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 Posted - 24 Nov 2008 : 18:44:43
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Topic author: kondorong
Subject: Bending The Arc of Opportunity (Obama) - Part 2
Posted on: 16 Nov 2008 08:58:26
Message:
Bending the Arch of Opportunity - Lessons from Obama (2)
We have looked at part one of this two part series. In the first part, we looked at the evolution of societies and reasons why. We looked at the social contract between leaders of societies and the rest of the masses. We have also looked at the that fact that when the social contract is not honored, it results to chaos.
However one other thing I did not discuss is the resultant effect it has on migration. There will always be some members of society who will take the law into their own hands and want to find solutions for public good but others will do so for themselves. Another group, perhaps less convinced that there will be improvements will begin to migrate for better societies where they will be able to achieve their ideal environment.
Migration is as old as humankind. Whilst we may not agree on how life started, we would at least agree that man was on the move the moment he was able to stand up and walk the earth. This human phenomenon is an integral part of human survival and largely how we were able to disperse on this continent.
In the case of Africa, I would like to look at migration in three different forms. The first and most important large scale migration in Africa was the Atlantic Slave Trade which involved millions of Africans shipped to the Americas to serve as laborers on the tobacco and cotton fields to boost production. In this migration, its important to note that the Africans who were brought to the “new world” came against their own will. They were forced to do so. So for this type of migrants, even though the social contracts they had with traditional chiefs were not honored, they had to be punished twice and forced to leave their lands, property and family. To add salt to injury, they were to loose their basic freedoms. But that was not the worst. They were in addition, considered property to be bought and sold just like other farm animals. Its for the same reason, that in the Americas, slaves had no names on tax returns. Slave owners would count the number of slaves they had and sometimes even describe their physique just like one would do for ones farm animals. Values were attached to slaves in the tax returns and profits or losses recorded.
This is the main reason why tracing ones roots was extremely difficulty for slave descendants because on paper they had no names but just values.
The land of freedom, was only free for some. Whilst Africans were being brought to the Americas to be slaves, Europeans were coming from Europe to the Americas running away from an overburdened clergy to be free. Can you begin to see the two parallels. Interestingly again, by around 1823, for Africans to have freedom in the United States, they had to leave the “free world” . Either way they headed, they were on the loosing end.
It was more like head they win tail the Africans lost. That certainly left no room for hope because a coin has only two sides and if head they win and tail you loose, then either way you were setup to loose. But sadly though, those who left the Americas back to Africa in the hope of reuniting with their roots, also continued the same acts against which they were running away from. Eventually, they will form a country called Liberia around 1822. They did not integrate with the locals. They would call their capital; Monrovia named after a United States President - Monroe. They would call the seat of their Presidency “ The Executive Mansion” the former name of the white House when the seat of Government was originally in New York. They would call their police, Sheriffs and districts, Counties just like the United States. They would even adopt the Texan Flag as their national flag. They would have a Senate and Congress and would even impeach a President just like it happened in America. Liberia is the only country in Africa to impeach a sitting President.
Sadly, though, their constitution would not provide room for the indigenous Africans they found in the that part of West Africa. Its sad to know that, since the founding of the state of Liberia in 1822, no indigenous African had managed to be President until the current sitting President- Sir leaf Johnson. For nearly 200 years, power was held by one section of the Liberian society. The Liberian Civil War was partly the desire of the indigenous to see their own at the top of the leadership. Its equivalent would be the Indians in America who hope to have an Indian President.
Sadly though, the election of Sir Leaf Johnson as president of Liberia was never embraced by Africans and people of African descent. Its was a miracle in Libera if only we saw beyond color. For me, her election was more of miracle than Obams. Simply put, if we were to trace our heritage, Obama would be a kenyan. But how sad would it be if in your own land, you could not rise to the top. The biggest miracle America is yet to produce for me is the election of a native Indian President. That would be biggest leap of democracy.
It would however be recorded by history, that not until an indigenous African became president of Liberia will an African American President be possible. One thing comes to mind. That Obama’s words “.. I am my brother’s keeper. I am my sisters Keeper..” surely have meaning and worthy of emulating. That we are all interconnected in one way or another and that “.. injustice anywhere, was a threat to justice everywhere..”. You wonder why I am bring this up. There is a reason. Just read on. In the later part of this posting, I will be looking at integration of new African migrants in the west and how very little interaction exists between Africans and people of African descent in the west.
