#africa for the africans at home and abroad

[blackstarlineage]

African Resistance Movements Against Colonialism: A Garveyite Perspective

“Rise Up, Ye Mighty Race!”—The Spirit of Resistance and Liberation

Introduction: The Garveyite Lens on African Resistance

Marcus Garvey, the great Pan-Africanist and leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), championed African self-determination, unity, and economic independence. His teachings emphasized that colonial rule was not merely a political imposition but a spiritual and economic stranglehold that sought to erase African sovereignty and dignity.

From a Garveyite perspective, African resistance to colonialism was not just about territorial control—it was about reclaiming African identity, self-sufficiency, and the destiny of the Black race. The heroes of these movements were not just warriors but visionaries who embodied Garvey’s call: “Africa for the Africans, those at home and those abroad!”

1. Early Resistance: Fighting for Ancestral Lands and Autonomy

Before European colonization took full control, African kingdoms and societies fiercely resisted foreign domination. Many of these struggles were aligned with Garvey’s ideals of self-reliance and strong leadership.

The Ashanti Wars (1823–1900, Ghana): The Ashanti Empire, led by rulers such as Asantehene Prempeh I and Queen Yaa Asantewaa, waged multiple wars against the British. Yaa Asantewaa’s leadership in the 1900 War of the Golden Stool exemplified the defiant spirit Garvey championed: African women and men leading their own struggles, refusing foreign rule.

The Zulu Resistance (1879, South Africa): Under King Cetshwayo, the Zulu military defeated British forces at the Battle of Isandlwana, a powerful example of African strategic brilliance. Garvey would have seen this as proof that African people, when united, could stand against European imperial forces.

The Maji Maji Rebellion (1905–1907, Tanzania): A widespread uprising against German rule, where different ethnic groups united under spiritual leadership. It echoed Garvey’s belief in unity as the key to liberation.

These wars proved that Africa was never passively colonized. The struggle for sovereignty was present from the beginning.

2. Pan-Africanism and the Rise of Organized Resistance

As colonial rule tightened, African resistance evolved into more structured political movements. This shift aligned with Garvey’s vision of a global African awakening.

The Ethiopian Resistance (1935–1941): Emperor Haile Selassie’s defiance against Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia was a monumental moment for Pan-Africanists worldwide. Garvey saw Ethiopia as a symbol of unbroken African sovereignty, and Selassie’s resistance was a rallying cry for Black liberation worldwide.

The Mau Mau Uprising (1952–1960, Kenya): The Kikuyu-led Mau Mau rebellion against British rule was one of the most militant anti-colonial struggles. It embodied Garvey’s call for Africans to seize their freedom by any means necessary.

The Liberation of Ghana (1957): Kwame Nkrumah’s leadership in achieving Ghanaian independence was a direct continuation of Garvey’s ideals. Nkrumah, deeply influenced by Garveyism, declared: “The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of the African continent.”

These movements reflected Garvey’s belief that African unity and self-determination were inevitable forces that colonial powers could not suppress forever.

3. The Role of African Diaspora and Garvey’s Influence

Garveyism was not just a philosophy—it was a movement that connected the struggles of Africans on the continent with those in the diaspora.

Caribbean and American Influence on African Liberation: Many African revolutionaries were inspired by Pan-Africanist movements in the Caribbean and the U.S. Leaders like Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya), Julius Nyerere (Tanzania), and Nkrumah (Ghana) studied abroad, where they encountered Garvey’s teachings and applied them to their home struggles.

UNIA’s Impact on Black Consciousness: Garvey’s UNIA spread ideas of African nationalism, economic self-reliance, and military resistance. His vision of a self-sufficient Africa influenced independence leaders and fueled anti-colonial activism.

The Back-to-Africa Movement: While most Africans did not physically return to Africa, Garvey’s message inspired a psychological return—one that led to a reconnection with African identity, history, and the fight for sovereignty.

The African resistance movements were never isolated struggles. They were part of a global Black awakening, demanding not just freedom from colonial rule but also a reclamation of dignity and economic power.

4. Lessons from Garvey for Today’s Africa

Garvey’s vision remains as relevant today as it was during colonial rule. As Africa continues to navigate neocolonialism—economic exploitation, foreign influence, and internal divisions—the core Garveyite principles remain essential:

Economic Self-Reliance: True liberation means controlling resources, industries, and trade. Modern African nations must prioritize building strong, independent economies rather than relying on foreign aid.

Pan-African Unity: Colonial borders divided Africa, but unity remains the key to true independence. Regional alliances like the African Union must embrace Garvey’s radical call for continental solidarity.

Cultural Reclamation: Garvey understood that mental liberation was as crucial as political liberation. Africa must continue reclaiming its history, languages, and cultural pride to fully escape the psychological chains of colonialism.

Conclusion: The Struggle Continues

Garvey’s cry—"Up, you mighty race, accomplish what you will!"—remains a guiding light. The resistance against colonialism was never just about defeating European powers; it was about the restoration of African sovereignty, pride, and unity. The struggle continues today in economic policies, cultural narratives, and the fight against neo-colonial forces.

Garveyite thought reminds us that true liberation is not just about removing the colonizer’s physical presence—it’s about ensuring that Africa stands tall, self-sufficient, and united in its destiny.

Africa for the Africans—Yesterday, Today, and Forever!

[thelostdreamsthings]

‼️Real Reasons why Gaddafi was killed

1. Libya had no electricity bills, electricity came free of charge to all citizens.

2. There were no interest rates on loans, the banks were state-owned, the loan of citizens by law 0%.

3. Gaddafi promised not to buy a house for his parents until everyone in Libya owns a home.

4. All newlywed couples in Libya received 60,000 dinars from the government & because of that they bought their own apartments & started their families.

