Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 12, 2014 News
– Descendants called on to revisit pre-slavery history for future liberation
By Zena Henry
The African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) will today join with the global community
to commemorate African Holocaust/ Maafa Day.
This day, which is observed annually, is considered the single most important day on the global African calendar because it was on October 12, in 1492, that Genoese colonizer Christopher Columbus arrived in the Region, “signaling the unbridled decimation of indigenous culture and people throughout the world.”
Maafa is a Kiswahili term for “Disaster” or “Terrible Occurrence”. Maafa is also the word that best describes the hundreds of years of suffering of people of African descent through Slavery, Imperialism, Colonialism, Invasions and Exploitation. The Maafa uniquely refers to the subjugation, contamination and loss of indigenous African cultures, languages, spiritual beliefs and encompasses the historic and ongoing commercial exploitation of Africa’s human and natural resources through enslavement, colonization and neo-colonialism.
In honour of the many Africans who would have died during this period, the ACDA is hosting a number of activities which would have commenced on Friday last, at noon. Early this morning, the cultural organization conducted its holocaust programme at the Sea Wall Bandstand to usher in the day.
Even more inspiring is the schedule of Dr. Runoko Rashidi, who is in Guyana for the week to give empowering lectures of the African past and present. Rashidi is an anthropologist, historian, writer and lecturer who has worked closely with other like-minded persons such as the prominent Guyanese scholar, Dr. Ivan Van Sertima and Dr. John Henrik Clarke, both deceased.
The Durban Declaration coming out of the World Conference against Racism held in 2001 in Durban, South Africa stated; “We acknowledge that slavery and the slave trade, including the transatlantic slave trade, were appalling tragedies in the history of humanity not only because of their abhorrent barbarism but also in terms of their magnitude, organized nature, and especially their negation of the essence of the victims.”
It was further acknowledged that, “slavery and the slave trade are crimes against humanity and should always have been so”.
ACDA has posited that undeniably, slavery was a criminal enterprise than enriched Europe and killed millions of Africans while destroying their way of life and means to future development. The African Holocaust/Maafa, the organisation asserts, has left its mark on today’s economic, cultural and political inequality of Africans in Guyana.
“This inequality breeds lack of self-esteem among African Guyanese, as well as disrespect and the creation of negative stereotypes of African Guyanese.”
ACDA contends that discrimination in Guyana has been historical and purposeful.
It says the genocide rate for slavery throughout the British colonies was approximately 85 percent in Guyana and because of the harshness of the terrain, a higher percentage of people were believed to have died.
“It should be remembered that Africans cleared 15,000 square miles of Guyana (18 percent of the country) just to create the plantations. History has also recorded ‘In the process of building Guyana’s economy during enslavement, Africans installed 2,580,000 miles of drainage canals, trenches and inter-bed drains; 3,500 miles of dams, roads and footpaths; 2,176 miles of sea and river defence.’”
To build the coastal plain alone, a value of 100 million tons of earth had to be removed by the hands of Africans without machinery. “Africans had already built the infrastructure for the plantations and Guyana before Indentured Servants arrived in Guyana.”
ACDA has called on all Guyanese to come out in observance of “this historic catastrophe”. The Association has made a special appeal to especially young Afro-Guyanese to take part in the re-education process towards knowledge of self.
The body during a press conference last week, emphasised that a lot of the information disseminated by colonials was purposely inaccurate, while a lot of pertinent information relevant to the development of African people has been omitted in modern-day teachings and must be brought to light with those with the requisite knowledge.
It is for this reason that Dr. Rashidi will be making his third visit to the country.
Dr. Rashidi, along with several other prominent African scholars, was recently featured in the three-part documentary, ‘Hidden Colours’ created by American director Tariq Nasheed.
The documentary sought to highlight the contributions of Africans since the creation of time and subsequent.
It has been recognized that for centuries, there has been an “obvious” effort to “erase or keep hidden” the truth about African contributions to global civilizations and contemporary developments. Dr. Rashidi has for many years been teaching the truth about African civilizations and their contributions. He has written several books following research conducted in countries around the world. His work, like many other African anthropologists and researchers has challenged the work and teachings of many European recognized scholars who sought to make sense of African civilization, its origins and contributions to world development.
Today, at 1800h (6 p.m.), a dinner reception will be held at the Akwaaba Centre, Thomas Lands, in honour of Dr. Rashidi. His first lecture was held on the East Coast of Demerara yesterday and several other lectures are scheduled for venues around the country. ACDA is providing further information at 218-0151 or contact Sister Penda Guyan of ACDA’s Education Management Committee at 661-2884.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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