RASTAFARI PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE: THE AZANIAN REALITY AND CONTEXT

A Rastafari person is a Black Power person who stands up for the rights of African people everywhere. That is how it was and that is how it is. That is how it is supposed to be. It is a Black Power person standing up for the rights of African people, based on what was done to African people by the Europeans. Mama Africa was invaded and the people were taken away and scattered all over the world for more than five hundred years. They have been abandoned and left in the Western Hemisphere for more than five hundred years. They are still in captivity today. So a true Rastafari person is a Black Power person standing up for the reparation and repatriation of African people everywhere. Mama Africa was robbed and has not been repaid. The reparation is to be paid to Mama Africa. BABA MARCUS

The 2nd November 1930 mark the beginning of the new chapter, new age, new consciousness and a new personality, emanating from the loins of Afrika, with the blessing from our history, truth and anciency. The crowning of King and Queen of Ethiopia, Qadadamawi Haile Selassie I and Empress Menen Asfaw, resurrecting the ancient throne of King Ori, the most ancient seat of governance and authority on this earth. This was the fulfillment of the wishes of Afrikan people who were, and still are, crying and yearning for the restoration of Afrikan self and our motherland Afrika, back to its ancient glory. It ushered in a time in history where Ethiopia became central in the lives of Black people here at home and abroad, especially those who wanted to free themselves from colonial domination, European and Arab imperialism and alienation. This was a time when the whole of Afrika and Afrikan people were colonized and subjugated by European and Arab colonialists, millions of Afrikan people were taken from Afrika to the foreign lands by force against their own will, to be enslaved in America, Europe and in the Arab world, to be used and misused for the benefit of our oppressors. Ethiopia was the only unconquered territory in Afrika. By virtue of being inspiration and motivation to many Afrikans because its an ancient Kingdom of Afrika, a pride and glory of Black people, and also of bravery displayed by the Ethiopians against the invading colonial forces, like the Italian invasion during the reign of Emperor Menelik and Empress Taitu where colonial invaders was defeated by an Afrikan army in the historic battle of Adua in 1896.

Azanian/Ethiopian Consciousness Here in Azania before even the coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Menen I in 1930 we had a nation which pride itself of its Ethiopian-ness and the determination to seek the true Afrikan personality, which reflect our values, interests and principles with a meaning in life, and project the essence of our own Afrikan being. The rise of this ancient spirit within Afrikan people led Afrikan people to initiate and build movements, institutions and societies for the preservation and advancement of Afrika, which reflect our own humanity, our own culture, values, spirituality, identity, psychology and principles, the Maatian way, UBUNTU, the most ancient way of life of our ankhcestors. Our pre colonial society became our inspiration, occupation and obsession, trying to link us with our own Afrikan centred reality, to decolonize ourselves from alien control and domination, and restore our Afrikan orientated, structured and centred reality. Our Afrikan kingdoms, framework and structural setup as a whole was already disturbed, corrupted and interrupted by colonial settler domination and enslavement of Afrika in every aspect of life, by European and Arab invaders, who came to rob, kill, rape, thief, loot, pillage and to deceive us, committing genocide, destruction of our Afrikan civilization, culture, identity, our own nationhood. This colonial thus inform and create conditions of the consciousness of Afrikan people everywhere, here at home and abroad, unless one is suffering from historical amnesia. Thus, Rastafari consciousness is grounded and based on this Afrikan reality. The kings and queens, Afrikan warriors who resisted colonial forces, battling and fighting for our land here in Azania like Xhosa warrior Makana, Zulu warrior King Shaka, Xhosa warrior king Hintsa whose head was taken to Europe by vampires and barbarians after they killed Him, Zulu warrior Bambata who was killed by colonial settlers for leading the rebellion against colonialists and Sotho warrior King Moshoeshoe who defended his nation from colonialist successfully, to name a few, were our Rastafari for runners and keepers of Rastafari consciousness and personality. They were Rastafari warriors of that time, who carried the vision, mission and spirit of truth and right, maintaining and defending the voice of reason of the oppressed, dispossessed and exploited, the torch bearers of Afrikan redemption. This is a recognized tradition of Rastafari consciousness here in Azania which manifested from that time, till this time, deeply rooted in our Blackstory, anciency and essence. The rise of Black churches with Black theological foundations which were looking to Ethiopia for salvation and redemption in the last 150 years, like the Independent Tembu Church formed by Rev Nehemiah Tile in 1884, Ethiopian Church formed by Rev Mangena in 1892 and Israelites Movement formed by Prophet Enoch Mgijima are some of the institutions established to revive and assert our Ethiopian-ness here in Azania. The Israelites which is a movement that was formed and lead by the warrior Prophet Enoch Mgijima with a massive appeal and followers

from poor Afrikan families, is one of pre 1930 Azanian revolutionary, Afrikan Centred, Black controlled Institution and Rastafari forerunners, who stood for Afrika and Afrikan people, our Blackness and Afrikan-ness, rallying Afrikan people under the banner of Black Nationalism. Prophet Mgijima, like Marcus Garvey, encouraged and cultivated the spirit of self-reliance, selfdetermination, self-defining, self-projection, self-development, self-defence, self-sufficiency and self-rule to the members of the Israelites, and to the Afrikan family as whole which was under the grip of European settler colonialism. Prophet Mgijima preached and taught us to be independent in operation as a nation which was and still under siege from the white vampiric world, the need to organize ourselves building our own communities, army and nation strong enough to advance and defend our interests. This is a man who led by example and took the land by force from colonial settlers with the aim of establishing an Afrikan independent community and nation within the colonized and occupied Azania. This was indeed a profound and revolutionary act, bearing in mind of the hostile and oppressive conditions prevailing at that time between the oppressor and oppressed, after the European colonialist South AfriKKKan 1913 land act, which allowed and gave them power to take our land by force for the own colonial interests. The colonial settlers were terrified by these bold and courageous steps taken and done by these untamed Afrikans. Fearing insurrection from these rebellious Afrikans, then they decided to bring the army and their colonial machinery to Bulhoek mountain, where the Israelites were settled and established, to suppress and destroy the movement. They invaded the community and fought with the Israelites in a fierce and bloody confrontation. Because of their gun powder power and superior weapons, economic might, they managed to defeat the Israelites, killing more than 500 of blameless Afrikan people, who committed no crime, in Bulhoek 1921. The Bulhoek massacre is one of the atrocities committed on Black people in Azania by settler colonialists, a Black truth hidden from the public and to the world, maybe because Israelites were rejected even by their own for not being accommodating, civilized or Christianized, and their rejection of white ways, culture, mannerism, taste, behavior and habits, the colonial institutional framework, and for being independent and Afrika-centred like Rastafari. The Israelites and Rastafar shares a lot in common, philosophically, sociologically, structurally, ideologically, psychologically and spiritually. For example the Azanian Israelites advocated and stood for the independence of Afrikan people, the need to identify ourselves with our past, the acceptance of our Black self, the liberation and unification of Afrikan people, the concept of a Black God and the Black interpretation of our reality, history and bible. These are all our realities for which Rastafari sons and dawtas uphold and advance even in this time. This is a movement which carries Rastafari spirit, thought and tradition before the crowning of our Ethiopian King and Queen, our forerunners here in Azania.