5. Education & medical treatment in Libya are free. Before Gaddafi there were only 25% readers, 83% during his reign

6. If Libyans wanted to live on a farm, they received free household appliances, seeds and livestock.

7. If they cannot receive treatment in Libya, the state would fund them $2300+ accommodation & travel for treatment abroad.

8. If you bought a car, the government finances 50% of the price.

9. The price of gasoline became $ 0.14 per liter.

10. Libya had no external debt, and reserves were $150 Billion (now frozen worldwide)

11. Since some Libyans can't find jobs after school, the government will pay the average salary when they can't find a job.

12. Part of oil sales in Libya are directly linked to the bank accounts of all citizens.

13. The mother who gave birth to the child will receive $5000

14. 40 loaves of bread cost $0.15.

15. Gaddafi has implemented the world's biggest irrigation project known as the "BIG MAN PROJECT" to ensure water availability in the desert.

16. ‼️Libya used to be one of few countries with sovereign central banks. Muammar Qaddafi, President of the African Union at that time, was planning to issue gold denominated African dinar to replace Francs in Francophone Africa, to help his African brothers from centuries of economic plunder.

[tomorrowusa]

« The reason these colonial wars take a long time is that it’s the aggressor who needs to come to the conclusion that the attack was a mistake. Possibly, the Russians are already there. But they also have to conclude that the cost in blood and treasure is not worth the objective. They’re clearly not there yet. It usually also takes a change of team, unfortunately. And we have no indications of it, which is why the war is continuing. I think we should have a base scenario of some more years. If we get a solution earlier, that would be a bonus. »

— Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski in conversation with editor Ravi Agrawal at Foreign Policy. (archived)

One thing which many people don't get is that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a neo-colonialist war.

Some leaders in South and Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America give Russia a mulligan because Russia didn't have colonies in their regions. They fail to notice that Russia's colonies have been in the "near abroad" – Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Those areas are NOT natural parts of Russia which was just a principality called Muscovy about the size of Denmark at its inception.

As with any colonial war, the imperialist aggressor will keep wasting lives and resources until it belatedly reaches the conclusion that the cost of the war is too high. This can take a while because of the pigheadedness of the leader(s) of the aggressor country.

The US War of Independence lasted from 1775 until a de facto ceasefire in 1781.

Portugal kept fighting wars in its African colonies 18 years after France and Britain began the process of decolonization on the continent. It took the democratic revolution of 1974 in Portugal, with its overthrow of a quasi-fascist régime, to bring the troops home from the now former colonies.

So nobody should expect a quick and easy victory for Ukraine against the former colonial power which is foolishly attempting to subjugate it once again. Driving up the price which Russia has to pay for this geopolitical mistake is the most reliable way to bring this war to an end.

[mariacallous]

Right-wing American Christian groups that oppose sexual and reproductive rights are significantly increasing their spending in Africa, according to a new data analysis published ahead of a U.S. election, which could prove pivotal to abortion access both inside and outside the country.

Research by the nonprofit Institute for Journalism and Social Change (IJSC) found that 17 groups increased their Africa spending by 50% between 2019 and 2022, the most recent year for which data is available. The researchers say the data represents only a handful of Christian Right groups but indicates that they are making an increasingly concerted effort to influence abortion policy internationally as well as domestically.

A 2020 investigation by openDemocracy revealed that $54 million dollars flowed from mostly the same U.S. Christian Right organizations to Africa between 2008 and 2018. In Africa, their activities range from helping like-minded politicians obstruct key reproductive health legislation to supporting domestic groups in their fight against progressive abortion-related court rulings—tactics borrowed from the anti-abortion playbook in the United States.

While abortion laws have slowly liberalized across the continent, reproductive rights advocates say campaigning by American right-wing groups that brand themselves as “pro-family” could reverse those changes.

“The work of these groups has multifaceted effects on the continent,” said Martin Onyango, senior legal adviser for Africa at the Center for Reproductive Rights, a U.S.-based advocacy group. “We have seen a proliferation of anti-rights legislation on the continent of Africa, from Ghana to Uganda to Kenya to Malawi. We have groups that are now proposing legislation in parliament to take away fundamental rights—access to reproductive health care—that have been in place on the continents for decades.”

Many of the groups named in the report have close ties to former President Donald Trump and his administration and have influenced Trump on reproductive rights issues. Several are on the advisory board for Project 2025, a set of policy proposals seen the probable playbook for a second Trump term.

American anti-abortion groups have campaigned in Africa for decades in tandem with their fight at home. Bolstered by conservative Republican politicians, the 1973 Helms Amendment, which limits the use of U.S. foreign aid for abortion, was passed after the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling. President Ronald Reagan then enacted the Mexico City policy, known as the global gag rule, which restricts U.S. funding to any international organization that provides, or even counsels on, abortion. The U.S. Christian Right has found Africa, with its strong tradition of Evangelical Christianity, fertile ground for further promoting and spreading its ideology. The result is a global movement that unites anti-abortion groups, religious leaders, and politicians around a common goal: eliminating the right to safe, legal abortion services worldwide.

Despite some liberalization, abortion remains highly restricted in many African countries. As of 2022, abortion was essentially illegal in six African countries and permitted only to save the life of the mother in another 13 countries.

Research has shown that banning abortions increases maternal mortality due to unsafe abortions. As of 2019, sub-Saharan Africa had the highest abortion case-fatality rate of any world region, at roughly 185 deaths per 100,000 abortions, a total of 15,000 preventable deaths every year.