However, we do not need to go far to look for failures of integration. In the Gambia, just about a year after the founding of the state of Liberia, the island of Georgetown was bought by the Bristish and the first inhabitants were Nigerian slaves captured in the high seas by the British navy and brought to gambia for resettlement. They were mainly from the KRU Tribe. The fear was that if they were sent back to their countries they may still be sold as slaves. Sadly, almost the whole population perished on the island partly due to conditions on the island but also because the hosts never opened up to accepting them into their fold. This is one reason why the culture on this island is very much different from any surrounding settlement. The rest later migrated to Banjul and became the AKUs we have come to describe many of the non muslims in Banjul. Those big fields on the way to Sankulay Kunda were started by the Methodist Mission as farms for the freed slaves. Most people know that Nigerians are not rice cultivators and the absence of yam and other starchy foods meant that many went hungry.
From the above, its apparent that the social contract that Africans had with their local chiefs came back as IOUs with no financial guarantee. Their forced migration certainly only worsened their already dire situation. So by all accounts this was a disaster. This is one of the first major failures of social contracts in Africa.
Before I go on to the next migration in Africa, I would like you to listen to this music by Baaba Maal, a Senegalese musician. The title of the song is TARA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h84TA9LVh80
Now that you have listened to the music and watched the video, it makes every sense to explain why I chose this song. The word TARA is actually not Fulani. The song itself was originally a Mandingo song by the Bambara of Mali but the patron of the song was a Fulani religious leader called Elhajj Omar Taal. TARA is a Mandingo word which means” the one on the move”. A more modern Mandingo word will be TAALA. Its just a matter of dialect. The Bambara made this song to the habitual travels of Elhajj Omar Taal in the spread of Islam in West Africa and played a major role in the expansion of the Kingdom of Fulladu under the Baldeh clan. History would give us names like Musa Moloh Baldeh, Bakary Demba Baldeh and many others. Musa Molloh Baldeh was the King of Fulladu which consisted of five states. He himself directly ruled Firdu whilst Bakary Demba Baldeh was the head of the state of Jimara. The other provinces were Mambua, Patinkuta and Kamako. Musa would die in 1931 at Kesserr Kunda and his father, Alpha Molo died in a region in present day Guinea Bissau called DANDU. DANDU is a Mandingo word which means “ the land of the end”
Eventually the kingdom will fall when Bakary Demba Baldeh sought refugee in Niani. Prior to this his home town in Jimara was called KOROP. Perhaps, the Jawo’s of Niani may be direct descendants of this Bakary Demba Baldeh. I am sure those familiar with Jimara, would know KOROP village. History would record that the fsall of fulladu was due to an internal struggle to keep the kingdom ruled by the “pure Fulani”. A group headed by Alpha Mbuko of Kolda Karantaba(cassamance) had to be crushed by Musa Moloh Baldeh but it marked the beginning of the end of this great kingdom because the very foundation of the kingdom, which was Fulani, could not unite and that was how people like Foday Kaba Dumbuya attacked Fulladu and led to the name SO FA NYAMA bridge in the Gambia just as you enter CRD from LRD. That tiny tributary, is a witness to this encounter when Foday kaba escaped the army of Fulladu under Musa Moloh.
Anyway, lets not digress. This type of migration was a religious migration and West Africa, more than any other parts of Africa had the largest religious wars. In the end, Islam will become the dominant religion. In a sense, that may be a success but I remember the words of my Ghanaian who is an animist. He once scolded all us at a meeting that why Africans were not proud of their native religion. That we are embracing foreign religions and ready to fight and die for them. For him, it was Africa that lost in the end. Well, from the perspective of pan Africanism, he was right. For once, he shook the very foundation of my faith, and I began to ask if Africa had any “prophets”. But then I asked myself, if we never had any, why so? It seemed we were always converts to the three major religions of the world. Certainly, colonialism came under the pretext of “..saving the heathens…. And redeem the souls of the Negro..” But like Kenyatta once said: “ When the White man came to Africa, they asked us to pray with our eyes closed. When the prayer was over, they had our lands and we had the Bible..”