We also know that during the coronation of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I and Her Imperial Majesty Empress Menen I, some of our Royal members and people within the Afrikan family here in Azania went to Ethiopia to crown, witness and honour the crowning of our Ethiopian King and Queen, the resurrection of Auser and Auset, the ancient Throne of King Ori, Imhotep, Shabaka, Pianki, Akhenaton, Kandake, Menes, the seat and foundation of our own existence, our Ta Seti and Kushite Power House, the restoration of an ancient Throne of this world. To most of Afrikan people who really know themselves, their Afrikan history, culture and tradition; to them, the great lakes region and horn of the continent, central Afrika, is our Power House which we immigrated from. This happened primarily after the invasion of Khemit, Carthage, Sudan and the rest of north Afrika by European colonialists, invaders, kysos, Greeks, Romans and Anglo-Saxons, started more than 2000 years ago, and arab colonialists 1500 years ago, leading to the destruction of our Afrikan centred civilization from Monomotapa to Khemit. These are historical facts and realities that inform our Rastafari perspective and experience within Azania.

NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS We can differentiate between the pseudo-nationalist and the true nationalist in the question of whether his religion, his ideology, his philosophy is serving him or is he merely serving them Dr. AMOS WILSON
Our challenges and tasks, the path that we took, our Pan-Afrikan struggles, Rastafari and Afrikan development, require us to think and do things as a nation. Without a national consciousness, well never have tools, structure and framework to build a nation. National consciousness is essential and key to our liberation, unity and to the attainment of our true Afrikan personality. Even the formation of Afrikan National Native Congress in 1912, when Afrikan people from all walks of life gathered in Bloemfontein, because of their oppression, organizing Afrikan people to break the colonial chains, and to rally and unite Afrikan people under the banner of Afrikan Nationalism, sparked a light and a path of Afrikan Nationalism that we must advance to the final conclusion. The fight for liberation of Afrika and Afrikan people here at home and abroad, which started the day invaders set their foot in our land and decided to colonize and enslave us, was and still that natural responsibility which is still bestowed on us in this generation. Our consciousness and what we are doing in life is umbilical, natural and organically linked with the struggles and suffering of our own family and nation: the poverty, ignorance and diseases, which was imposed on us by our enemies. Our peoples hardship and pain is what motivate s,

inspire and encourages us to fulfilling the will of our ankhcestors, and also maintaining the principle of collective security for Afrikan/Black Nationhood. We share the same vision and mission of Garvey of creating a Black government in Afrika of Black people by Black people, economically, socially, politically and militarily strong and powerful enough to protect and defend Afrikan people here at home and abroad. But now we are faced with a task of waging war against the neo colonialist imperialist forces, which are hell-bent to destroy anyone who stand on their vampirism way. As Rastafari we are charged by history and wrath of our Afrikan ankhcestors, to maintain and uphold a high level of Afrikan National Consciousness, and be at the forefront in the struggle to develop and raise the level of the National Consciousness among Afrikan people. The establishment of Organization of Afrika Unity (OAU) in 1963 under the chairmanship of Emperor Haile Selassie I was also a program to cultivate a necessary Afrikan National Consciousness, inculcating it in the minds of Afrikan people, so as to be capable and able to dismantle the colonial machinery. Ours is to continue with the mission of conscientizing Afrikan people through peoples education, community projects, art and through revolutionary means. Black collective consciousness is what we always seek to achieve for our collective security. RASTAFARI CONSCIOUSNESS Just like any social construct, consciousness is informed, conditioned, influenced and developed by its own surrounding, environment and reality, by culture, identity, spirituality, epistemology and cosmology. The need to link with the past, present and future is essential to our understanding of self and world around. Rastafari consciousness is developed, informed and influenced by our Afrikan reality, the Black condition within the Black world, here in Afrika, Europe, America, Asia and Caribbean. Thats what determined our existence and our being as Black people and Rastafari. Hence the Afrikan-ness and Blackness of Rastafari consciousness, making it impossible for people of other nations to be Rastafari, unless they use Rastafari for musical entertainment, ganja, religious entertainment or as spies and agents of their own national secret intelligence agency, to destroy, highjack, capture and divert this revolutionary movement, rendering it weak to advance its noble mission, to overthrow white colonial imperialist system and liberation, redemption and restoring of Afrika and Afrikan personality here at home and abroad. Though this is a very sensitive and difficult issue to deal with, but we dont have no option, but to tackle it once and for all this time. The visions and legacies of Enoch Mgijima, Shaka Zulu, Makana, Mama Nehanda, Queen Nzinga, Queen Ya Asenteewa, Marcus Garvey and Leonard Howell who stood and die for Black Nationalism, must be our senses and guiding post, lest we stumble and fumble, losing focus and direction, because we fail to be MAN enough to defend and protect our Black dignity, culture, reality and spirituality, from cultural vultures, liberals and lost people without the love of self and national identity.

