Kala Nation poll.Should White America force Obama to denounce his Church and Farrakhan.

Copy of Kala Nation poll.Obama mania

Is it fair to ask Senator Barack Obama to den ounce Minister Farrakhan,when White politicians are not asked to denounce controversial White Americans that Black people may threatening.Poll question should Obama have denounced Minister Farrakhan? Yes No Current Results

When this issue surfaced a few weeks ago I figured that figured the majority of people would be able to give Senator Obama the benefit of the doubt.But it seems that White candidates can have past with controversial people that may threaten or offend minority groups who are vulnerable to a majority.Why are people like racist Strom Thurmond given a monument,and the rebel flag flies over the state capital at South Carolina.Bob Jones University until recently had a ban on inter racial couples.Why are not John Edwards made to answer for this?There is a double standard when you do not have any real power in this world,and justice is only for the powerful.Senator Hilary Clinton used to work for open racist Barry Goldwater in her youth.You see as long as the offended group is a minority you don't have to denounce your association with who ever the racist is or was.

The AFRICOM Question.

The following is an official document from the United States Defense Department.It details the United States involvement in the military and political crisis on the continent of Africa:
On February 6, 2007, President Bush directed the creation of U.S. Africa Command. The decision was the culmination of a 10-year thought process within the Department of Defense (DOD) acknowledging the emerging strategic importance of Africa, and recognizing that peace and stability on the continent impacts not only Africans, but the interests of the U.S. and international community as well. Yet, the department’s regional command structure did not account for Africa in a comprehensive way, with three different U.S. military headquarters maintaining relationships with African countries. The creation of U.S. Africa Command will enable DOD to better focus its resources to support and enhance existing U.S. initiatives that help African nations, the African Union, and the regional economic communities succeed. It also provides African nations and regional organizations an integrated DOD coordination point to help address security and related needs.


AFRICOM reflects a more integrated staff structure.A Different Kind of Command
Designers of U.S. Africa Command clearly understand the relationships between security, development, diplomacy and prosperity in Africa. As a result, U.S. Africa Command, or AFRICOM, reflects a much more integrated staff structure, one that includes significant management and staff representation by Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and other U.S. government agencies involved in Africa. The command will also seek to incorporate partner nations and humanitarian organizations, from Africa and elsewhere, to work alongside the U.S. staff on common approaches to shared interests.


Building Partner Capacity AFRICOM is a headquarters staff whose mission entails coordinating the kind of support that will enable African governments and existing regional organizations, such as the African Standby Force, to have greater capacity to provide security and respond in times of need.
The creation of AFRICOM does not mean the U.S. military will take a leading role in African security matters, nor will it establish large U.S. troop bases. Rather, AFRICOM is a headquarters staff whose mission entails coordinating the kind of support that will enable African governments and existing regional organizations, such as the African Standby Force, to have greater capacity to provide security and respond in times of need. AFRICOM will build on the many African-U.S. security cooperation activities already underway, yet be able to better coordinate DOD support with other U.S. government departments and agencies to make those activities even more effective.

U.S. officials are currently in consultation with African leaders on where and what kind of presence AFRICOM should have. AFRICOM Presence
AFRICOM will be headquartered at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany, for the foreseeable future. The staff is examining opportunities to have a presence on the continent, in the form of administrative offices, but only if it adds value to the security assistance that the United States provides, and only in full diplomatic consultation and agreement with potential host nations.


The Way Ahead
AFRICOM is still in its early planning stages. The command began initial operations in October 2007 and is still formulating mission, staffing and location options.
Kalagenesis Responds
If you are any student of history and African history in particular then you would know that the American government cannot be trusted to bring any good to this region of the world.Just look at Iraq.No that was a little to easy.Lets look at Central America,and compared that to Japan in the 80's with South east Asia.We the United States meddled in Latin America in a communist witch hunt for decades spending billions in an endless game of gotcha and cat and mouse games with so called rebels.The result is a weak underdeveloped region with strife,poverty and narco drug trafficking.Is it no wonder why men like Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro rise to power?Japan in the 80's transfered billions of yen in capital to its former wartime colonies during the era of endaga or "powerful yen".Now Japan has regional trading partners for its products,both consumer and industrial.All the while the U.S. was pursuing endless militarist mischief in Latin America.
Now the same incompetent forces want to bring their failures to the African continent.Same thing a place where never ending wars will ensue as surely as I am sitting here.The problem with AFRICOM is first we have a racist White power structure who only wants the same thing from Africa.Cheap raw materials,open markets and a weak decentralized continent.China is growing in influence on the continent in every country China is building infastructure,roads,hospitals,mines,factories,ect.While America still wants the same outdated relationship with the same corupt lackys on the continent.What Bush wants is to bring the command now stationed in Germany under the orders of a European command to Africa.Now there will be no guarantee that the African command will be independent of the European command just play by ear.
If this was truly about America helping Africa then why do they virtually no African American representation in AFRICOM?A nearly lily White advisory board.It seems Bush isn't trying to build brides with Africa and African people with all the recent hoopla can see through this.The African-American and continent Africans want to be free from this yoke of white supremecy,and no matter how they try to dress it up we see it for what it is.The man who is chosen to"lead"AFRICOM is General William 'kip' Ward an African American general,so far the only Black man in AFRICOM.Only one African country said it would host it the was Liberia the long step child of America.Funny how the only female head of state on the great continent was the one that agreed to this.
Where are the African-American leaders,business people statesmen ect?They should be the ones driving AFRICOM,not the same racist imperialist who've ruined Latin America.Pan Africanist this is our time to shine and get involved,because if we build Africa the we are setting ourselves free.

