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Public Donations Can Lift Up African Kingdoms. Suggestions For Renaissance. - Foreign Affairs - Nairaland

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Public Donations Can Lift Up African Kingdoms. Suggestions For Renaissance. by KingSango(m): 8:59pm On Jan 08, 2015

A few months ago, I can't remember exactly the date but some billionaire Nigerian business lady was quoted saying that public donations can not build much needed infrastructure of Africa. I wholeheartedly disagree with such notion on the grounds it is narrow and doesn't allow for creative expression. I am African American and we still survive despite the devastating effects of the slave trade, the loss of our African traditions, freedom and justice yet we still exist. Not only do we exist in the Americas including the United States which supported one of the most barbaric slave systems we have produced sovereign nations within the territory of the United States. We have preserved African culture throughout the Caribbean, Latin America; including Brazil and Cuba, within the United States Oyo Tunji Kingdom and the Gullah Gee Chee Nation have thrived to promote African traditions, languages and systems of governance. We have done so by support of rich African Americans or in general giving to our causes but the poorest amongst us have brought this about. www.oyotunji.org and www.gullahgeecheenation.com Check for yourselves.

It is my contention not only will public donations raise Africa to compete equally within the global market place but perhaps at the time may be the only way to catch up quickly. When I speak of Africa it isn't the narrow view of just the continent of Africa but the entire African diaspora which includes the West and the U.K and Far East, wherever we are on this planet. Let's stick to the diagram of how this could be possible and steer clear of reasons because we all have our reasons for the things we do. But without effective methods none of our reasons will see the light of day.

I know the rich African Americans in the United States do not give to the cause of African liberation nor improvement of our lot and that same reality exists on the continent of Africa from what I am told by native Africans who are here in the U.S for business and school. We can not depend upon the rich because of spiritual reasons that is easier to get a camel into the eye of a needle than to get a rich man into heaven. This is not to say that rich people are evil or some of them aren't good people and won't go to heaven. It would be judgmental and cruel to suggest that meaning or connotation. What I am saying is that many attempts have been tried to lift the poor up worldwide, throughout history and during current times, but to no avail poverty still persists. Communism has tried, Socialism has tried, violent revolutions and overthrows have tried and even some generous kind hearted rich men and women have tried but none were successful. This is the reason I believe the rich are reluctant to commit themselves to such a venture because entire nations have failed who had the support of institutions and treasury, so be not angry nor target our rich African brothers and sisters because this may beyond them but not you the poor of Africa.

I have a concept that is broad and very much creative that will do the job of lifting African people and build the infrastructure of our people. It is my attempt to spread this message internationally today to my continental brothers and sisters especially to the Giants of Africa, Nigerians. Where lies the home of my ancestor's people, the Yorubas. How do I know I am Yoruba because I am Ibeji, a twin, so is my mother or Iya as spoken in Yoruba. My mom's sister had three sets of twins and twins occur quite frequently throughout my family. I pray each and everyday for the Fathers/Elders of Yorubaland. My prayers also include Igbo and Hausa people and yes of course the minority tribes of Nigeria as well equally. I am aware that you exist and I have you too in my heart. I celebrate often the greatness of West Africa and it is my belief that West Africa will be the future of Africa and as it was thousands of years ago when migrations of West Africa went into East Africa, South and North Africa to join up with their brothers and sisters there to create the great kingdom of Ancient Kemet also known as Egypt. We should not think all of us are alike and that we can't be different from each other and still have unity amongst our varied populations worldwide not just continental. But my message today isn't a celebration of old history because none of that will put food into our bellies nor give our children education or build much needed infrastructure.

Here is my part of my idea:

I figure that Africans are extremely poor and despite what you see on television and have heard most African Americans are poor as well. Read this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/antonio-moore/the-decadent-veil-black-income-inequality_b_5646472.html

I follow the Orunmila which is the spirit of God's wisdom and try not get stuck in logic trap of academic education. My wisdom tells me this that there's is treasure lying at our feet that we do not take advantage of. Let me show you what I mean.

Let's say in Yorubaland Mr. Gani Adams who has organized Yoruba street by street and block by block. Yorubas have social organizations for almost every town and city within Nigeria. Put together a fundraising campaign. Find out what is the lowest donation that you can collect monthly from every household within all of Yorubaland. Igbo and Hausa people's can do the same within their own kingdoms. I would think that 5 American dollars a month would be not so hard upon Nigerian families. I say American because America's dollar is currently still the world's reserve currency. So that keeps the whole African world on one standard when asking for donations. But the plan should proceed like this.