Rastafari as a Black Power Pan Afrikanist movement, from an Afrikanist school of thought, must serve the interests of Afrikan people first and foremost before anyone else, as this is a main and prime purpose of this historic Afrikan centred revolutionary Black livity. Since we are still grounded in our own Afrikan soil, traditions, culture and identity, being initiated by my family, community and nation into Manhood with sacred and noble national responsibilities, after sacred rituals were done and perfomed at the presence of my Father, Nation, Ankhcestors and Creative force, Im not in the position to sell my identity, culture, dignity, personality, principles, interests, values to the hippies and cultural vultures. THE DIVINE THRONE
His Majesty RasTafari is the head over all man for he is the Supreme God. His body is the fullness of him that fillet all in all. Now my dear people let this be our goal, forward to the King of Kings must be the cry of our social hope. Forward to the King of Kings to purify our social standards and our way of living, and rebuild and inspire our character.Forward to the King of Kings to learn the worth of manhood and womanhood.Forward to the King of Kings to learn His code of Laws from the mount demanding absolute Love, Purity, Honesty, and Truthfulness. Forward to the King of Kings to learn His Laws and social order, so that virtue will eventually gain the victory over body and soul and that truth will drive away falsehood and fraud. Members of the King of Kings arise for God's sake and put your armor on - Gong Guru Maragh Leonard Howell (The Promised Key)

In Afrika, our Kings and Queens and Afrikan-centred institutions of governance are of divine nature, by virtue of being lead by illuminated once among us, people who live and exemplary life, showing good qualities of leadership and sound mind, people of high level of discipline and self control, who command a lot of respect from the young to the old. Hes a pride of the nation, a person who represents their culture, traditions, identity, values, principles, vision, interests and spirituality. He embodies the essence of their being. Thats why our Kings and Queens are regarded as representative of Qamata/ Mwari/ Nkulunkulu/ Ra Ptah/Ogun/ Modimo/ God, according to Afrikan people. Hence, the admonition, praise, glorifying, reverence and dietification of our Kings and Queens, who play an important role within the nation, as a teacher, inspirator, motivator, high priest, head of the army and diplomat. Thats why our Kings and Queens are traditionally King/Queen, Priest/Priestess and Prophet/Prophetess, maintaining the ancient Afrikan tradition. The throne of Ethiopia represents our identity, culture, values, principles and spirituality, which we seek to preserve for us and the next coming generations. Without these necessary life forces as integral part of Rastafari, then Rastafari will be like a body without a soul. RASTAFARI PURPOSE

As we have stated earlier a greater part of Africa has got rid of colonial rule. But colonialism has left behind various problems. It has fostered tribal, religious and linguistic differences with the deliberate intention of preoccupying African States with quamls among themselves and obstructing their development programmes and thus creating conditions for neocolonialism to thrive. The Africans have advanced the concept of Pan-Africanism as the best method of resolving African problems and of further strengthening African Independence and Unity. Ethiopia has fully identified herself with the PanAfrican Movement, in the furtherance of which cause she has already proposed at the 16th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations the establishment of the Organization of African StatesHIM

Rastafari consciousness strengthen Afrikan people to love and accept themselves, capacitating us with necessary tools and skills, knowledge, insights, vision, imagination and power, to be in charge and control of our senses, mind, spirit and our Afrikan being. Rastafari consciousness is liberating, unlocking the energies within, creating a new being and new Afrikan in the process. Rastafari is the most radical Black empowering Pan Afrikanist thought and reality ever emanated from the Black world in this era of colonialism and slavery. It is no doubt that Rastafari is a threat to the imperialist colonialist interests of European and arab thieves and rappers of Mama Afrika, her children and her natural resources which were suppose to be used to build Afrika and secure lives of Afrikan people. Within the context of colonized and occupied Azania, Rastafari movement is still advancing the Black Power Pan Afrikanist struggle to free us from European settler control and domination and restore Afrika to its rightful owners, the indigeneous Afrikans. The importance of Rastafari consciousness in Azania, the Black awareness particular in this time and age, when we are in a neo apartheid state and settler neo colonial setup, a disguised white power structure, which is managed by Afrikan lackeys who continually deceive, manipulate and fool our people, to perpetuate the exploitation of Afrika by the imperialists and international capitalist gangstas, is crucial. Just only 6 days ago, on the 16 of august 2012 south afrikkkan police killed more than forty of poor Afrikans who works for the mine controlled and owned by European thieves, where some of the senior members of the ruling party(anc) being shareholders in the company, who were on strike for better wages for more than a week. The police together with the politicians and management of the mine decided to crush the strikers, killing poor and exploited Afrikans, just to secure the interests of European robbers and thives, and their own shares. This massacre expose the hypocrisy and shallowness of this criminal settler colony which still owned by European settlers, and Afrikans as suppliers of cheap labour for the benefit of the European exploiters. The Black Power Pan Afrikanist Rastafari consciousness is the one which align us with Marcus Garvey, Malcom X, Kwame Nkrumah, Mangaliso Sobukwe, Bantu Biko and many Afrikan revolutionaries who stood tall and strong for the legitimate interests and rights of Afrikan people, and fought against the alien vampires. Rastafari is a necessary awareness within the

Black world, for people who are dehumanized and suffering from soporification, deliberately cultivated by the settler neo colonial machinery. We really need this consciousness to free our people from mental, spiritual and physical bondage and enslavement of Afrikans. Rastafari has a liberation intent as its primary objective, since without liberation of Afrika and Afrikan people, well remain slaves, weak and vulnerable to exploitation, humiliation and insult, and the programme of repatriation and reparations will remain just a pipe dream. Rastafari is our Afrikan centred reality which is Pan Afrikan in scope, able to broaden our minds, imagination and operation, capable to internationalize our collective Black condition, and restore the Pan Afrikan structure and framework within us. In this time of the need for the intensification of Pan Afrikanist revolution, Rastafari must be at the forefront to champion the cause of our liberation. We are not pacifists and fence sitters. Rastafari is an anti colonial, anti imperialist, pro Afrikan, Black in nature and rooted in our own Afrikan reality. The Pan Afrikan vision of Qadamawi Haile Selassie I and the founding fathers and mothers of Organisation of Afrikan Unity, stipulated in the OAU/AU charter. The aims and objectives of OAU to fight against colonialism, neo colonialism and all forms of oppression, and also to advance the material and spiritual interests of Afrikan people, still stand as our collective programme to be fulfilled, so to attain the envisioned self, the liberated being. Rastafari is a solution to our Afrikan problems and challenges. So let us avail ourselves to serve, suffer and sacrifice for our motherland Afrika. RASTAFARI AS AN AFRIKAN-CENTRED THOUGHT