Tavis the Smiling coon.

Recently Senator Barack Obama captured the hearts and minds of the vast majority of African Americans.For a people who are only given illiterate rap singers,ball players and professional fools to look up to and identify with,Obama seems like a godsend.This popularity has brought out the snakes in Black America.Most of us regular people are shocked that the self hate,jealousy,and evil some so called leaders have are trying to undermine his chances for the presidency.We would have expected this from right wing nuts,but from our own people?For personal gain?These traitors have made a fatal mistake.Thanks to the internet,blogs talk radio the real voices of the community is being heard.And what they are hearing is sending them into a terrifying shock.It is one thing to say I disagree with the Senator,but to undermine him out of envy?You may ask how did this happen?I have been saying this for years,that the so called people who claim to speak for us are chosen by outside forces and don't have a clue about what the average Black person thinks.On the net we hear what people are saying.We are not this monolith, but a diverse people with diverse opinion.No so called leader fully represents us.That is the media image making machine.
The person in the Kalagenesis focus tonight is syndicated talk show and television show/author Tavis Smiley.Now I have been following Tavis for some time I remember when he came out with his first book the New Left,I read it,he had some good points in it.But even back then I thought he was kind of fishing for an audience,not having a core value system.This all changed when he got on BET,still his style was not the traditional Black host it was more free bird.He had porn star Heather Hunter on interviewing her giving her prime time and legitimacy.Her career has not stopped since.Recently he took the bold step in bringing all the old time who's who of Black America to "solve" our "problems".Now if you sucked up to Tavis and his crew you got invited.Now you were a big shot in the who's who of Black leadership.Not that anything will ever be accomplished,but the main thing is these people feeeel gooood!They feel like they are doing something and Tavis rights a book and he is the go to person for anyone who want to loot or exploit us economically,socially or politically.There is just one problem no one has ever asked the masses of Black people who should be their spokesperson.Tavis is on spent time and we the Black bloggers are going to show him and the rest of these bought and sold self hating traitors they cant sell us out anymore.
Tavis Smiley decides to convene the Black America State of the Union.I think its 5th year.Point is this meeting was probably good before the Jena six and the growth of Black bloggers.Tavis says he now knows what the heat these bloggers can bring.So what is this all about.It turns out mysteriously he happens to invite Obama on to "address"Black America and discuss "our"issues.Obama said because he is in a heated contest in the next three states,his time is already spent.That was not good enough for the self described emperor of the Blacks.He seemed ready to attack Obama's Black credibility because of it.He miscalculated,Black people are furious.He is now receiving death threats,and hate mail.Black congressmen are changing their support for Clinton,to Obama or neutral.Barack Obama even said he would send his wife Michelle Obama but that was not good enough for Smiley.In light of all of this the question that needs to be asked who is Tavis working for?The answer is the Clintons.This smells of the dirty Clinton tactics and their Black shoe shine boys.John Lewis,Al Sharpton,Bob Johnson.Enough is enough vote for Obama and let free our selves from the traitors and coons who mislead us.


This gentleman dropped it on this subject:

I guess Tavis sees his show as some "official" arm of the election process in which a spouse is neither appropriate nor worthy. Otherwise, why wasn't Michelle Obama an appropriate surrogate for her husband or even a guest worthy of consideration just based on her own merit to discuss the so-called State of Black Americans? Is Hillary Clinton more well-versed on this topic now than Michelle?

And why would a politically astute representative of any constituency risk snubbing the next potential "first lady" and her husband?

Spare me, please, from well-paid televised Negroes who believe they have arrived and therefore can boldly speak for everyone just because they own a mike.

Too bad about not allowing Michelle Obama to appear. I actually would have tuned in to Tavis' "televised" airing of black dirty laundry this year, for a change. I wouldn't have been able to resist the once in a lifetime opportunity to see Michelle Obama take on Hillary Clinton. What a treat that would have been; I feel robbed.

Too bad that Tavis' ego and his inclination to feel personally "snubbed" whenever he is told "no" got in the way of him achieving a major media moment. The media moguls who give him financial backing may well make him re-visit this short-sighted decision so they can maximize returns on their investment in him and this otherwise meaningless annual list-making undertaking.

This all feels too much like grand-standing on Tavis' part, to show that he can pull presidential candidates off the campaign trail in a tightly contested race to attend "his" special events-- as though he has not already had the honor of hosting two televised presidential debates this campaign season. Tavis wants to be a king-maker, the go-to man, and the authoritative mouthpiece for Black America, and it's getting a little tiring.

For me, it's not so much that he hasn't endorsed Senator Obama-- whom I do support wholeheartedly as the best candidate for our country at this point in history. I think Tavis has the right to abstain or to endorse whomever he chooses in this race. But it is his claim of being "neutral" that is annoying to me, while he also serves as the double-sided mouthpiece and hate operative for the Clintons.

With black folks being the target audience that sustains Tavis' media business, he seems too cowardly to come out and support The Clintons against Barack, especially as Barack has earned increasing popularity among black voters. So he pretends to be a "neutral journalist" while consistently planting seeds of doubt about Barack's "black" credentials-- whatever that means in this day and age.

Black people in general and Tavis in particular need to stop marginalizing ourselves as though we are incapable of caring about any other issues or people on the planet besides ourselves. That is small-minded and self-defeating. And God made us bigger than that.

It is his willingness to embrace his greatness that attracts me to Senator Obama. It is his boldness to speak in a broad and healing voice that resonates with the human soul. It is his ability to appeal to and bring forth the best in human nature that makes his leadership transformational. And transformational leadership is what our country needs after 16 years of anger, fear, and confusion.


Tavis went through a bad time a few years back when his show was dropped by BET after Bob Johnson sold that network. Considering their now obvious connections with Bob Johnson, I just wonder how The Clintons might have also played into helping Tavis to get back on his feet after his BET incident. The Clintons are very astute about collecting "friends" and "debtors" who can later be "useful" to them politically, and I suspect Tavis is among them.

Hillary Clinton is an intelligent woman and a capable politician but she and her husband have already served "their" two-term limit. To ask for more and so soon is greedy. It is asking Americans to support a dynasty at a time when we should be trying to act once again like some form of a democracy.

Bush-Clinton2-Bush2-Clinton? And this does not include the two-term VP stint of Bill's good friend, Daddy Bush. Let's hope Tavis inquires about that pattern of national leadership. Why is it that in a country of 300 million people we must be governed for 3 decades by the same two families-- the Bushes and the Clintons? Why is it that in 40 years, and 10 presidential terms, the Democrats have only been able to win 3 terms-- one through Carter and two through Clinton; while now reaching again for another Clinton? Black folks have always been a loyal vehicle for Democrats to ride into the White House, with no accountability for that loyalty. So, I ask that Tavis ask these such questions of his friend, Mrs. Clinton.

Or, are these kinds of broader questions beyond the thinking capacity of black folks?

Thank you.

Dr. N. J. Tate
Charleston, SC
February 17, 2008 5:21 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Greetings Brothers and Sisters;

I appreciate many of the thoughtful remarks that so many took the time to write. Although I don’t have much faith in the American political and economic systems in terms of improving the lives of most African Americans, I really hope that Senator Obama gets the Democratic nomination and makes it to the White House. I view Obama’s run as truly historical, in terms of electoral politics, but not to be compared with the historical relevance of such greats as Malcolm or Martin. I understand Senator Obama is a politician, and as such, he will make compromises that King or Martin would never make and never have to make. Still, based on his record, I give him the benefit of the doubt that he will do more, or attempt to do more, for us than most if not all of the white politicians would, including the Clintons (although I liked Dennis Kucinich’s platform). Some presidents, such as Bush have made the lives of many of us worst off (by the War in Iraq, court appointments, and cuts in social programs). In my opinion, no President, including Bill Clinton, has really improved the lives of most African Americans. Too many of us gave Bill Clinton unconditionally support (until his recent race baiting). But remember, Bill Clinton signed the “three strikes and you are out” legislation that affects mainly African Americans, initiated welfare “reform” that hurt the poor, and approved the unjustified bombing of a pharmaceutical plant in Sudan, an African country based on erroneous intelligence data that it was a weapons factory. Hillary’s Clinton’s appearance at the State of the Black Union will be because she needs more African American votes, not because of her love or concern for African Americans.