Each citizen household gives 5 dollars a month. You have 400,000 households that equals to: 2 million dollars per month and in a years time that is 24 million dollars. In a 7 year period that equals: 168,000,000 U.S dollars converted into pounds or Nigerian money that is a lot of money. Tell you what you're going to do with the money as this is the most important feature of this plan. I know you have a National Youth program in Nigeria. Well construct a Yoruba one and Igbos construct an Igbo one and Hausa people do the same. My message is mostly for Yorubas but I include you others in it because this message is for you too. Construct a Yoruba Youth organization who specialty would be engineering and surveying, you need infrastructure don't you? Well if you open a free school and offer education to youths in exchange for their labor you can accomplish two goals at once. That is the building of the infrastructure so badly needed and the education of your youth simultaneously. We have to create an accelerated program for Africa and this model I am sharing with you will do the trick. Remember Yorubas the Ibeji are tricky and Sango your greatest king was an Ibeji. Forget all the magic and juju stuff that Sango possessed that's for another time. Sango symbolizes creative energy combined with teamwork and long term strategy. This is a long term strategy as this process will probably take several decades to come to complete fruition where some of you skeptical ones can see it.

This money most be and should be entrusted to your Elders and Alaafin. I hear that the Alaafin is very poor these days. This is the result of White Supremacy and willful destruction of Oyo Empire. I know many Yorubas are Christians and Muslims these days because these religions have provided missionaries that came with money, goods and services that have wooed you away from your own independent governments and traditions like a rich man wooing the beautiful wife of a poor man away from him. Such as what King David was accused of doing. But that statement is just for visual reference and illustration not to point you towards the Bible. What some of you are calling the blessings of a Christian or Muslim God is really the wealth of the Church or Mosque that has benefited you in some way. That's no miracle money does that for anybody, anywhere in the world. It's the lack of money that is evil not the possession of it.

I read extensively the many African Renaissance books and none of them spoke of treasury in their conclusions. Without treasury there is no institution and without institution there can be no nation building or kingdom building. Old African kingdoms thrived because at the time they had treasury. When Europeans came in colonizing they annexed land that contained natural resources. They took over trading zones and routes so that they were supreme and that money was put into the Catholic Church. Muslim invaders did the very exact thing.

So here's what I have gathered from study. 6 necessary steps for improvement I've just discussed 2 of them with you.


Tradition:

1. Return to your traditions. Respect the Elders, Babas and Iyas. Obas and Ayabas. Fathers and mothers. Kings and Queens. Heads of traditional Yoruba states. Humble yourself. Visit them and remember no government is perfect but this one is our own ancestor's creation and one that reflects our DNA and works well with it. There's no track record of European city/states ever working for Africa. Is it now? Is Nigeria lifting Africa like I described above? I think not. But historically Oyo thrived and that is undisputed. The same is true for most of Africa if not all including Dahomey and Akan Empire.


Language:

2. At these camps your primary focus should be upon language because language divides Africa. There is no communication because of the wide language gap that exists in the Africa world. Some of us speak only one language, English. Some of only speak French, some Spanish and Portuguese. These four languages should be taught to all so that we can communicate. Some might say why not an African language? Everyone already knows his or her own tribal language and should be forced to learn another's. The Chinese were very effective in making Mandarin widely taught and spoken so that all Chinese could be on the same page worldwide. Mandarin is currently the world's most widely spoken language. But they did this their way with a bloody cultural revolution. Africa is too diverse and too not interested in more war. We must do it our own unique way. Besides most of the scientific and technological knowledge is in English and even in China they are learning English. So focus upon European language mastery and then in the future after we are stronger focus upon a continental wide African language to be spoken worldwide by us. Change is always gradual not forced.

Executive Administration:

3. Within these training camps Youths should be organized rank and file so they can learn leadership. Also the adults who supervise and the creation of this Youth Civil Corps as a cabinet institution of Oyo gives the Elders and Alaafin, Ogboni, and our chiefs a chance to horn effective administration again. The treasury created will strengthen their effectiveness once again. Your own voices will be heard and through the channels of rank and public input were the leaders can listen and plan long term strategy to fulfil your needs. Roads can be built where they are needed, farm land can be managed and food supplies increased to feed hungry families. Schools can be built in areas that need them and your children educated for free. This humbleness must be applied so Oyo can move forward. We must heal the past and let go of the pain. If we African Americans can let go of being sold into slavery long ago surely Africans can mature to respect their leaders and once again allow them the right to improve the empire. The purpose of White Supremacy was too destroy our power to rule ourselves effectively and productively. We must take that power back. And put into trusted hands. Our system failed not because it was flawed but because we allowed it to fail and we had never encountered Europeans on the continent before. But now with proper knowledge and wisdom we can unleash a new fury of Oyo again. