Greetings Beloved Family,
And I believe that it becomes a troubled continent because there are those who must always cause confusion so that we do not keep these natural resources.
Miriam Makeba
Thought I would share a few reflections on the transition of our dear and beloved Mama Africa.
You know, many of us grew up, swaying gently to and being serenaded by the beautiful melodies of Miriam Makeba and will always have her in our hearts. She spoke and sung in the unconquered and unconquerable language of Mother Africa and so gently touched our souls.
In a time when respect for Africa was all but unthinkable, she like so many others brought me and I am sure many of you, a special message. A message of dignity and self respect. That there was a place called home, where we could be, love and celebrate ourselves in ways that could never be defined, or confined by the oppressor. And did not need their endorsement either. For me it was much later in life, before I was truly able to appreciate that she was a beacon of hope,for the liberation of African people everywhere and for the upliftment of all humanity. She not only sang and talked about love for and the liberation of Africa, but she worked and lived for the realization of that promise in every moment of her life. What an example of service and love.
I mean this sister, mother goddess, stood uncompromised and ultimately triumphant against the trials
and tribulations, the slings and arrows that came her way from the racist settler regime in South Africa.
A bunch of the original thugs and oppressors, who were in effect manifestations of the unsheathed point of the obscene weapon,that is imperialism.
The victory over that bastion of inhumanity was won by countless noble and unacknowledged souls, Miriam Makeba
stands in their ranks, an shining example to all, to us devoted to working for a better world. She stands now with, Malcolm X, Samora Machel, Walter Rodney, Patrice Lumumba, Sekou Toure, Kwame Toure, Che Guerva, Nzinga , Yaa Asante Waa, Marcus Garvey and the legions of other freedom fighters.
Of course we know that "A Luta Continua" ( The Struggle Continues). As Mama Africa made the rounds, visiting the liberated zones in Southern Africa and elsewhere, this message from FRELIMO in Mozambique was romanticized in her own rendition, written by Bongi, and later on our brother Big Youth's version. The message, "the Struggle Continues" reverberates across the decades, guided our sister and we would do well to heed in in these heady and sometimes, seemingly contradictory times of the apparently amazing achievement of Africans in America. Beautiful in word and song, spirit and body, our beloved ancestor was still a disciplined freedom fighter. A characteristic that has been and will remain vital to our every success.
We are reminded that in her dance through this life, our Mama Africa, showed that even at it's most daunting nadir, the African Star is always rising. We are ascendant, continuously reborn in the the heart and soul of our sacred circle--- our ancestors, those present in this time and our beloved unborn. As the brother said " you can kill the revolutionary you can't kill the revolution" Fred Hampton Sr.
Thank you Mama Africa for allowing us , the privilege and honor, to share this wonderful journey with you and along the way remember how to hold ourselves a little more tenderly, love ourselves a lot more, as we honor our motherland.
In the quiet moments of the dawn, or indeed anytime, I am quite sure I can hear the sweetly delicious echoes of Malika or Ngoma Nkurila that help lift us all to Higher Ground.
To honor your legacy and indeed all of our honored ancestors, I like so many who received your blessings pause at this bittersweet moment, to rededicate myself to work for the total liberation of African people and human rights and dignity everywhere.
As a Pan Africanist I am appreciative and inspired by your contribution to the restoration, the reconnection, the healing and renaissance of our people.
Medase Mama
Africa has her mysteries, and even a wise man cannot understand them. But a wise man respects them.
Miriam Makeba