Obama has to strike a delicate balance of trying to attract white support without alienating the Black community. In terms of his securing the democratic nomination, it is more critical for him to campaign in those states where the primary elections are still upcoming. If he is to be elected, he needs more white and Latino votes in those states. He is already carrying over 80% of the African American vote. I do not interpret his absence at the State of the Black Union Conference to be a snub of Tavis or African Americans. Don’t you critics realize that the man is running for President? If he is to run a smart election, then the first thing he needs to concentrate on is getting elected. And he can’t do that just on African American votes. (Is Obama’s absence at the SOBU Conference any different from Tavis Smiley holding his book signing in the New Orleans area at a white owned Barnes and Noble Store on the outskirts of New Orleans rather than at a Black owned book store such as the Community Book Store in New Orleans that is trying to reestablish clientele after Katrina?)

I have always tuned in to the State of the Black Union Conference on C Span, and I registered to attend this year’s conference for the first time, and the day of service that precedes it to help rebuild New Orleans. I know that I will honor my commitment for the day of service. At this point, I am still pondering whether or not to attend the conference itself because of Tavis’ actions concerning Obama. I would appreciate your feedback on attending State of the Black Union.

Peace and Love,
A Brother on the Bayou
February 17, 2008 7:44 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Please sign the petition online to PBS to rid us all of Tavis and his hatred toward the one black man that has EVER gotten this close to the Presidency. He needs to get the hell out of our way!

Sign it and share it! Let this petition speed around the net just like Tavis' hateration towards Obama did.

http://www.petitiononline.com/notavis/petition.html
February 17, 2008 10:09 PM
Blogger YesWeCan_Change4daBest said...

I agree with Dr. Tate from Charleston, SC. I too would have enjoyed watching the State of the Black Union with Michelle Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton... a missed opportunity.
When did Hillary accept Tavis invite to participate in the State of the Black Union? After Feb. 5th?
Another point. Seems like our Sharpton, Jackson Sr, and Smiley "leaders" have lost their voices in supporting a man pursuing what they have failed to achieve themselves. Where is the Keep Hope Alive voice? It makes me wonder: Are they that closely tied to the Clintons? Are they afraid of becoming irrelevant? The Reverends should be singing praises and clapping with joy, why the whisper.
Note, many white women on TV say that they are voting for Hillary because she is a woman (period). A role model for my daughter they say. Why are we Blacks shame to say that we are voting for Obama because he is Black, a role model for our sons and daughters. Barkley said it however, and good for him. Why hold ourselves to a higher standard against ourselves? Don't think we are good enuf yet? We are good enuf and then some! If we know our long history on this earth, then you know I am speaking the truth.

Back to the Clintons. How much do you want to bet that Hillary will pull the sympathy card... Will she cry again? 3x? Bill Clinton said read my lips. I did not have sex with that woman. What do you want in the White House? Transparency. Truthfulness. Integrity.
February 17, 2008 10:34 PM
Blogger YesWeCan_Change4daBest said...

Check out Roland Martin's comment on the matter of which I totally agree. http://essence.typepad.com/news/2008/02/roland-s-mart-6.html (cut and paste url)
Reading it, I found out that Hillary accepted after Feb 5th, ie., when she realized the battle in front of her, rather than a cake walk.

"By the way, when people say that black issues are being ignored in the campaign, they are wrong.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, the nation's most prestigious think tank devoted to African American issues, released a survey showing that the top issues to blacks are the war in Iraq; healthcare; jobs and the economy; and education."
February 17, 2008 11:10 PM