I don’t know how to conclude this migration in Africa. I guess I may not be a better judge in this situation because I have embraced a religion that is not African. In matters of religion, I have never wanted to rush to the high morale ground and try to judge. So for once, I will let every reader to be his/her own judge. We have to remember that the social contract encompasses all aspect of a society’s well-being and this includes beliefs. Was there a breakdown of this function in Africa or were we just being curious to other religions. Perhaps, the rewards of the hereafter (Heaven) may be one underlying reason why we embraced all the three major religions.- exposing our desires for the good life that we could never phantom on this earth.
I still remember an elderly man in my village who once visited Serrekunda and I took him on a tour of Cape Point, Kotu and Fajara. Upon return to our house, he could not keep his feeling. He said that it was HARAM (forbidden) for people to build such expensive homes with trees, flowers and swimming pools. He said that people were rushing to build the kind of homes that God promised those going to Heaven as stated in the Koran. If I may paraphrase, the Koran said that Heaven will be filled with streams of honey and milk lined with fruit gardens etc. For him, the houses he saw were, or could not be any different from what was being promised in the hereafter and that to rush to compete with God, was blasphemous. At that point, I went somber. I realized that our social contract was in a serious jeopardy. That we are looking the other way whilst the masses eked out a living. Perhaps they were not living but surviving. To this day, that experience has not left me. It appeared that there were two parallel societies- the haves and the have-nots. Anytime I travel to Fajara or cape Point, I am always reminded of this poor fellow who has done all that was asked of him by society. He always paid his taxes, farmed the land, and died an honest man but at a price. I hope that he enters Heaven to have his mansion that he could not. Prior to coming to Serrekunda, he never thought such expensive dwellings really exist on Earth. But my belief is that the Heavens will be much happier place than Kotu of Fajara.
Lets look at the other form of migration which is currently taking place in Africa. Please watch this video link before proceeding.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0JV0l9Ibxs
Having watched the video, its perhaps necessary to share some of the words. The song is by MaPenda Secka from Senegal. The title of the song is Barça wala. This is a Wolof word which means “that far away” a reference to the recent and dangerous migrations of West Africans to Europe. Lets share some of the words of the song to put it into perspective:
BAGA LIGAYE, AMO LIGAYE (Willing to work but cant find work)
NGA DIKO OOTI, BEH DUGA GAAL ( You go looking for work and end up in a raft)
DEM BACHA DIGI GAJJ.. (and right in the middle of the river..)
AYE BAKAN DES FA LOLU METINA (lives are lost)
………………………………....................................................
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FI NYU TOLLU NI, FINYU TOLLU NI (We have come to a point, we have come to a point)
TAKU LIGAYE WARR NO YA (We have to be resolved to work is all the more necessary)
WAAYE FOOKI NIT DI GASS (But if ten people are digging a hole)
FOOKI NIT DI SOOL, (ten people are filling the same hole)
GALGI DAFAYE DISS (the boat will sink) - a reference to Senegal which is believed to have come from the Wolof word GAL which means a boat. He is making reference to problems of nation building)
MOY TULEN KO WAYE (lets avoid that)
………………………………...............................................
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TOOKI WOOTI AM NAA ( to travel to seek wealth is good)
TOOKI DEKA AM NAA (to travel and stay sometimes happens)
TOOKI DIKA AM NAA (to travel and come and visit, also happens)
WAYE TOOKI DELU SI, JE SA BAKH ( but to travel and come home finally is the best)
NGIRR NJABOT JA LAYE KHARR ( Because the family is waiting on you)
KAYE, KAYE, KAYE, KAYE WAYE ( come back, come back, come back, come back please)
BAGA TEKI METI WAYE ( Its so hard to succeed).
This song is a fairly recent one. But the morale and dilemma has been with Africans for a long time now. Many pre-independence and post independence literatures have filled the shelves by African writers. It stems from the principal desire to keep one’s culture pure. It was a fight against westernization of the continent and many African writers like Wole Sonyinka would write about it in his book “ The Lion and the Jewel“. In this book, it was a struggle between a western educated African called Lankule and a traditional chief called Baroka over a beautiful African girl. Lankule, believes that the bride price was like “..buying a heifer off the market..” and love should not be bought. He refused to accept the traditions of bride price and for him, the practice should stop. The chief however, who by accident or default wants the culture to continue and was willing to pay a bride price. To make it short, the Chief ended up being the suitor of the girl and Lankule lost.
