley Thompson, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. These and other courageous people were able to unify across the globe in struggle for freedom and justice in Africa, and in the African Diaspora. Their struggle resulted in the May 25, 1963 establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU) that spearheaded the decisive struggles for African freedom, human rights, independence and now for greater unity. To continue strengthening their freedom and to reunify with their children in the United States and beyond after centuries of forced separation, the African Union has "invite and encourage the full participation of the African Diaspora as an important part of our continent, in the building of the African Union" for a peaceful, unified and prosperous Africa. During the 20th ordinary session of the AU assembly in Ethiopia from January 22-28, 2013, the African Union leaders declared May 25, 2013 the 50th anniversary of the Organization of the African Unity (OAU) calling for those of African descent across the world to commemorate May 25, 2013-May 25, 2014 as a tribute to African people's long struggle for the freedom, independence, human rights, and justice. This month of May we celebrate the rebirth of a people who have given so much to the foundation of our life and the future of humanity.
The West Africans, the Eastern Africa, the Jamaicans with those Native Americans believed that spirits dwelled in their surrounding nature. For this, they honor their Cultural Community Leaders and mostly pay respect to their parted souls. It is believed that, the spirit of the past are always alive on the other side of the unseen world. It is therefore, most Africans believe in paying respect in spiritualism of the past; more specifically this tradition fits well with the Pan-Africanism struggle for Independence for the African Freedom Fighters.
Without dwelling much on the religion, in the beginning of the 18th Century, Islam began to spread across North Africa; and this shift of religion began displacing traditional African spiritual practices. The fusion of traditional African beliefs with Christianity provided a common place shared by different community cultures. This was the beginning of shared values experienced amongst different communities united together as one family.
Today, we are again coming together under one umbrella of Pan-Africanism to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Africa's struggle for Independence. It fits well to recognize and honor the Black Africa struggle for independence and dedicate in recognizing with honor those who before us put their lives on line to free Africans from oppressiveness from Slavery with that of the white colonial regime rulership. From East Africa.
Past History:
From the earliest days during the 17th Century, American owners sought to exercise control over their slaves by attempting to strip them of their African culture. The physical isolation destroyed the historical values to some level and compounded the abandoning of African Tradition and Cultures as can be seen within the Brazilian, Haitian, the Dutch Guyanas more specifically withing the Caribbean Island communities …..etc.,
Present Historical Situation in Africa:
There is a 21st century struggle facing Africa today. It is a new wave of Africa's biggest test where Africans must unite to free themselves if not, the whole race of Africa faces destruction with eminent Africa's Land Invasion by those who are wealthy. It is known as "the Scramble for Africa. This is a new form of imperialism, where African Leaders are complicit in the re-colonization of Africa under a conspiracy of Corporate occupation of Africa.
In Commemorating Pan-African 50th Anniversary Celebration it gives me a reason to recognize gains that were made by the African Freedom Fighters and realize areas where we need to take stock within African value in the historical struggle. The vision of African Freedom fighters is real and is still alive. The spirit of our parted Freedom fighters are still alive within us. It is the reason why when we look back through the History, the Spirits for the Dream come alive. We must begin to get engaged and do better, so this world is able to enjoy the Unity peace brings in love. Complete happiness comes when Historical Culture and Tradition values are brought back to life to awaken the spirits of the Freedom Fighters. Their fights were not in vain and so is the need for a united front to confront "The Scramble for Land Grabbing in Africa" today. This calls for the question each one need to ask, who are we? ....... Our historical values for struggle is the reason we must be united to stop selfish gains by Land Grabbers which is about to destroy livelihood and survival of African existence in the challenges of the competition at the Global Market Place another reason which is about to cut us off from connecting our ancestors and the spirit of African Cultural Tradition.
A SYNDICATE OF CONSPIRACY BY THE WEALTH RICH ON LAND GRABBING AGAINST POOR AFRICANS IN AFRICA IS A NEW WAVE OF SERIOUS INJUSTICES. IT IS A SERIOUS PLAN TO ABUSE, COMMIT CRIME AND ENGAGE IN VIOLATION AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS WHICH IS A RATIFIED INTERNATIONAL TREATY THAT DEMANDS AN EARLY LEGAL INTERVENTION, MEDIATION, COMPENSATION AND REPARATION.
We are in 21st Century, and the world is yet again shocked by another wave of unfriendly corruption taking toll in Africa by what is known as "Land Grabbing". Africa's Land has become another target for the mean, selfish greedy and the rich who wish to engage on Free Trade through influence corrupt African leaders to illegally, irregularly and unconstitutionally steal Public resources without following any legal process; but the deals are done secretively under-table without caring or consulting the legal rightful channel for sale of disposing property. This they do in total disregard of the Democratic Constitutional Principles and Public Mandate.
Those who acquire Africa's land falsely are after power and the control to monopolize world market-place in "The Emerging Markets". This behavior constitute a serious crime, violation and abuse of human rights against the vulnerable and poor Africans who loose their livelihood and survival violently with no prior consultation, no fair legal justice or paying attention to their pleas for redemption simply because the people are helpless and cannot defend themselves against such a criminal invasion of their Rights, Dignity and Privacy. When people of Africa in the event of loosing their lands, are Mercilessly killed and tortured without empathy because they are weak and helpless, so they can easily be driven out of their homeland to pave way for Land Grabbers. What is the world Leaders reactions against Human Rights Violation, crime and abuse by Land Grabbers??? Is it right for the world to simply just sit and assume the Problem of Africa is not their problem, and that they will do nothing about it?
These corrupt irregular dealings, undertakes acquisition and transfers of large-scale of land behind the scene, often the deals are brokered at the expense and great loses of lives of the vulnerable African poor communities who lose their Communities, homes and livelihoods - sometimes violently - with no prior consultation, compensation or means of appeal. This means that the Land Transfer engagement in Africa are based on Violation and Abuse including Crime against Humanity that are punishable at the ICC Hague.
I am a victim of Land Grabbing and I am giving a true account of what I have gone through and it is not different to those other poor of Africa. The amount of Mental Torture, huge loses Social and Economic loses, excruciating Trauma, Pain and Sufferings cannot be easily quantified or explained. There is nothing to compare with it. The feeling is like the world has ended for those who have been pushed out of their homelands.
Atleast more than 1,500,000 people in Africa have been stolen from and are displaced where many have been forced to live on the streets. Some are brutalized and killed every election time, with others have their families mercilessly killed, leaving millions homeless without land or without any means to survive. African people in this category have lost everything and they are without any hope for recovery, reparation, mediation or any form of Legal Representation.
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Mathew Bukhi
Geography Department
University of Dodoma
P.O Box 395
+255 688 724063
Skype account: mathew.mabele.bukhi
Twitter account: Mathew Bukhi @atuyu
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