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The Obama Shuffle

It never ceases to amaze me that the world attacks a good Black man and expect him not to strike back.As I go to the primaries tomorrow where I am living,I remember back when I was a kid,I wondered why the most powerful people in the country that I am suppose be equal in none looked like me.I was told this is a White country by taunting classmates go back to Africa if you don't like it.Most of the White kids were from only second generation immigrants themselves,and they felt they were more American than I was.You see although they were Italian,Jewish,German,Polish,Irish,Spanish they were Europeans so they assimilated into this great American civilization with relative ease.I remember in grade school all the kids would bring things in about their native land and customs,but I could not do this my culture was stolen from me in that horrible middle passage during the slave trade.We have every reason to be bitter and angry when thinking of this,and many of the problems we face is still tied to this horror of slavery.
Given America's history can a Black man be president?Well like I have said many times before if you want real answers you have to ask real questions.Barack Obama tran sends race more than any other person in American history.He is truly a good man who happens to be part Black.Someone with character and a good heart.Trust, honesty,values and compassion is what people yearn for, even if many don't agree with his politics.I am a nationalist I don't love America, but I respect the majority of people who do.I want America to be strong but,all I can do is be a law abiding citizen who is loyal to the American republic.Love is asking to much.Barack Obama loves America and sees us a one country.So why is his race an issue?Who says that America is not ready for a Black president even thought Barack's politics,and style is inclusive and nonracial.Well it seems a few prominent people,BET founder Bob Johnson,former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young,and more recently rapper 50cent.
Now I can understand old men like Bob Johnson,and Andrew Young,opposing Obama.It is jealousy and the growing irrelevance of old Uncle Tom hankerchefhead negroes.They are dinosaurs soon to be extinct.The choices for Black people in the future are 3.First choice is to get into nonracial politics like Barack and hope for a progressive colorblind society.The second join in Black politics,economics,unity,cultural and spiritual development.The third keep letting these rappers deceive you into thinking you can hustle,cheat,murder,coon,clown,buffoon and get money.The rappers and the hip hop game is spent they have nothing intelligent to offer,just foolish dreams for short term pleasure.Is that all you want?Some wine,weed,booty,rims,x box,ring tones?Bad health,gangs,AID/HIV,sin,self hate?This is what 50 cent is the master of,this is what the whole modern hip hop is all about.So why does he think anyone will listen to anything he has to say?
The answer is 'Sacred Cows'we dont criticize people in our community who are successful financially.This is because we are not together as one unit.If we were then we would have pools of resources to build our own financial institutions,thus wealth would be the norm so idiots like Bob Johnson and 50 cent would look ridiculous even with all their money.This is how it is in other communities.Their values are not compromised.Let any White celebrity get out of line no matter how rich they will be written off.Remember Jane Fonda?She is viewed as a traitor and still called Hanoi Jane.What 50 cent,Andrew Young,and Bob Johnson did was unforgivable.We would expect that from a redneck moron but from people inside our own community?This shows the level that our people have fallen to.Check this out.Millions of people can watch the most filthy vile garbage everyday on BET(Buffoon Entertainment Television),watch a no good political flunky of Dr King prostitute himself to a hag like Hilary Clinton(his saying Bill Clinton slept with more Black Woman the Obama was a disgrace).And 50 cent someone who rose from being a crack dealer 5 years ago and now makes millions a year,is more popular on the African continent than Nelson Mandela.All of this behavior is considered normal.But a Black man becoming president?I think Obama is to good for this country.If achieving fortune and fame was possible for 50 cent then why does this guy think it is not right for a Black man to become president of the US?I now know who the real haters are,it isn't the angry militants like myself it is the hedonist in the entertainment industry who only want sin, pleasure and their own selfish wants and desires to prevail.They hate any other Black who is not about bling and balling,but unity and bringing everyone up and giving everyone a fair shot at the American dream.I think Obama is that man.So I say 'Yes we can!'
Recent clip of Andrew Young caught cooning and shuffling

Racist taunts at sporting avent draws fines.

In America a country with 40 million persons of African origin still suffering from the mental effects of slavery,jim crow,and racism,does the government have an obligation to protect it's minority citizens from racist taunts,jesters,and threats?In spite of so-called hip hop it seems Whites are becoming more racist towards the average Black American even as they may vote for Barack Obama.In Spain recently two racist sports fan's were taunting motor racer Lewis Hamilton with Black face and Hamilton family shirts.Although the fine was small I have to ask shouldn't we in America be protected from such.You see I believe till an all out race war will America like Europe take racism and anti-semitism seriously.

Lewis Hamiltonon February 5, 2008
Category: Black Britain, African Diaspora, Sport, Racism

Once again Spanish sports fans have lived up to their nasty reputation of being a bunch of racist imbeciles. This time its not football but Formula 1. Yesterday fans blacked up their faces and donned black wigs with the words “hamilton’s family” written on their white t-shirts.

spanish_racist_fans.jpg

According to the reports in the Independent and Guardian the Spanish motor racing authorities have “condemned the racist taunts” against Hamilton. Condemning their actions is easy, actually doing something practical and meaningful is worth a thousand words of condemnation. Why were the racists not physically removed, banned from ever attending another racing event and even arrested for disturbing the peace since the Spanish do not have any laws against inciting racial hatred. The same goes for racism in Spanish football. We only ever get to hear about the high profile cases such as in the 2004 international game with England and the Spanish national coach who described Thierry Henry as that “black shit“. He was fined a measly 3,000 euros (a day’s salary), and Real Zaragossa were fined 9,000 euros when their fans racially abused Samuel E’to of Barcelona. These three incidents do not in any way reflect the real level of racism in Spanish football and the wider Spanish society. The F1 authorities must ban Spain from holding the two Grand Prix’s due to take place in Barcelona and Valencia then maybe the fans will think twice before hurling racist abuse from the terraces whether in F1 or football or any other sporting event.

Tags:

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Fernando Alonso 1

Origin of the Kala Nation.The Nyamakala'The craftmaker system'

Magic and Art in West Africa


West African culture is a fusion of traditional customs and the modern influences of the Western world. The creation myths of these societies give rise to several beliefs and traditions that are governed by what one might call magic.