In matters of culture, Wole Soyinka sided with tradition. However, other writes like Ali Mazuri would call this as “..the dilemma of an African intellectual…”. Educated Africans have been torn between keeping their culture and embracing the western way of life. Mazuri was right. The last paragraph of this song is asking the immigrants to come home just like Wole Soyinka made the Chief the winner.
It reminds me of an old woman I grew up in the same compound. She does not like chicken because for her, chickens are very filthy, but interestingly, she would eat the soup or drink the broth. I once reminded her that if she could eat the soup and not the chicken, she has in effect eaten the chicken anyway. I guess I was too much of trouble at an early age. Well she could not refute my assertion, but brushed me aside as being too “busy-body”- a broken English meaning somebody who observes too much.
However, it should be noted that many Africans who traveled to the west initially planned to stay only for a year or two. Make money and come home. However, upon arrival, they realize that the West is not paved with gold and diamonds. Many have cried quietly in their own private times that their dreams are being deferred. They are trapped and cant go home because they have nothing to show for the long years in the West. I am sure many were surprised that in the West, there are homeless people.
Lets look at the dilemma of the African in the west. We refuse or should I say, we are fearful of embracing our host culture. That fear is understandable but my believe is that at some point, we have to accept it or live under the radar. Obama,s father, a Kenyan immigrant never shied away from the host culture. Story has it that one day in Hawaii when he went out with his wife and family to a pub, a white man came up to him and told the bartender that he was not going to drink an expensive wine sitting next to a N---er. Every one thought there would be a fight. However, Barack senior handled the situation differently. He used words instead of fists. In the end, the guy was so embarrassed that he gave him $100.00 cash, paid his one month rent, paid for the drinks of all he came with to the pub and then still asked if there was anything he could do to apologise to him.
Those who seek to run away from a fight must surely be prepared to “.. fight another day..” (Bob Marley). Those Africans in the West cannot run away from the host culture if they must open doors for their children. A classic example is the “Banlieus” in Paris. Banlieu is French for suburb but in this case, it is reinforced with fear that has come to define its new meaning.
Its important to explain the difference between Europe and United States especially with city dwelling. In Europe, the suburbs are dwelled by low income families whilst the city center is habited by the well to do in society. It’s the opposite in the United States. Those who have been following the news would remember the riots in Paris by immigrants mostly from North Africa but also West Africa against neglect by the host society. But if you visit many of these areas, you would assume that you are really in the countries of origin of the inhabitants. There is very little integration if any except for the French language they speak. Under such conditions, another Obama will never emerge.
I know there are others reading this posting thinking that I am trying ask my people to give up their culture. Its not politically correct to say this. But the reality is that the moment we packed our bags and joined the long queues at the Western Embassies applying for visas, we are making a statement. The statement is that we do not like where we are or seek to go somewhere to get something that our societies cannot provide us. However, if we are lucky to travel, we try to relive the very societies we thought were not fulfilling or providing the opportunities we think are necessary to achieve that which we wished for ourselves. We cannot eat our cake and have it.
How many have taken it upon themselves to vote, volunteer at food banks, shelters, volunteered at schools or joined demonstrations for social justice in our host countries. We try to assume that those problems are the “their” problems. But in the end, it also becomes ours too.
We must learn to integrate and learn the tricks of our host culture and take that which is suitable for us and our children. How many of those in the West would like to be Police Officers, Judges, Members of Parliament, Mayors?
One key ingredient in securing a good job in the west is having a reliable reference and if we choose to interact only among ourselves, we are certainly not making it possible to find a credible reference in the mainstream of the societies in which we live. Reference is certainly not given much weight in Africa with regards to employment. One’s diploma was just good enough. However, in the west, a good reference is as good as a Diploma.
The reality we have to come to terms with is that we are not going home anytime soon. So we better make good of the opportunities of our host culture or we will be watching opportunities pass by us.