Uganda’s Penal Code prohibits abortion except to save the mother’s life. In 2015, the Ministry of Health approved standards and guidelines on the provision of safe abortion, but those were quickly withdrawn. Onyango says this was partly due to lobbying by right-wing groups, including Family Watch International (FWI), a fundamentalist Arizona-based Christian organization whose spending in Africa increased nearly five-fold from 2019 to 2022.

Court cases challenging the withdrawal of those guidelines have not yet been heard, says Onyango.

“When they’re set for hearing, the bench is quickly reconstituted and the exercise starts again from ground zero,” he said. “And it is not by default. It is by clear design that that conversation is not intended to be concluded.”

According to reproductive rights advocates, American right-wing groups are playing the long game in Africa.

“Kenya, Uganda, Ghana appear to be the epicenter of a lot of anti-rights action, and that is where they build a lot of their strategy before exporting them to other countries. … When they leave Kenya, they go down to Malawi, and they replicate the same actions,” said Onyango.

Abortion was illegal in Kenya until 2010, when a new constitution permitted the procedure in a handful of circumstances, including during emergencies or if the life or health of the mother is in danger. Subsequent court decisions allowed abortions in cases of rape and incest and expanded the definition of “health” to include mental health.

But access remains limited, and studies have shown that most Kenyans have limited or inaccurate knowledge of their country’s abortion laws and policies. The legal landscape is confusing, even for medical providers who hesitate to perform the procedure to avoid criminal prosecution.

Ever since Roe v. Wade was overturned in the United States in 2022, reproductive rights advocates have worried that the same thing could happen in Kenya.

“We export a lot of our values and cultures from the United States, so the Roe v. Wade decision was completely misinterpreted here, because in our setting what we got was that abortion has been made illegal in the United States. That’s the message that we got because Roe was overturned,” said Dr. Ernest Nyamato, associate director of quality of care at the reproductive health care nonprofit IPAS.

In Kenya, a conservative group called the Kenya Christian Professionals Forum (KCPF) is appealing two recent court decisions: one affirming that abortion is a fundamental constitutional right, making the arrest of patients and providers illegal, and a second upholding the constitutional right to access abortion when there is a risk to the pregnant person’s health.

The KCPF’s chairperson, Charles Kanjama, denies receiving funding from any American organizations. But its annual report shows that its parent organization, the African Christian Professionals Forum (ACPF), was sponsored in 2023 by FWI. That same year, FWI’s president, Sharon Slater, was a featured speaker at ACPF’s annual conference.

FWI said it was unable to provide comment on this story within the requested time frame.

Part of the challenge of tracking the funding flows is a lack of transparent documentation. “We’re treating what we found as the tip of the iceberg,” said Claire Provost, co-founder of the IJSC. “We didn’t capture all funding from U.S. anti-rights actors into Africa. It’s a diverse and evolving ecosystem, with new organizations being set up all the time.”

The influence of these groups is clearly visible. Their members share training materials with African organizations, travel to the continent for conferences, and sponsor events such as Kenya’s March for Life, an annual demonstration against abortion, says Saoyo Tabitha Griffith, a Kenyan lawyer and women’s rights advocate.

In 2019, Nairobi hosted the ICPD25, a global population and development conference. Across the street from the venue, a few hundred people gathered in opposition to sexual and reproductive rights, including several groups tracked by the IJSC.

Former Trump administration delegates, including Valerie Huber, who was U.S. special representative for Global Women’s Health, were also there. Huber was a chief architect of the Geneva Consensus Declaration, a document submitted by the United States to the United Nations that encourages governments to improve women’s health care without abortion. She now travels across Africa promoting anti-abortion ideology for her nonprofit, the Institute for Women’s Health (IWH), another Project 2025 sponsor.

In a statement, an IWH spokesperson wrote that no IWH funds had been spent in Africa, other than for routine travel expenses, and that IHC has not provided any grants to African groups or individuals, is not partnering in Kenya, and has no plans to increase spending in Africa.

Huber hopes “to improve health and thriving for women, their children, their families, and their communities through high-quality, research-based policy guidance to nations,” the spokesperson wrote.

America’s global abortion policy seesaws back and forth depending on which party holds office, and Griffith said she witnessed years of damaging changes during Trump’s presidency. “I do not think I want to even imagine what a Trump reelection would mean for the women of Kenya,” she said.

[ptseti]

AS BLACK PEOPLE AFRICA’S OUR HOME!

Pan-African icon Marcus Garvey once said, ‘Africa is for the Africans at home and abroad.’ Well, the message is being heard loud and clear in this interview with Shakina Chinedu, who left the UK for Africa.

She’s a member of the African Diaspora Returnees Association and explains her decision to make Gambia her new life. Despite being born in the UK, she says her family were never fully ‘accepted’ in society. There’s also a few choice words for the reporter who pedals negative cliches about Africa.

Of course, the diaspora returning to the motherland is nothing new. As early as 1887, the Kansas African Emigration Association sought to repatriate Africans from the United States in order to build ‘a United States of Africa for the elevation of the African.’

Shakina does a good job explaining why making the move has been worthwhile for her. Yes, there’s sacrifice. But as she puts it, ‘If you think the West was paved in Gold, it wasn’t.’ Africa likes her and she likes Africa. What’s not to like?

[madamlaydebug]

On this day in 2021...

R.I.P.