The central objective in decolonising the African mind is to overthrow the authority which alien traditions exercise over the African. This demands the dismantling of white supremacist beliefs, and the structures which uphold them, in every area of African life. It must be stressed, however, that decolonisation does not mean ignorance of foreign traditions; it simply means denial of their authority and withdrawal of allegiance from them- Dr. Chinweizu
To decolonize the African mind, African freedom-seekers must destroy their deeply rooted, interconnecting networks of internalized European or Arab values and beliefs. These are the invisible chains of mental slavery that for centuries have allowed Europeans and Arabs to manipulate and control them, first as slaves and religious converts, and now as pseudo-citizens. Sankofa practice is an indispensable weapon in the war to decolonize or re-Africanize the African mind- UHURU HOTEP In order to change the African consciousness, we must change the information that is in the African mind. Naim Akbar

The truthfulness and righteousness of Rastafari, the Afrikan-centeredness of the livity, its aims and objectives, render and position the movement as one of the most Afrocentric revolutionary force within the Black world. Rastafari thus become a natural enemy of the invaders, the aliens who brought in Afrika alien colonial systems and structures, which are responsible in subjugation of Afrika, psychological enslavement, Europeanization of Afrikan people, stripping us of our culture and identity, so to be zombies. The psychological warfare is a central part of the colonial machinery, the most sophisticated aspect, playing an important role in the conditioning and manufacturing of colonized Afrikans. This is an undeclared war against Afrikan people by our enemies, hence the need to be institutionalized. The aim of the oppressor and colonizer is to create at the output end of their machinery, a Black man who is man only in form. Thats the main reason they are mis-educating and misinforming us, with their white colonial imperialist brainwash mis-education system to kill and destroy our Afrikan genius. This is a knowledge produced by a European mind to empower and enlighten Europeans, to build and maintain a white power structure, Black domination and subjugation. As Rastafari, we are destined to be key and important players in this terrain and struggle against European institutionalization of Afrika mind. Bob Marley once said we must emancipate ourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds. The Afrikan-centeredness of Rastafari, the love of Afrika and her people, of Justice, Truth, Righteousness, Order, Balance, Harmony and Reciprocity, the foundation tenets of Rastafari and Black Nationalism, the spirit of self-reliance and self-determination instilled by Rastafari culture and consciousness, is desperately required and needed within the Afrikan family here at home and abroad. Re-Afrikanisation and Black conscientization of Afrikan people is our responsibility unless we betray Garvey, Howell, Shaka and other warriors who stood for Afrikan redemption and liberation. Our responsibility is to build the necessary institutions to develop and advance an Afrikan-centered education to serve the spiritual and material interests of Afrikan people. We seek for an alternative education system which is Afrikan and holistic, education for liberation and decolonization of an Afrikan mind, that can take us to the highest level of industrial development. This education for liberation is linked with what we think and do as a people, on how we operate, function and project our personality, a prerequisite to total liberation. We need to produce our own knowledge, develop our own ideas, concepts and systems to find solutions to our own Afrikan problems. We need to build our own structures and institutions which are driven and inspired by our Afrikan-ness and Blackness, our culture, identity, psychology and spirituality, to bring security to our lives. We must never underestimate our role and contribution in the development of an Afrikanist school of thought, being part of the intellectual maroons who stand to defend and advance the Afrikan Italectual tradition with courage and determination, maintaining the high level of discipline, conduct and morality,

which is of benefit to our Afrikan family. Ours is to strengthen the ancient foundation and follow in the footsteps of our ankhcestors who never betray the cause to the end, but who sacrificed their lives for Afrika, using their time, resources and energies for the people of Afrika. We must work with all Pan-Afrikanists revolutionaries and scholars, and with all progressive people who are livicated in building a just and free society worldwide. We are Afrikans and Rastafari at the same. We must identify ourselves with the struggles and realities of Afrikan people here at home and abroad, familiarizing ourselves with our collective reality, as we seek to find solutions to our collective Afrikan problems and challenges. The Italectual maroons must combat an attack to the colonial imperialist school of thought, the white supremacist, capitalist, Eurocentric, chaotic and individualistic world view, which is responsible to our pain, misery, sufferation, death, diseases, ignorance and destruction of our nationhood. We need to stand up and confront our enemies, those who seek to continue subjecting us to their own colonial domination, perpetuating mental enslavement and de-Afrikanisation of Afrikan people, retaining their grip on us and our resources. This is terrain for warriors who are guided by the spirit and visions of our ankhcestors and Afrikan teachers, seers, prophets and kings, who still maintain the ankhcient Afrikan traditions, culture and spirituality. Rastafari must lead by example, and refute white lies, distortion and propaganda which is imposed on us through their machinery, at schools, churches and in the white controlled and directed media. NYAHBINGHI, POQO, CHIMURENGA AND MAU-MAU TRADITION
Descent of the authentic lineage of the ancient Kushitic Kings of Kings, this dread locked little African princess fled from the corrupting influence of the evil forces of oppression into the inner reaches of the great forests. Nyabinghi took refugee in forests spanning modern Congo, Sudan and Uganda. There in an act of daring and defiance she established a mass guerrilla army of dread rebels (known as the children of Nyahbinghi or Binghis for short) which fought against the collusive cabal of pale forces oppressing the ancient Motherland until oppression fled from the Motherland - JideUwechia (Nyahbinghi)