Magic in West Africa is associated with many different things. In some cultures it is the ability to use witchcraft or to cast spells. Other peoples view magic as a force that transforms. The point is that magic, like the rituals and practices of African cultures, is quite diverse. This diversity can be illustrated if one looks at each of the cultures interpretations of magic and makes some interesting parallels.

The Mande people are very magical in nature. This can be mostly attributed to the nyamakalaw subgroup; an endogamous people who are born with the inherent ability to control nature. The power they are able to wield so well is called nyama. In fact, their name nyama-kala could be translated as handlers (kala) of nyama. The Mande see nyama as a hot, wild energy that is the animating force of nature. Nyama is present in all the rocks, trees, people and animals that inhabit the Earth. It is similar to the Western notion of the soul but is more complete than that. It controls nature, the stars and the motions of the sea. Nyama is truly the sculptor of the universe.

While nyama molds nature into it's many forms, the nyamakalaw can shape nyama into art. The nyamakalaw spend their entire lives perfecting special secret skills that are passed down from generation to generation. The nyamakalaw are the only people in Mande that can use magic and are often skilled as sorcerers, blacksmiths, leather workers or bards.

No matter what occupation the nyamakalaw chose the products they create can undoubtedly be considered art. If a bard plays an instrument and sings, that music is art. If a blacksmith forges an iron staff for the king it is art. The nyamakalaw make a great deal of art for the Mande people but some are more central to their practices than others. A ritual mask like those used in the Ci Wara agricultural celebration is a necessity to the non-nyamakalaw peoples of Mande. As much as the horonw despise the nyamakalaw, they are forced to respect them and their art because it is vital for their own needs.

The full impact of Mande art can hardly be expressed in this web page at the present time. We suggest exploring the wonderfully rendered site Museum of African art.

The Yoruba have a slightly different understanding about magic which they call ase. Ase is also present in all things and can be either good or evil. Our focus on the Yoruba peoples was mostly in the realm of performance or play. This being the case, ase is most closely related to the griots (bards) of the Mande and their ability to make their nyama flow directly out of their body rather than into a sculpture or sword.

Along with ase there is what the Yoruba call aba or the ability to display one's ase. This is central to the performer as the essence of Yoruba play is to relay one's own interpretation of tradition to the audience. Ase, therefore, plays and important role in shaping Yoruba ritual and thus Yoruba society.

Women also possess a special kind of power called aje. This vital force is what enables women to make things happen weather it be childbirth of witchcraft. Just as ase is a transformative power, women with aje are supposedly able to morph their bodies into other creatures. Women in Yorubaland are treated with a great deal of respect which probably stems from, among other things, their magical powers.

As an in class assignment we attempted to interpret the meaning of a Yoruba proverb. We will present the proverb with a short summary of our understanding. What do you think the ancient saying means?

Why do we grumble because a tree is bent,
When, in our streets, there are even men who are bent?
Why must we complain that the moon is slanting?
Can anyone reach the skies to straiten it?
Can't we see that some cocks have combs on their heads,
but no plumes on their tails?
And some have plumes in their tails, but no claws on their toes?
And others have claws on their toes, but no power to crow?
He who had a head has no cap to wear, and he who has a cap
has no head to wear it on.
The owa has everything but a horses stable.
Some great scholars of Ifa cannot tell the way to Ofa.
Other know the way to Ofa, but not one line of Ifa.
Great eaters have no food to eat, and great drinker no
wine to drink:
Wealth has a coat of many colours.

We feel that this proverb reflects some general views of the Yoruba culture. There is an overtone of transformation that is indicative of the Yoruba concept of ase. The proverb is divided into two sections. One asks several questions and the other is the moral of the proverb. The first part questions the individuality of the Yoruba peoples. In one way, the proverb tells of how nature and the People of Yorubaland are one. But the proverb then goes on to say that although the Yoruba should realize they are one people, they are each individuals with their own contributions to society. The second part of the poem emphasizes this fact by stating that the Yoruba need each other to survive. No one person, even the king, can know and have everything. The Yoruba culture is a conglomerate of different people that contribute to the essence of the society.
Back to Yoruba Back to the Mande World

Black Feminist manifesto

Kalagenesis:
Every Black Man & Woman Needs To Read THIS!

January 30, 2008 at 23:30 p · Filed under Uncategorized

Hell, EVERYBODY needs to read this most powerful statement. It needs to be read - carefully.

The Combahee River Collective Statement: Black Feminist Organizing in the Seventies and Eighties

We are a collective of Black feminists who have been meeting together since 1974…involved in the process of defining and clarifying our politics, while…doing political work within our own group and in coalition with other progressive organizations and movements…. [W]e see Black feminism as the logical political movement to combat the manifold and simultaneous oppressions that all women of color face.

1. The Genesis of Contemporary Black Feminism

[W]e find our origins in the historical reality of Afro-American women’s continuous life-and-death struggle for survival and liberation…. As Angela Davis points out, Black women have always embodied an adversary stance to white male rule and have actively resisted its inroads upon them and their communities…. Black, other Third World, and working women have been involved in the feminist movement from its start, but both outside reactionary forces and racism and elitism within the movement itself have served to obscure our participation…. Black feminist politics also have an obvious connection to movements for Black liberation, particularly those of the 1960s and 1970s…. It was our experience and disillusionment within these liberation movements, as well as experience on the periphery of the white male left, that led to the need to develop a politics that was anti-racist, unlike those of white women, and anti-sexist, unlike those of Black and white men. There is also undeniably a personal genesis for Black feminism…. However, we had no way of conceptualizing what was so apparent to us, what we knew was really happening…. Our development must also be tied to the contemporary economic and political position of Black people…. [A] handful of us have been able to gain certain tools as a result of tokenism in education and employment which potentially enable us to more effectively fight our oppression…. [A]s we developed politically we addressed ourselves to heterosexism and economic oppression under capitalism.

2. What We Believe

Our politics evolve from a healthy love for ourselves, our sisters and our community which allows us to continue our struggle and work. This focusing upon our own oppression is embodied in the concept of identity politics…. [T]he most profound and potentially most radical politics come directly out of our own identity…[t]o be recognized as human, levelly human, is enough…. Although we are feminists and Lesbians, we feel solidarity with progressive Black men and do not advocate the fractionalization that white women who are separatists demand…. We struggle together with Black men against racism, while we also struggle with Black men about sexism…. We are socialists because we believe that work must be organized for the collective benefit of those who do the work and create the products, and not for the profit of the bosses…. We need to articulate the real class situation of persons…for whom racial and sexual oppression are significant determinants in their working/economic lives…. [O]ur Black women’s style of talking/testifying in Black language about what we have experienced has a resonance that is both cultural and political…. No one before has ever examined the multilayered texture of Black women’s lives…. “Smart-ugly” crystallized the way in which most of us had been forced to develop our intellects at great cost to our “social” lives…. We have a great deal of criticism and loathing for what men have been socialized to be in this society…[b]ut we do not have the misguided notion that it is their maleness, per se–i.e., their biological maleness–that makes them what they are.

3. Problems in Organizing Black Feminists

The major source of difficulty in our political work is that we are…trying…to address a whole range of oppressions…. We are dispossessed psychologically and on every other level, and yet we feel the necessity to struggle to change the condition of all Black women…. If Black women were free, it would mean that everyone else would have to be free since our freedom would necessitate the destruction of all the systems of oppression. Feminism is, nevertheless, very threatening to the majority of…people because it calls into question some of the most basic assumptions about our existence, i.e., that sex should be a determinant of power relationships…. We feel that it is absolutely essential to demonstrate the reality of our politics to other Black women and believe that we can do this through writing and distributing our work.

4. Black Feminist Issues and Projects

The inclusiveness of our politics makes us concerned with any situation that impinges upon the lives of women, Third World and working people. We are of course particularly committed to working on those struggles in which race, sex and class are simultaneous factors in oppression…. One issue that is of major concern to us and that we have begun to publicly address is racism in the white women’s movement…. Eliminating racism in the white women’s movement is by definition work for white women to do, but we will continue to speak to and demand accountability on this issue…. As feminists we do not want to mess over people in the name of politics…. We are committed to a continual examination of our politics as they develop through criticism and self-criticism as an essential aspect of our practice.

(Excerpts from: The Combahee River Collective Statement, 1986)
Kalagenesis response:
Above is all the evidence of the damaging influence of the so called Black feminist movement.I told the world in several blog post that the Black females were duped into a man hating ideology that did nothing to empower Black women only convince some that men are evil and not needed anymore.They rail against capitalism,so let me get this straight some uneducated nobody who did not have the brains to put together a hot dog stand should share the profits that the owner who had vision and courage to give people what they need and earn a living.What if he created 100 hot dog stands then he should be that much richer.This is the reason why feminism was rejected by White women,Asian,Latina,because they know that they ultimately want to marry that rich doctor and have that second vacation house in Florida.The American way prevailed and the whole counter culture movement of the 60's died with the feminist movement.
These so called progressive movements although faded in White America the took root in a vulnerable Black community.The Black female took this childish adolescent belief about male oppression to the extreme and it played right into the hands of enemies to Black America.More Black feminist are realizing that they are alone and are coming back to the community.We need them.Lets start all over.

Arrested Development.Is real Black history being taught?