Go well … you have fulfilled your purpose 💕https://www.patreon.com/RunokoRashidi

RUNOKO RASHIDI

Runoko Rashidi is an anthropologist and historian with a major focus on what he calls the Global African Presence--that is, Africans outside of Africa before and after enslavement. He is the author or editor of twenty-two books, the most recent of which are My Global Journeys in Search of the African Presence, Assata-Garvey and Me: A Global African Journey for Children in 2017 and The Black Image in Antiquityin 2019. His other works include Black Star: The African Presence in Early Europe, published by Books of Africa in London in November 2011 and African Star over Asia: The Black Presence in the East, published by Books of Africa in London in November 2012 and revised and reprinted in April 2013, Uncovering the African Past: The Ivan Van Sertima Papers, published by Books of Africa in 2015. His other works include the African Presence in Early Asia, co-edited by Dr. Ivan Van Sertima. Four of Runoko's works have been published in French.

As a traveler and researcher Dr. Rashidi has visited 124countries. As a lecturer and presenter, he has spoken insixty-sevencountries.

Runoko has worked with and under some of the most distinguished scholars of the past half-century, including Ivan Van Sertima, John Henrik Clarke, Asa G. Hilliard, Edward Scobie, John G. Jackson, Jan Carew and Yosef ben-Jochannan.

In October 1987 Rashidi inaugurated the First All-India Dalit Writer's Conference in Hyderabad, India.

In 1999 he was the major keynote speaker at the International Reunion of the African Family in Latin America in Barlovento, Venezuela.

In 2005 Rashidi was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree, his first, by the Amen-Ra Theological Seminary in Los Angeles.

In August 2010 he was first keynote speaker at the First Global Black Nationalities Conference in Osogbo, Nigeria.

In December 2010 he was President and first speaker at the Diaspora Forum at the FESMAN Conference in Dakar, Senegal.

In 2018 he was named Traveling Ambassador to the Universal Negro Improvement Association & African Communities League RC 2020.

In 2020 he was named to the Curatorial and Academic boards of the Pan-African Heritage Museum.

He is currently doing major research on the African presence in the museums of the world.

As a tour leader he has taken groups to India, Australia, Fiji, Turkey, Jordan, Brazil, Egypt, Ghana, Togo, Benin, France, Belgium, England, Cote d'Ivoire, Namibia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Peru, Cuba, Luxembourg, Germany, Cameroon, the Netherlands, Spain, Morocco, Senegal, the Gambia,Guinea-Bissau,Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar.

Runoko Rashidi's major mission in life is the uplift of African people, those at home and those abroad.

For more information write to Runoko@hotmail.com or call (323) 803-8663.

His website is www.drrunoko.com

[rockislandadultreads]

Read-Alike Friday: African Europeans by Olivette Otele

African Europeans by Olivette Otélé

Africans or African Europeans are widely believed to be only a recent presence in Europe, a feature of our ‘modern’ society. But as early as the third century, St Maurice—an Egyptian— became the leader of a legendary Roman legion. Ever since, there have been richly varied encounters between those defined as ‘Africans’ and those called ‘Europeans’, right up to the stories of present-day migrants to European cities. Though at times a privileged group that facilitated exchanges between continents, African Europeans have also had to navigate the hardships of slavery, colonialism and their legacies.

Olivette Otele uncovers the long history of Europeans of African descent, tracing an old and diverse African heritage in Europe through the lives of individuals both ordinary and extraordinary. This hidden history explores a number of questions very much alive today. How much have Afro-European identities been shaped by life in Europe, or in Africa? How are African Europeans’ stories marked by the economics, politics and culture of the societies they live in? And how have race and gender affected those born in Europe, but always seen as Africans?

Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

In this brilliant book, Isabel Wilkerson gives us a masterful portrait of an unseen phenomenon in America as she explores, through an immersive, deeply researched narrative and stories about real people, how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system, a rigid hierarchy of human rankings.

Beyond race, class, or other factors, there is a powerful caste system that influences people’s lives and behavior and the nation’s fate. Linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, Wilkerson explores eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations, including divine will, bloodlines, stigma, and more. Using riveting stories about people—including Martin Luther King, Jr., baseball’s Satchel Paige, a single father and his toddler son, Wilkerson herself, and many others—she shows the ways that the insidious undertow of caste is experienced every day. She documents how the Nazis studied the racial systems in America to plan their out-cast of the Jews; she discusses why the cruel logic of caste requires that there be a bottom rung for those in the middle to measure themselves against; she writes about the surprising health costs of caste, in depression and life expectancy, and the effects of this hierarchy on our culture and politics. Finally, she points forward to ways America can move beyond the artificial and destructive separations of human divisions, toward hope in our common humanity.

On Savage Shores by Caroline Dodds Pennock

We have long been taught to presume that modern global history began when the "Old World" encountered the "New", when Christopher Columbus “discovered” America in 1492. But, as Caroline Dodds Pennock conclusively shows in this groundbreaking book, for tens of thousands of Aztecs, Maya, Totonacs, Inuit and others —enslaved people, diplomats, explorers, servants, traders—the reverse was true: they discovered Europe.

For them, Europe comprised savage shores, a land of riches and marvels, yet perplexing for its brutal disparities of wealth and quality of life, and its baffling beliefs. The story of these Indigenous Americans abroad is a story of abduction, loss, cultural appropriation, and, as they saw it, of apocalypse—a story that has largely been absent from our collective imagination of the times.

From the Brazilian king who met Henry VIII to the Aztecs who mocked up human sacrifice at the court of Charles V; from the Inuk baby who was put on show in a London pub to the mestizo children of Spaniards who returned “home” with their fathers; from the Inuit who harpooned ducks on the Avon river to the many servants employed by Europeans of every rank: here are a people who were rendered exotic, demeaned, and marginalized, but whose worldviews and cultures had a profound impact on European civilization.