But another parallel and interesting social evolution I have noticed in the West has to do with the relationship between African immigrants and people of African descent. There seems be no interaction at all between these two social groups both sharing a common heritage yet chose not to seek each other. There is very little interest from both sides in terms of knowing each other’s culture. it’s a sad reality that a people who shared a common tragedy cant find a way of even starting a conversation. I am struck by how little they know of Africa and more so to realize that they also have prejudices about the continent and its people.
I will make a prediction here and that is, reparations will never come until, Africans in the west and people of African descent have fused together. But the biggest elephant will be that Africa as it is today MUST be both economically and politically stable, to exert a unified force in legitimizing the call for reparations for those in the Diaspora. Through out history, those who have been apologized to or compensated for the wrongs against them, have only been able to do so when they attained an advantaged position in the international spheres of influence. That force can only come from an Inter-continental African Government.
The migration of Africans to the west has bigger problems for the continent. With the broken social contract and the resultant migration of the best talents of the continent pushes us back always. I was recently watching a documentary which showed that in a particular hospital in the UK, the number of Malawi Doctors exceeds the total number practicing Doctors in their country of origin. I thought that could not be right.
There is an opportunity for our leaders here. They must understand that well qualified labor is available. But that they can only harness this labor if they are ready to renew the words of the contract and provide a conducive environment for a free flow of ideas. They must be prepared to reward success and open themselves to constructive criticism if we are to succeed. Mistakes are a necessary part of development. The road to success is paved with mistakes and it must be understood that success is a destination that does not exist. In other words, we must strive more than ever before and never feel contended that we achieved a level of success to make us rest on our laurels. it’s a continuous journey that needs to be perfected all the time. What is not acceptable is our unwillingness to learn from our mistakes and be stubborn in the face all common sense practice.
They must also come down from the high chair of patronage and be willing to be of service to their political constituents. Because in the words of the social contract, they would be serving and not served. That shift in political paradigm has to take root in the hearts and minds of every citizen living in every hamlet on that continent. That is the only surest way of ensuring that citizens can demand of their elected representatives and make them accountable for their actions. That capacity is the core to ensuring that government by the people shall not perish.
Until then, our social contracts will always be dishonored and the consequences are out there for all to see. War, famine and lawlessness. In Somalia for example, its been years since a central government has ceased to exist. In the Congo, the number of displaced people are so large that until those poor souls can once again see hope in their lives, that country will forever remain as a wasteland. The atrocities against women by the very people charged to protect life and property is a classic example of failed social contracts. Recently refugees were throwing stones at UN peace keepers for not holding the peace and questioned their very presence in the country.
The world chose to ignore Rwanda and Dafur is blazing right on our front doors and yet no one seems to see the big elephant in the room. The reason is simple. We have nothing to offer which is enticing enough for others fight for justice on the continent. When the Balkans erupted in flames we all saw what happened. When Germany triggered the second world war, we saw what happened. Even in East Timor, the world came together to find a solution but as we speak, Dafur and the Congo are blazing.
We must learn that no amount of outside help will solve our problems. We must take the lead and be resolved in the believe that united we stand and divided we fall. We must also understand that we cannot depend on outsiders to fight our battles for us. That conviction and readiness must be grown within. In the end, we only have each other.
If we don’t, our social contracts will continue to be redefined by history and the biggest enemy is time. Failed social contracts will never lead to improvement in our living standards and whilst the rest of the world is now racing to planet Mars, our continent has not started its journey to the village.
Replies:
Reply author: kondorong
Replied on: 17 Nov 2008 21:08:34
Message:
With reference to my quotation from Kenyatta, i am now leaning on Kaunda of Zambia. I read this years ago. I will need to dig deeper on that quotation. But i am now 75% sure it was Kenneth Kaunda and not Jomo Kentyatta.
Reply author: Dalton1
Replied on: 17 Nov 2008 21:50:25
Message:
Kons
lengthy though..........but the best stuff.
thanks
Reply author: kondorong
Replied on: 17 Nov 2008 22:25:33
Message:
Dalton
Sorry for the lenghty posting. I continue to remind my self that i did not pass English Summary ar the O'Levels. So blame my English Teacher.
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 30 Nov 2008 : 13:40:41
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Kondorong,
An excellent piece of work. You have just exhumed a long buried history never put in such clear perspective. Real good stuff for digest. |
Karamba |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2008 : 10:52:02
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| Great post Kondorong. Thanks for that ... |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2008 : 18:51:32
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| I am humbled by the likes you on Bantaba. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2008 : 20:52:59
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really its a good article, and clearly you can only enrich the bantaba. however note that africa is not the only place were religion is foreign. it came to europe too from the middle east. in Asia almost all the relgions can from India and spread from there. south america also accepted it due to spanish/portugese expansion. this is natural. ethiopia had chritianity/judaism before Islam came to West africa or chritianity went to Europe.
regarding african intellectuals i think there is an obvious observation you are missing. i dont think they or africa are/is suffering from an identity crisis or conflict beteen westernisation or african culture. rather the early intellectuals were reacting to western criticism thats why all the early literature was kind of afro-centric to refute the claims by western colonisers that ''africa had no history etc''. senghore, shiekh anta jobe, soyinka, muzuri, hampate bah, etc if you read their works it has a 'corrective element'' typical of the 1960s when the excitement of new found independence was also very high.
by the way, Taara, is a song in tribute to Alh. Omar Taal i think it is what is played on Radio Gambia everytime before the wollof news on halam.
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Edited by - njucks on 01 Dec 2008 20:56:25 |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2008 : 01:58:56
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Njuks
Your comments noted. In the case of religion, i have infact decided to not make a stand because i embrace a foreign religion.
In the case of Ethiopia, they were practicising Judaism well before any country in Africa except for Egypt. Remember that Queen Sheba was the wife of King Solomon and their son Menelik later became king of Ethiopia. Infcat King Solomon's gold mine pits are still in Ethiopia. This is the main reason why the Rastafarians look up to him as King of Kings, Lord of Lords and conquering Lion of the Tribe of Juda. He is believed to have a a black spot in his palm which some Rastafarians believe to be the mark of the nail on the cross.
Before i travelled to Ehtiopia, i thought every one had a dreadlock and to my suprise, i saw only one in Addis Ababa for an entire week.
Selassie I is a direct descendant of King Solomon and with the founding of the state of Isreal, the Black Jews were repatriated home to their ancestral land much like the case of Exodus from Egypt. I think it was called "Operation Moses".
Again you are right in Ethiopia's importance in Christianity and the oldest church still stnading is the Church of Lalibela which was carved out of a hill. The Ark of the Covenant is also believed to be in Ethiopia including the Flying Carpet of King Solomon who gave it as a present to his son Menelik when he visited him in Judae.
I dont think the wolof song preceding the announcement on Radio Gambia is TAARA. I just cant recollect the name.
Regarding the issue of post independent african literature, you are right in that they tried to offer a different perspective to the continent's history. However, it also went further to seek to not accept western culture. You will find similar writings in Dubois who among others never believed that racial integration was possible in the United States and part of reason advanced by many others leading to the founding of Liberia in 1822.
Slogans like "Africa for Africans" were very popular in the 1960s. Even in tiny Gambia, a motion was introduced to dismiss all western expatriates out of the country and replace them with Gambians. Jawara objected on the basis that there were not enough educated Gambians to replace them. He was right but the likes of Mr. Mbacke who is now a sitting Magistrate in the gambia, then a student at Armitage High School, and many other students of his time in Banjul, have had series of debates on Pan Africanism. It was a fashion then.
In many of those debates, those who spoke aginst "imperialism" seem to attract more applause and ended up as winners. the otherside was just a loosing team.
Others in the US will also reinforce the impossibility of racial integration with the enactment into law the famous "Seperate but Equal" doctrine adopted by the United States Supreme Court. It would take another law suit in "Brown VS Board of Education" for integration to be enforced in public schools.
The like of Seku Toure would go further in the ideals of "eating what we grow". Seku was infact witnessed to have said to Jawara in Pakalinding (Jarra Soma) why he was planting trees that bear no edible fruits as part of the re-forestration programme. The tree that Seku planted is still standing in Pakalinding i believe. It should be in the yard of Chief Buwa Kinteh if i rememeber well or just thereabaout.
Anyway, food for thought. I have not read Senghore or Sheikh Anta Diop but will order their works on Amazon. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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