When colonialism invaded the area, the charismatic Abagirwa took up initiative in studying the situation and mobilising people into militant resistance. It was this group which had a long history of resistance to draw from and outstanding guidelines to follow. Colonialism was not the first threat. It only increased the number of adversaries of Nyabingi. The Abagirwa had to defend their spiritual beliefs, inspiration, ideals and secular interests. Nyabingi was also the source of their social status MURINDWA RUTANGA The conditions created and maintained by a white racist society, the oppression of Black people after Afrika was colonized by white people, lead to a state of permanent conflict between the oppressor and the oppressed, the colonizer and the colonized, the dispossessor and dispossessed, the perpetrator of injustice and the victim of injustice which is still our reality to

this day. The relations between us and European colonialists here in Azania, in Zimbabwe and everywhere, is informed by genocide committed on Afrikan people by European settler colonialists, colonialism, slavery, white racism and Black subjugating. This white engineered and driven colonial reality forced Afrikans to organize themselves, to defend and protect the Afrikan family. Thats how the anti colonial movement took shape and form, and the spirit of truth gave us courage and determination to be confident of victory of good over evil. Nyahbighi movement in Uganda, like Poqo here in Azania, Chimurenga in Zimbabwe, Mau Mau (Land and Freedom Movement) in Keya was inspired and created by these developments within the Afrikan society, lead by Afrikan warriors as a resistance movement and as anti colonial, anti imperialist, anti oppression in any form, which seek to banish aliens out of Afrika and restore Afrika back to its rightful owners. From the early years of wars of dispossession and resistance by our forefathers and foremothers against colonial settlers, to the present time, the spirit of truth and right, the voice of justice within us propelled us to stand up and fight for our rights and our land which was taken by force through the barrell of the gun by the invaders. Thus we find the coming of being of the tradition of freedom fighters and revolutionaries, led by Afrikan warriors who took unto themselves the responsibility of bringing security and defend of our nation. We experience the rise of Afrikan resistance movement after the berlin conference in Germany 1884 when European powers divided the continent for their own, what is known as conference for scramble of Afrika. Here in Azania sons and dawtas of the soil, kings and queens, sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Afrika. From the early colonial wars fought by the Khoisan people in the cape against e European invaders, to the Xhosa wars against british settlers, Zulu wars against the dutch and british colonialists, Sotho wars against the settlers, to the total onslaught, domination and subjugation of Afrikan people in the entire Azania, marked the beginning of the new era in the history of Afrikan people. It ushered in an era of national liberation struggle against europeam colonialism and settlerism after colonialists intensify their brutality and exploitation of Afrika and Afrikan people. After this carving of Afrika by European settlers, our movement and operation was also determined by boundaries created to divide and weaken our Afrikan solidarity and unity. The warrior spirit of those Xhosa, Khoisan, Zulu, Sotho warriors was transferred and maintained by the next generations until this day and age. The battle against British settlers fought by by Xhosa people under the leadership of warrior King Makhanda ka Nxele along Kei river is of the battles which come to mind: to the wars of Zulus against dutch and british settlers lead by warrior Chief Bambata are just few of the battles that are important in the history of Afrikan people in Azania. The liberation struggle against colonial settlers continued with insurrections and rebellions in many parts of Azania. The 1921 massacre of the Israelites in Bulhoek and the

Pondo massacre after the rebellion by the Pondo people against white domination are other events that expose the colonial brutality and courage of Afrikan people. It is these events and atrocities committed on Black people in Azania that finally led to the birth of Poqo, a Black Power, Pan-Afrikanist, Afrikan Nationalist militant movement which was organized for the total liberation of Afrikan people; sustaining the Nyahbinghi, Chimurenga, and Mau-Mau tradition and anti-colonial stance. This is a movement, Poqo, was like unto the Rastafari movement which embodies the collective aspirations of Afrikan people and work as an organ to safeguard our Afrikan interests. These are people who kept the Rastafari Afrikan-centered consciousness guided by our culture and traditions and love of Afrika and her people. Its not a surprise that the first adherents and practitioners of Rastafari here in Azania were and even now Poqo/APLA (Afrikan Peoples Liberation Army) members who still uphold a high level of discipline, awareness and vigilancy, and livication to the cause. Elder Ras Blacks whos the commander of POQO/Azanian Peoples Liberation Army from cape town is one of the examples, and Ras Thau Thau Haramanuba, one of the leading Rastafari bredrins in Azanian Rastafari community currently a spoke person of Rastafari United Movement. Im also a member of Poqo . Even today the most progressive young Rastafari here in Azania are found among the POQO warriors who still identify themselves with the struggles and pain of Afrikan people, working together with other Afrikanists to build a Pan Afrikanist government, by Afrikans and for Afrikan people. We are baptized to Rastafari through our identification with this movement, which inculcated within us a sense of purpose and belonging, the love of Afrika and Afrikan people here at home and abroad, the Pan Afrikan consciousness. This is the movement which still kept the spirit of Shaka, Garvey, Nkrumah, and all Pan Afrikanists. Poqo and Rastafari are the only movements which still remind people that Afrika is for the Afrikans while many subsribe to a lie that the land belong to all who live in it Black and white, a falsification of our reality by neo colonialists and their white masters. So Poqo is the authentic movement of Afrikan people which still holds the key to the total liberation of Afrika here in occupied Azania and beyond, which is still controlled by European settlers but managed by the anc of Mandela and zuma who are puppets of the white world. Rastafari also advance the same aims and objectives of this movement which embodies the vision and mission of OAU that was established in Afrika from colonialism, oppression, exploitation and neo colonialism in addis abbaba 1963. Poqo, Nyahbinghi, Chimurenga and Mau-Mau tradition areone Afrikan Revolutionary movement centered around the material and spiritual interests of Afrikan people. This is a very important aspect of our Azanian reality which we are historically and naturally bound to reveal as it defines our existence and context of our reality. We are conditioned and natured by our own environment and reality. The Pan-Afrikanist consciousness which allows us to harmonise

the collective Afrikan reality doesnt take away our unique experiences and conditions. The Nyahbinghi tradition within the context of Azania is informed by this back ground and history, the pain and struggles of Afrikan people, the distortion of our Afrikan of our reality, the perpetual falsification of our Afrikan consciousness, to maintain and sustain the rape, looting and exploitation of Azania. Rastafari must work with the people on the ground, organizing the peoples power to destroy the colonial machinery, and dismantle the pillars of white supremacy and capitalist system. Thats our responsibility as Pan Afrikanists and revolutionaries, to take the Afrikan revolution to its final conclusion, being in tune with the vision of Enoch Mgijima, Marcus Garvey, Kwame Nkrumah, Qadamawi Haile Selassie, Bantu Biko, Mangaliso Sobukwe, Frantz Fanon, Patrice Lumumba, King Shaka, Inkosi Bambata, King Hinsta and many Afrikans who sacrificed their lives and fought for the total liberation and restoration of Afrika. Our Rastafari and Afrikan interests are one, we cant separate ourselves from our family and nation, Afrika is our nation, and is desperately in dire need of our contribution. Its true that Afrika awaits its creators. Thats why its essential to keep the historical mission of Poqo, Nyahbinghi, Chimurenga and Mau Mau, and accept the mandate to champion the cause of Afrikan Liberation and Redemption. Many Afrikan warriors were and are still killed by the enemy for standing for Right, for Afrika and humanity. We must build the international communication and cooperation among us, and also our Pan Afrikanist Movement, here in Afrika, America, Caribean, South America, Europe and Asia, and rally Black people under the banner of Black Nationalism, for the realization of our collective Afrikan aspirations.

INI, UBUNTU, MAAT

Rastafari is about Order, Balance, Righteousness, Truth, Justice, Harmony and Reciprocity. Rastafari s Maat, Ubuntu, a reality which drives people to the right path and ways, out of chaotic state, back to the original state, which is Afrikan, and in tune with nature and heart beat. The 42 admonitions of Goddess Maat are also the Afrikan teachings and principles from a pre biblical and colonial Afrika, before chaos, corruption and confusion was brought by our enemies within our mist, during the time of peace and harmony. As Rastafari were one of the few Afrikans who still uphold and respect our ankhcestors ways, which are life orientated in this time of darkness, when our people are drowning in foolishness and alienation, because of being dominated by colonial religions, ideologies and philosophies, which sustain and perpetuate the enslavement of Afrikan people, culturally, psychologically and physically. We find everything that we need within Afrika for our well being and prosperity.

The spirit and philosophy of Ubuntu, Maat, INI is from ancient times, the Black stone from within, for the creation of a Balanced, Harmonised and Reciprocal Afrikan society, our value system to secure our collective existence. The central message is about oneness of humanity, that umntu ngumntu ngabantu (human is a human because of other humans). Ubuntu embodies all the ankhciples of Maat, Order, Balance, Justice, Truth, Harmony, Propriety and Reciprocity. This clearly shows the oneness of Afrikan value system all over Afrika, from different places and regions, languages and clans, but weve managed to maintain and retain our ankhcient Afrikan value system. The conditions make it easy for us to live as a family because of common shared values which build our coexistence. The connection with the rest of Afrika family based on our shared values and ankhciples has elevated our relations, unless those Afrikans are colonial in orientation, the afropeans. These are people who suffer from self hatred and afrophobia, who are brainwashed and whitewashed. But Afrikans who still uphold the ways of our ankhcestors, conscious of their Afrikanness and Blackness, are having great respect of one another and having closer links. Even the concept of INI is deeply rooted in Afrikan values system of Ubuntu and Maat of collectiveness, against the alien culture of individualism, where man is for himself. This is a foundation of own being as Afrikan people and Rastafari. These are values that that protect us from alienation and colonization, the adoption of alien ways, habits and tendencies, the cancer of individualism, which is perpetuated by the white colonial imperialist capitalist world. As Rastafari we embrace our Afrikanness and heritage in fullness. Our identity, values, interests and ankhciples, are a key to develop, preserve and advance our Afrikanness. We know that the family is the nucleus and centre of the nation, a foundational structure, which constitute the pillar and corner stone of our existence. Hence, whatever we do, build or organize, must be family orientated, to serve the interest of Man Woman and Child. These are values that we must inculcate and instill within us, which are necessary in this day and age when we are facing an imposed alien culture and structure on us for their own benefit. We a must promote and encourage these Afrikan values and ankhciples within our Afrikan family and Rastafari which are also instilling a sense of social responsibility, making us instrumental and productive within the Afrikan family, when some of us took on the traits and mind of the enemy. There is a need to decolonize our Afrikan minds, and free ourselves from alien filth, serfdom and vampirism, clinging to our Afrikan Blackness. The spirit of INI is the proper and right sound, a necessary positive vibration for us all.

AFRIKAN PERSONALITY

Since the day colonialists came in our land and set their foot in Afrika, invading our space, land and seas, the destruction of the Afrikan being, our essence was and still their first priority in the colonization of Afrika. The great Son of Azania, Bantu Biko, once said the most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed affirming the importance of mental liberation in the restoration of Afrikan personality. At the moment our personality is under attack from alien forces which are hell-bent to subject us under their own colonial machinery, and to strip us of our identity, culture, values, interests and principles, to destroy our Afrikan personality for their own imperialists benefit. The distortion of our reality and history by the colonialists, the mis-education of Afrikan people into dumbness by Europeans, is part of their systemic mission to corrupt and disorient Afrikans, to be vulnerable to exploitation. Rastafari must decolonize and redeem Afrikan people from the white mans grave of white supremacy, European and Arabic cultural and psychological servitude, put to an end the domination of Afrikan people by aliens, and eradicate their alien cultural hegemony in Afrika. Our identity, mental orientation, culture and spirituality, serve to create our Afrikan personality which is essential to our liberation. For we cannot free our land and resources, liberate and repatriate Afrikans, if we are not mentally and spiritually liberated projecting our own Afrikan personality. Rastafari consciousness is diametrically opposed to the perpetuation of alienation and marginalization of Afrikan people in their own Afrikan reality, capable to lead us in a state of illusion and confusion. Hence, we are of the view that as Afrikan people, we need to educate ourselves with proper and Afrikanist education, an alternative education which is Afrikan centred not colonial. Our Afrikan historical consciousness, the reflection of our Afrikan features and identity through locks, our identification with the ancient throne of Ethiopia, are all to bring the Afrikan personality into being. Within the family, Rastafari consciousness is able to bring change among the Afrikan people towards the right direction, pumping back life to their empty shells, and giving purpose to their lives and their senses back. In the world of chaos and disorder, cultivated carelessness, ignorance and foolishness, Rastafari is able to inspire, motivate and encourage Afrikan people to be responsible beings, taking care of their own business in life. Theres also an aspect of Afrikan culture, for which Rastafari is contributing positive immensely in its development and of Afrika personality. The love of Afrikan self and the rejection of alien products and ideas, is a combatant Afrikan warrior stand to restore the Afrikan personality. Its our responsibility to develop and build a necessary Afrikan personality which is capable to represent and project our values, interests, culture, identity, principles and spirituality, for our collective benefit and liberation of Afrika.

TOTAL LIBERATION OF AFRIKA

"Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph" Haile Selassie I. Neo-colonialism is based upon the principle of breaking up former large united colonial territories into a number of small non-viable States which are incapable of independent development and must rely upon the former imperial power for defence and even internal security. Their economic and financial systems are linked, as in colonial days, with those of the former colonial ruler KWAME NKRUMAH

Anationalism not talking about self-government, not talking about nation-building, not constructing a national network, not constructing a national economic, social, and political system, is a false nationalism Dr. AMOS WILSON

The liberation of Afrika from settler colonialism, colonialism, imperialism, neo colonialism and all forms of oppression, and the creation of a Pan-Afrikanist government(s) in Afrika is a must and the only way to total liberation. The white colonial world is opposed to any move and program which seek to liberate ourselves from their colonial oppression. They always try by all means to crush any attempt, which work against their interests. Liberation creates the condition, and conducive environment for repatriation, reparation and restitution. Which means liberation of Afrika is a pre requisite of repatriation, reparation and restitution, we cant beg the oppressors for these noble causes. We need to use our energies and channel our resources towards the achievement of liberation of Afrika from alien rule and control. Rastafari movement as a Black Power Pan-Afrikanist movement must work together with other PanAfrikanists and Pan-Afrikanist organizations, who genuinely, honesty and sincerely fight for the total overthrow of colonialism, imperialism, neo colonialism, white racism and oppression. We must be at the forefront of the Pan-Afrikanist struggles here at home and abroad, and dirty our hands, sacrificing for the realization of our own freedom and aspirations. At the moment there are no Black Power Afrikanists governments in Afrika and in the Black world who champion the Pan-Afrikanist cause, the vision of Garvey, Nkrumah, Fanon, Lumumba, except Zimbabwe under the visionary leadership of President Gabriel Mugabe. Zimbabwe constitutes the center of Pan-Afrikanist revolution, the force against imperialism, according to our analysis. Its the only liberated zone within the Black world at the moment. All other countries are directly or indirectly rule by the same European and arab colonial powers. So we are bound by history and our Afrikan reality to serve, suffer and sacrifice for our Afrikan people, and our land Afrika. We cant take backseat as warriors or be fence sitters, being passive while our people and land is being rapped, exploited, and destroyed, our Afrikan being

and personality insulted and humiliated by our enemies in our own land. We cant accept insult and humiliation, to be reduced to nothingness and irrelevancy, unless we suffer from fear, inferiority complex and defeat. Garvey said fear is a state of nervousness only fit for a child, in his quest to redeem Black people and restore our Afrikan Manhood and Womanhood, from a state of fear, childishness and backwardness. As Rastafari, Afrikan , Marrons, Nyahbinghi, Mau Mau, Poqo and Chimurenga warriors, we must to stand in the side of truth and righteousness, of the oppressed, fighting to destroy the colonial devil for liberty and peace to reign. We must advance the aims and objectives of Organisation of Afrikan Unity which was established in Ethiopia under the leadership of Qadamawi Haile Selassie I, to end colonialism, neo colonialism, imperialism and all forms downpression in the Afrikan world. Its important for us as Rastafari warriors, to carry on the sword to slew the beast once and for all. We must accept this mandate and natural responsibility which is also essential in the creation of a new Afrikan, ready and capable enough to advance and defend his/her nation, to control and administer his/her own Afrikan affairs. THE TWO STAGES OF RASTAFARI REVOLUTION: AFRIKANIST SOCIALIST REVOLUTION In the final analysis, its clear to me that theres going to be two stages of Rastafari revolution, a process which nature dictates on us. Without the completion of the first stage, we cannot achieve our state and stage that we aspire to achieve, which is Theocratic. The first stage is an Afrikanist Socialist Revolution, which involve all Afrikans regardless of religion, cultural inclinations who are rallied under the banner of Black Afrikan Nationalism. Since we are oppressed as Afrikans, its proper and logical for us to fight as Afrikans collectively against our common enemy. The reality forces us to unite as Afrikan people and fight the National liberation struggle, to free us from colonial and neo colonial exploitation and domination, to establish the Afrikanist socialist state(s), and build one continental government for all Afrikans. This is the stage for Afrikan people to regain and retain their power, which is necessary and a must, so that we can take our Afrikan destiny into our own hands. The process will, without no doubt, change the control of social productive forces and ownership, a sphere usually dominated by the enemy. After we reach this stage, well put an end to the exploitation of our human and natural resources by imperialist and international capitalist gangstas, the anglo American, de beers, oppeinheimer and Rhodes of this world. This is the most bloodiest, expensive, complicated and dangerous revolutionary stage, which need a lot of discipline, livication and sacrifice. We can take a leaf and learn from Ethiopian warriors who fought the Italian invaders and became victorious against these European barbarians. We must get inspiration from the courage and determination displayed and shown by Ethiopians in Adoa, and during the 1935 invasion of Ethiopia by European invaders. The Ethiopians fought and won after a great sacrifice