The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber

For generations, our remote ancestors have been cast as primitive and childlike—either free and equal innocents, or thuggish and warlike. Civilization, we are told, could be achieved only by sacrificing those original freedoms or, alternatively, by taming our baser instincts. David Graeber and David Wengrow show how such theories first emerged in the eighteenth century as a conservative reaction to powerful critiques of European society posed by Indigenous observers and intellectuals. Revisiting this encounter has startling implications for how we make sense of human history today, including the origins of farming, property, cities, democracy, slavery, and civilization itself.

Drawing on pathbreaking research in archaeology and anthropology, the authors show how history becomes a far more interesting place once we learn to throw off our conceptual shackles and perceive what’s really there. If humans did not spend 95 percent of their evolutionary past in tiny bands of hunter-gatherers, what were they doing all that time? If agriculture, and cities, did not mean a plunge into hierarchy and domination, then what kinds of social and economic organization did they lead to? The answers are often unexpected, and suggest that the course of human history may be less set in stone, and more full of playful, hopeful possibilities, than we tend to assume.

[readingsquotes]

The solidarity movement between American labor and international activists is nothing new. The American Federation of Labor (AFL) boycotted Nazi goods in 1933 and the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. In 1984, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 10 stood up against apartheid in South Africa and refused to unload South African goods for eleven days. In 2023, as the mass killing of Palestinians in Gaza began in earnest, the former head of ILWU Local 10, Larry Wright, said, “It’s really important that the unions come out and oppose this terrible violence on the Palestinians.”

...Mancilla clarified why the UAW in particular would care about this international issue: “Our union has a long history of being very vocal against human rights abuses and wars and foreign conflicts. And the reason why is because we are directly implicated. And then our taxpayer money pays for political backing and weapons and military sources that a lot of states that infringe upon human rights commit.”

...Similarly, Parul Koul, the president of the Alphabet Workers Union, observed that, after months of watching videos and seeing photos of IDF killings in Gaza, Americans seem to be slowly re-learning the importance of international solidarity. “In the United States, we’re often fed this narrative that what’s happening abroad isn’t really related to us,” Koul, who helped organize tech workers at Google, tells The Progressive. “But over the last nine months, people have just had so much education about how the United States’ political machinery is funding the genocide and in doing that, neglecting people’s needs here at home.”

[doorhine]

"On January 6, Sudanese paramilitary leader Mohamad Hamdan Dagalo, better known as “Hemedti”, visited the memorial in Kigali that commemorates the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Hemedti toured the museum solemnly, his sympathy-filled face belying the fact that his paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are accused of similar atrocities in Sudan’s civil war.

Hemedti’s visit to Rwanda was part of a tour to meet African heads of state from late December to early January. South Africa, Uganda, Djibouti, Rwanda and Ethiopia all greeted Hemedti warmly, and Kenya rolled out a red carpet for him.

His tour dispelled rumours that he might be seriously wounded or killed in a conflict in which his fighters have killed thousands of civilians across Sudan, seized homes, looted cars, plundered aid, robbed banks and raped indiscriminately as a weapon of war.

Despite civilians testifying to these atrocities, Hemedti was received across Africa like a head of state, raising fears that he will keep terrorising civilians with regional backing, local monitors and experts told Al Jazeera."

[bougierthanthou]

Why is pro-blackness for some people so African centric? Oprah built a school in South Africa, Kai Cenat pledged to make one in Nigeria. Chaka Bars' "activism" if you can even call it that is also primarily African centric when you go through his instagram. Instead of focusing on issues abroad on a continent you are barely familiar with they could focus on their own backyards. There's plenty of inner city schools Oprah could have invested in. Kai Cenat could contribute to the Caribbean considering that's his background or even his home state. Chaka Bars has this weird hard on for African culture anyway, he should channel more of that energy into the Caribbean that doesn't get the same media attention. Bottom line stop doing a mad dash to Africa and focus on your own.

[blackstarlineage]

The Back-to-Africa Movement: A Garveyite Perspective on Black Sovereignty, Economic Empowerment, and Misconceptions

The Back-to-Africa movement, championed by Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), was more than just a call for physical repatriation to Africa. It was a global movement for Black self-reliance, economic independence, and the restoration of African sovereignty. Garvey envisioned Africa as the political, economic, and cultural headquarters for Black people worldwide, free from European domination.

From a Garveyite perspective, the movement was not just about Black people physically returning to Africa—it was about creating a powerful, unified Black economy, self-governance, and institutions that could free the African world from white supremacy. However, misconceptions and deliberate misinformation have attempted to downplay Garvey’s mission, reducing it to a failed “back-to-Africa dream” rather than an ongoing revolutionary struggle for Pan-African empowerment.

This analysis will explore:

The origins and historical roots of the Back-to-Africa movement.

The establishment of the Black Star Line and its significance.

The challenges and sabotage of the movement.

The misconceptions surrounding Garvey’s vision.

How the Back-to-Africa movement remains relevant today.

1. The Origins of the Back-to-Africa Movement

The idea of Black people returning to Africa was not new. For centuries, African descendants in the Americas and the Caribbean sought to reconnect with their ancestral homeland after being forcibly taken through the transatlantic slave trade.

A. Early Calls for African Repatriation

Paul Cuffe (1815): A wealthy Black shipowner attempted to help freed African Americans migrate to Sierra Leone

.The American Colonization Society (ACS) (1816): A white-led organization that promoted repatriation—but only as a means to remove freed Black people from the U.S. rather than empower them.