What is Black History Month?Well if you ask corporate America it is another money making scheme to-1)make a lost miserable people feel good about themselves for twenty-eight days out of the year-2)make a fortune in television documentaries,clothing,books,dvds,ect of fallen heroes and old sad painful events we have not fully recovered from.I remember when I was a kid and I would watch black and white film clips of our people being beaten in the deep south,the water hoes on demonstrators,dogs biting little girls and Id say that was along time ago.But as I got older I realized that all that wasn't long ago it was very recent.This is why after 400 years a new type of oppression has taken root and we are looking for the future to save us.Our development has been arrested because we as Black people don't control our destiny.Think about that for a moment.We are facing genocide in the most advanced civilizations ever created.The leading cause of death among young Black males is homicide.We are 60 times more likely to die from murder than any other group.Our life expectancy is on the level of a third world country.History is supposed to tell us of triumph as well as the peril.What did the civil rights era do?It seems very little.The biggest misconception about our history is we were all sitting in the back of the bus until about1964 then some good White folks came along and passed some bill and set us free.What our ancestors wanted was real freedom.The freedom that might hurt some White folks feelings and pocketbooks.This is what all of the real Black leaders fought for,Marcus Garvey,WEB Dubious,Elijah Muhammad ,Malcolm X.How are they going to give us the shortest month of the year,and say our history is taught.You see if someone else is creating,writing,and producing your history then they set your agenda and control your future.
It is so disturbing how almost all of the rappers have abandoned their roots.Tell me when you heard Paul Robeson,mentioned in lyrics.Remember Queen Latifah's 'Ladies First'or Krs one'You Must learn?'All did their part in talking about our history.These were the times when rappers were reaching back into history bringing heroes out of the past to inspire us for the future.If you don't know your history you will repeat it.History gives a people foundation to build on.All people should know their history and be proud of what they've come from.As African-Americans we should know about great past African civilizations.Why?Because the reason why we are dying here in America is because we don't know our true history it has been denied to us.Look at European history(before I go any further I believe all men are brothers and history belongs to everyone)we know enough about the Ancient Greeks,Romans,through movies,books,stories ,paintings,sculptures that we think we were there.How many of us know about ancient Kush?Kanem/Barnu,Ethiopia,the great empires of West Africa,Ghana,Mali,Songhay.What about all the great inventors,educators.You see I believe that Racism comes from ignorance.Most Whites are ignorant of real African-American history that is why they feel superior.We as Black people have to research our history and use the great medium the internet to enlighten The world that we are an important part of the human family,and we deserve more that one month of the year.

Kenya Scores Poorly In Intergration bid.

Kenya Scores Poorly in Integration Bid


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The current impasse in Kenya that ensued from the 2007 general elections is a great disgrace. It clearly demonstrates that not everyone who preaches democracy actually upholds democracy.

When Kibaki quit KANU and formed DP, he demonstrated that he not only valued change and democracy, but was also tired of KANU’s oppression under President Daniel Arap Moi. Kibaki’s unsuccessful attempts to capture presidency were interpreted as a defeat against democracy. Who would have imagined that the champion of democracy would stay put as the blood of Kenyans floods the land reminiscent of El Niño floods? Who knew that Kibaki's version of democracy would lead to violence, internal displacement and flight of citizens to other countries?

When Kibaki defeated KANU by the help of his current enemies; there was neither contention, chaos nor death. The losers accepted defeat despite the fact that they had every machinery to protest and stick to power as he has done. KANU understood that to manipulate the ECK to go against the verdict of Kenyans would result in the destruction of the very citizens they wanted to lead. They respected and valued the wish of the majority and accepted defeat. Afterwards, an official inauguration ceremony was organized. Dignitaries from all over the world were invited to witness this event. This was true democracy.

Who knew that Kibaki who was sworn in the open in 2002 would abuse democracy by being sworn in behind closed doors in spite of contentious results and absence of other heads of states to witness the function? Only president Yoweri Museveni of Uganda congratulated Kibaki. What did he see in Kibaki’s victory that other heads of state did not see? What was he congratulating? The blood shed as a result of Kibakis self proclamation as President? Maybe Museveni based his message of goodwill on war. It is only in war that someone can be congratulated for victory after killing his opponent. Not in elections.

Does Museveni understand democracy after ascending to power using the gun? A man who clings to power using the gun in spite of his waning popularity? A man who tells Ugandans that they can’t withdraw power from him since they didn’t confer it to him in the first place? Can such a person fail to congratulate Kibaki?

The world can now see why Tanzanians have cold feet towards the East African Cooperation. The world can now see the fire we were heading into. If Kibaki would have lit the same fire in the EAC, where would we have run to? Now, Kenyans can run to Tanzania or Uganda. If the entire East Africa was on fire, where would we flee to?


By Msiba Pakia
Pakia is a businessman as well as a writer based in Tanzania


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