for their dignity and integrity, the land and flag of Ethiopia. They were ready and willing to shed their blood, and fight the aliens until the last drop of Ethiopian blood. Its a great lesson that we must learn as we still embark on National Liberation of ourselves from the colonial and neo colonial rule. RASTAFARI AFRIKAN-CENTERED CULTURAL REVOLUTION The second stage is Rastafari Afrikan-centered Cultural Revolution which will mainly be advocated and advanced by Afrikans who are Afrkan-centered, those who are spiritually, culturally, psychologically and socially Afrikan-centered. This path is for spiritual and cultural warriors, who during the Afrikanist Socialist stage, will advance and take revolution to its final conclusion. Here, not all Afrikans will qualify to be part of these warriors, unless they reject the colonial ways, practice and behaviour, and embrace their Afrikan-ness in fullness in every aspect of life. Therell be no room for compromise with culturally and spiritually half cooked, Europeanized and alienated Afrikans, who still hold on to the ways of the colonialists, the Afropeans (Afro-Europeans) who maintain the colonial institutions and white power, through systematic perpetual enslavement and entrapment of Afrikans by European and Arab colonialists. During this time, well give no room for Afrikans to identify themselves with the oppressor and their cultural, religious institutions, alien ideologies and philosophies, and the whole system and machinery of white supremacy. The program shall be to exorcize the alien colonial demons that possess Afrikan people, all alien habits, taste and manners, which were imposed on us by our enemies to destroy our own Afrikan being. During this phase, the reality will surely lead to the total takeover of Rastafari consciousness and livity in the Afrikan world, and direct the affairs and ways of Afrikan people. But now our main priority must be the advancement of national liberation struggle, to attain an egalitarian society, Afrikanist socialist order, unification of Afrika, and the dismantling, uprooting and destruction of colonial structure, framework and colonial borders.

ON REPATRIATION We cant repatriate Afrikan people back to Afrika without the liberation of Afrikan and Afrika. Thats impossible. Afrikans from the diaspora who come to dwell within the continent are not recognized as repatriates but as immigrants or refugees. They are given permits for them to stay legally in the land of their forefathers and foremothers, with very limited power to participate in the issues affecting poor Afrikan people socially, economically, politically and otherwise. They remain outsiders and are not fully and totally embraced by the locals, who continue to view them as aliens, not one of their own, though we are all Afrikans. They are discriminated against because of how government portrays them, that they are foreigners,

according to their status. So they inform and educate its citizens within those lines, because we still have neo colonial regimes which are Eurocentric, to serve the interests of the colonial powers, and to maintain divide and rule colonial legacy. These are regimes which are antiAfrikan and anti-Black in nature, the Westminster alien neo colonial system which is destined to serve white power, maintain white domination and Black subjugation and divisions. The overthrow of these colonial entities is inevitable in the attainment and fulfillment of repatriation of Afrikan people who were taken by forces against their own will by the European and arab white colonialists and invaders to the foreign lands. The engagement with Afrikan Union is recommended to deal with Pan-Afrikanist issues, but AU is managed, driven and directed by the same neo colonialists and sellouts, the same agents of white supremacy and international capitalist gangsters, with no Pan-Afrikan vision and mission. These are cowards with no backbone. Gone are the days of OAU/AU of Qadamawi Haile Selassie I, Sekou Toure, Kwame Nkrumah, Mnandi Azikiwe,Julius Nyerere, who were Pan-Afrikanists, the current crop of Afrikan leaders are agents of European and arab colonialists and mafia gang. We must work tirelessly here at home and abroad with the Afrikan freedom fighters and revolutionaries, aligning ourselves with the Pan-Afrikan liberation movements and daily struggles of Afrikan people, to realize our goal of repatriation of Afrikan people back to the land of our ankhcestors. We must be involved so to influence and direct the movement in the right path, the PanAfrikanist path. Pan-Afrikanism recognizes the birth right of an Afrikan to be part of Afrika and Afrikan Nationhood, having full rights and equal status with anyone, whether you are born inside or outside of the continent. As a Black Power Pan-Afrikanist Rastafari I also share the wisdom of the great Pan-Afrikanist Peter Tosh when he said no matter where you come from as long as you are Blackman, youre an Afrikan from his song AFrikan. Even Mama Marimba Ani express it eloquently and succinctly when she said, you are not an Afrikan because you are born in the continent, you are an Afrikan because Afrika is born in you. CONCLUSION

The true nationalist grounds his social and political philosophy and practice on a realistic analysis of his situation. He cognizes his enemies. He is not a slavish reader of foreign sources and of other political ideologies. Does it mean that he should not read the other people? Certainly he can read the other people, but his ultimate decision is based on his own analysis, upon the sound knowledge of himself, who and what he is, and upon his realityAMOS WILSON

Rastafari culture and livity is the ankhcient Afrikan way of life of Afrikan people from the pre biblical era, tracing the root of our thought, awareness and consciousness from the most ankhcient Afrikan ankhcestors, who were the first to inhabit the earth, establishing the first Afrikan family, community and nation. We get inspiration from those who were in tune with nature and all elements of creation, our ankhcestors who are fathers and mothers of humanity and all nations. These are our ankhcestors who build the foundation of our Afrikan civilization, Black supremacy, here in Afrika which spread all over the world. They establish our Afrikan nationhood on strong base of higher values, which brought prosperity, security, peace and progress within our Afrikan family. We come from a lineage of royal people, a nation which is centred around family institution, hence, the Man Woman and Child principle within our Afrikan structure, framework and consciousness, which we uphold and respect. Our own Afrikan traditions and culture still embody these family values which inculcate in us the respect of natural order, sense of purpose and responsibility and collectively binds us together in oneness. The values that we espoused, and the spiritual enlightenment and awareness that we possessed, are the most important treasures, and key aspect of our being. These are the values and principles that Qadamawi Haile Selassie I and Empress Menen Asfaw I stood for as spiritual and cultural heads of the Ethiopian empire or kingdom. The crowning of Empress Menen I institutionally fulfilled and re-established the application of the principle of BALANCE during the reign of HIM. We know for a fact that all the worlds well known religions like Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hindu, Bhudhism are just corrupted carbon copies of the ancient Afrikan value system and rituals established by our ankhcestors along the Nile river civilization from Ethiopia to Monomotapa, the great Zimbabwe, even down to Kkemit. Let us continue to instill these values within our families and communities, within the young and the old, and to inculcate in our minds the importance of knowing and accepting our identity, being Afrikan, grounded in Afrikan epistemological and cosmological reality, and projecting the true Afrikan Rastafari personality.