Liberia’s founding (1847): Freed African Americans established Liberia as an independent African republic, but it was under Western influence.

Example: Liberia was not a true African-controlled nation but remained under American and European economic influence, which limited its ability to be a Pan-African stronghold.

Key Takeaway: Before Garvey, most repatriation efforts were either controlled by whites or lacked a true economic plan for Black sovereignty.

2. Garvey’s Back-to-Africa Movement: A Revolutionary Approach

Unlike previous repatriation efforts, Garvey’s vision was not controlled by white interests or limited to a few people migrating to Africa. He saw Africa as the base for a global Black empire that would economically and politically liberate the entire African world.

A. The Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and African Self-Governance

Founded in 1914, the UNIA was the largest Black mass movement in history, with over 6 million members worldwide.

Garvey believed that African descendants must not just return to Africa, but take control of its land, resources, and governance.

He rejected white-led colonial governments and called for an independent, self-sufficient Africa.

“Africa for the Africans, at home and abroad!”

B. The Black Star Line: A Symbol of Economic Power

To make repatriation a reality, Garvey launched the Black Star Line (1919)—a Black-owned shipping company meant to:

Facilitate trade between Africa and the Black diaspora.

Create an independent global Black economy.

Transport African descendants to Africa.

Example: Inspired by white-owned shipping companies like the White Star Line (which operated the Titanic), Garvey sought to prove that Black people could own and control their own industries.

Key Takeaway: The Back-to-Africa movement was not just about migration—it was about building an independent Black economic system to sustain African liberation.

3. Challenges and the Sabotage of the Movement

Despite its success, the Back-to-Africa movement faced fierce opposition from white governments, Black elites, and Western economic powers.

A. U.S. Government Repression and the FBI’s Role

The U.S. saw Garvey as a threat to white economic and political control, leading J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI to target him.

Garvey was convicted on fraudulent mail fraud charges in 1923, leading to his imprisonment and eventual deportation.

The FBI infiltrated the UNIA, sabotaging the Black Star Line from within by planting spies and corrupt officials.

Example: Hoover referred to Garvey as “the most dangerous Black man in America”, proving that the U.S. feared his influence over the global Black population.

B. Internal Divisions and Class Conflicts

Some Black elites rejected Garvey, believing that African Americans should integrate into white society rather than build their own nation.

W.E.B. Du Bois and the NAACP opposed Garvey, calling him a “charlatan” because they favoured Black assimilation over nationalism.

Example: The “Garvey Must Go” campaign led by Black intellectuals played into white supremacist tactics of dividing Black leadership.

Key Takeaway: The movement was crushed not because it was unrealistic, but because white governments and some Black elites feared its potential for true Black power.

4. Misconceptions About the Back-to-Africa Movement

A. “Garvey Wanted to Abandon the Struggle in the U.S.”

FALSE. Garvey did not believe that all Black people had to leave the U.S. immediately—he believed that those who stayed should fight for economic and political power while Africa developed into a global superpower.

Example: Garvey supported Black-owned businesses and self-reliance movements in the U.S., proving that he believed in building Black power everywhere.

B. “The Black Star Line Was a Failure”

FALSE. The Black Star Line was sabotaged by the U.S. government, not by Garvey’s mismanagement.

It proved that Black people could collectively fund and operate global industries.

Example: The concept of Black-controlled international trade lives on today in Pan-African economic initiatives.

Key Takeaway: The Back-to-Africa movement was never just about migration—it was about creating a new world order where Black people controlled their own future.

5. How the Back-to-Africa Movement Remains Relevant Today

Garvey’s vision of Black sovereignty is still critical in today’s world, where Africa is still economically controlled by Europe, China, and the U.S..

To fulfill Garvey’s dream, we must:

Reclaim Africa’s resources – End foreign control over African industries, banks, and governments.

Strengthen Pan-African trade – Black businesses in Africa and the diaspora must work together instead of relying on Western economies.

Develop an independent African financial system – Break free from the CFA Franc and IMF-controlled economies.

Promote African self-reliance – Stop waiting for Western aid and build self-sustaining African industries.

Continue the call for repatriation – Programs like the African Union’s Right of Return policy for African descendants should be expanded.

Final Takeaway: The Back-to-Africa movement is not just history—it is a blueprint for the future of Black power.

Conclusion: The Struggle Continues

Marcus Garvey’s Back-to-Africa movement was about more than just migration—it was about Black sovereignty, economic independence, and self-determination. His vision remains unfulfilled, but the movement is far from dead.

As Garvey taught, true freedom requires land, economic control, and unity among African descendants worldwide.

The fight for a powerful, self-sufficient Africa is still ongoing—and Garvey’s vision remains the key to true Black liberation.

[williamsanderson123-blog]

Nigerian polo players

Polo, often referred to as the "Sport of Kings," has a long and storied history in Nigeria and across Africa. While the sport has traditionally been associated with elite circles in Europe and North America, polo has gained popularity in Africa, attracting players from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Nigerian polo players, in particular, have made significant contributions to the sport both domestically and internationally.

Nigeria boasts a rich polo tradition, with the game being introduced to the country during the colonial era. Today, polo enjoys a dedicated following among enthusiasts and players alike, with tournaments and matches held regularly throughout the country. Nigerian polo clubs, such as the Lagos Polo Club and the Kaduna Polo Club, serve as hubs for the sport, hosting events that attract players and spectators from far and wide.

One of the most notable Nigerian polo players is Ibrahim Dantata. Hailing from Kano State, Dantata is a polo prodigy who has risen to prominence in the sport both locally and internationally. He has represented Nigeria in numerous polo tournaments around the world, showcasing his skill and talent on the field. Dantata's success has helped to raise the profile of Nigerian polo on the global stage, earning him recognition as one of Africa's top polo players.

In addition to Ibrahim Dantata, there are many other talented Nigerian polo players who have made their mark on the sport. From seasoned veterans to up-and-coming stars, these players embody the spirit of polo and contribute to its continued growth and development in Nigeria and beyond.

One of the reasons for the growing popularity of polo in Nigeria is the sport's accessibility and inclusivity. Unlike some other sports that require expensive equipment or facilities, polo can be played in a variety of settings, from grassy fields to sandy arenas. This accessibility has helped to attract a diverse range of players, including those from non-traditional polo backgrounds.

In recent years, there has been a concerted effort to promote polo at the grassroots level in Nigeria, with initiatives aimed at introducing the sport to young people from all walks of life. These efforts have borne fruit, with an increasing number of Nigerian youth taking up polo and participating in local tournaments and competitions.

In addition to domestic polo events, Nigerian players also compete on the international stage, representing their country in tournaments around the world. These global competitions provide Nigerian polo players with valuable experience and exposure, helping to raise the profile of the sport both at home and abroad.

While polo in Nigeria continues to face challenges, including limited resources and infrastructure, the passion and dedication of players and enthusiasts alike ensure that the sport will continue to thrive. With its rich history, diverse talent pool, and growing popularity, Nigerian polo is poised for a bright future on the global stage.

Beyond Nigeria, polo is gaining traction across the African continent, with players from countries like South Africa, Kenya, and Zimbabwe making their mark on the sport. African polo players bring their own unique style and flair to the game, enriching the sport with their diverse perspectives and experiences.

In conclusion, Nigerian polo players are making waves both domestically and internationally, showcasing their skill, passion, and dedication on the polo field. With its rich history, growing popularity, and diverse talent pool, polo in Nigeria and across Africa has a promising future ahead. As the sport continues to evolve and expand, Nigerian polo players will undoubtedly play a central role in shaping its trajectory for years to come.Read More

[jazzy-beats]

“Africa Unite”

Africa unite

'Cause we're moving right out of Babylon

And we're going to our Father's land, yeah

How good and how pleasant it would be

Before God and man, yeah

To see the unification of all Africans, yeah

As it's been said already, let it be done, yeah

We are the children of the Rastaman

We are the children of the Iyaman

So, Africa unite

'Cause the children wanna come home (Africa unite), yeah, yeah

Africa unite

'Cause we're moving right out of Babylon

And we're grooving to our Father's land, yeah

How good and how pleasant it would be

Before God and man

To see the unification of all Rastaman, yeah

As it's been said already, let it be done

I tell you who we are under the sun

We are the children of the Rastaman

We are the children of the Iyaman

So, Africa unite

Afri- Africa unite, yeah

Unite for the benefit of your people (Africa unite)

Unite for it's later than you think (Africa unite)

Unite for the benefit of my children (Africa unite)

Unite for it's later than you think (Africa unite)

Africa awaits its creators (Africa unite)

Africa awaiting its Creator (Africa unite)

Africa, you're my forefather cornerstone (Africa unite)

Unite for the Africans abroad (Africa unite)

Unite...

—Bob Marley and the Wailers

[mariacallous]

Since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin on Friday, the Kremlin has done its best to appear unfazed. But multiple sources close to the Russian authorities have told Meduza that the Putin administration was not expecting the court’s announcement, and that the severe restrictions the warrant puts on the president’s ability to travel abroad could poke holes in the image he tries to project at home.

Meduza has learned that the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue an order for the Russian president’s arrest came as a major surprise to the Kremlin. According to two sources close to the Putin administration, the Russian authorities were unprepared for the situation.

In the leadup to Russia’s 2024 presidential election, the Kremlin planned to present Putin to voters as a “warrior against the West” and a “defender of Latin American and African countries against colonial oppression,” Meduza’s sources said. However, that plan would necessarily involve overseas trips that Putin will now likely be unable to take; because of the warrant against him, the Russian president could theoretically be detained in any of 123 countries. According to sources close to his administration, the Kremlin is unsure how it would be possible to “ensure the security” of the president given the new circumstances.

Meduza’s sources noted that even since Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he has regularly traveled abroad and participated in various forums and summits. In the summer of 2022, for example, he visited Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran, and in the fall, he visited Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Armenia (though it’s true that he hasn’t visited any Western countries since the start of the full-scale war).

According to two sources close to the Putin administration, these trips were very important for domestic propaganda, among other things, because Russia’s pro-government media could cite them while telling citizens that Russia “still has more friends that detractors” and that it remains “one of the pillars of the multipolar world.”

“The restrictions on foreign visits will work in the opposite direction. Before the warrant, [Putin’s] trips abroad were combined with foreign leaders’ trips to Moscow. Now, it won’t be possible to keep having meetings with the same frequency — you can’t constantly invite everybody to come to you,” one source said.

The president’s foreign travel difficulties have already begun: in August 2023, South Africa is slated to host the next BRICS summit, and Cape Town has already said that it’s “cognisant of its legal obligation” regarding the ICC warrant. Putin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, however, has said that the Kremlin has remained “calm” and will “continue working.” (State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, on the other hand, called the warrant “aggression against Russia,” while Russian Investigative Committee head Alexander Bastrykin called for a legal assessment of the decision and for the judges who issued the order to be identified.)

In addition to Putin, the ICC also issued a war crimes warrant against Russian Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, a key figure in Russia’s system of forcibly deporting Ukrainian children to Russia. Sources close to the Kremlin told Meduza that the Putin administration believes The Hague may put out warrants against more Russian officials in the future, such as the Russian-installed governors of the regions from which Ukrainian children have been taken. Even if that does happen, though, the Kremlin doesn’t think it will affect the officials’ lives: “In reality, civil servants don’t travel abroad [during wartime] anyways.”

[ptseti]

JAPAN’S AFRICA STRATEGY Japan is an economic superpower with top-tier military clout. It used to be an imperialist power, but since its defeat in WWII, it’s confined its forces to a defensive posture at home. It’s a key US ally in Asia. It’s widely thought Tokyo has no bases outside of its territory. Wrong. It actually has one - in East Africa. African Stream’s Wambura Mwai breaks down why Tokyo’s modern-day army has, exceptionally, ventured abroad - and why Japan is now busy wooing African countries.

[ausetkmt]

The debate about race following the killing of George Floyd has reverberated across the Atlantic Ocean, spurring the tourism minister of Ghana to appeal to its diaspora, including in the U.S., to "leave where you are not wanted," and return home.

A ceremony marking the death of Floyd was held at the W. E. B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture in the capital Accra during which Barbara Oteng Gyasi made the plea that her country is open to those fleeing racial tensions.

"We gather in solidarity with brothers and sisters to change the status quo. Racism must end. We pray and hope that George Floyd's death will not be in vain but will bring an end to prejudice and racial discrimination across the world," Oteng Gyasi said, according to Ghana Web.

"We continue to open our arms and invite all our brothers and sisters home. Ghana is your home. Africa is your home. We have our arms wide open ready to welcome you home.

"Please take advantage, come home, build a life in Ghana. You do not have to stay where you are not wanted forever, you have a choice and Africa is waiting for you," Oteng Gyasi added after a wreath-laying ceremony last Friday.

The economy got a boost as people flocked to the country for a number of cultural events, such as the music festival AfroChella, to mark the anniversary.

The government in Accra is building on that momentum with another initiative called "Beyond the Return" which aims to encourage investment in Ghana.

"We feel that given the wealth that African Americans and black Americans have, given that spending power, travel budgets of blacks in America, we felt that it's about time that we start that conversation that, instead of moving to any other destination, come back to where you came from," Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of Ghana's Tourism Authority, told NBC this week.

There was a sartorial and cultural connection between the heart of U.S. politics and Ghana this week as Democrats proposed legislation to reform the police in the wake of Floyd's death.

Lawmakers including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wore scarves made from a cloth of colorful geometric Ghanaian designs called kente which had been given to them by the Congressional Black Caucus.

"The significance of the kente cloth is our African heritage and for those of you without that heritage who are acting in solidarity," Karen Bass, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said, according to the BBC.

Meanwhile, the appeal by the Ghanaian government to its diaspora from across the Atlantic Ocean is likely to get stronger.

Lakeshia Marie Ford started coming to Ghana in 2008 as part of a study abroad program through her alma mater, Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. She has lived in the country permanently for five years and is founder of the Accra-based public relations company Ford Communications.

"In terms of identity, I felt freer in Ghana. As a Jamaican-American woman, there were so many cultural similarities," she told Newsweek.

"Having that foundation as a 20-something year old allowed me to pay attention to the environment and look at how I can add value to the space, as opposed to fighting racism, as I would probably be doing in the United States."

Attracted by a fast-pace emerging economy, she said that people can bring to life dynamic ideas a lot quicker in Ghana than in the United States.

"An emerging market needs a range of skills," she said, which meant, "you can find a space for yourself regardless of the level you are at, and still make an impact."

"Africa has always been the future, and our predecessors know that well. For my generation, if we in fact answer the call to explore achieving our dreams in Africa, specifically Ghana in this case, Ghana will experience a brain gain.

"Having black people in the diaspora come to Ghana is the dream. I think it's important to also develop structures and capacities in the country to support the call.

"That effort could also include socially sensitizing Ghanaian citizens so that everyone is radically focused on the bigger picture of the commonality between Africans and African diasporans and the effort to achieve true sustainable socio-economic development for Ghana and black people who would be new residents," Ford told Newsweek.

--------------------------

Before you embark to West Africa looking for a new home, a lil advice:

study the area you are interested in returning to

do your dna testing with a dna test agency that has African Aliels such as https://africanancestry.com/

SAVE SAVE SAVE - money shrinks when you travel so take as much as you can because you don't know what may catch your eye

Make a few friends in your chosen destination and learn more about the local culture so that when you visit you're more aware of your surroundings and possibilities - this helps you to not be a victim. travel scams in Africa do happen just like everywhere else.

Check all the Visa Requirements, make sure your passport is valid for at least a year post travel to prevent any problems with visas.

Check with your local Travel Health Clinic to be sure of what meds you may need before departure, as well as what you may need to take with you in case of need. Lariam is a common med that is used for Malaria and usually taken as it's more difficult to get once you are there

Take a copy of all your travel documents, on your phone; as well as photocopies; and email a safety copy in the event of need

Don't Use Air BnB because they are horrible and poorly managed in Africa. stick to a traditional hotel for both comfort and safety.

Plan your trip knowing it will be wonderful and you will be making the journey of a lifetime. Travel with a heart full of gratitude and wonder because You are Going Home, hopefully.

Questions on Travel to the Tropics or Africa - Hit Me Up and I'll give you my experience and help with your planning. Just message me here on Tumblr and I'll hit you right back

Remember This is The mindset of an explorer so get out there and find yourself an adventure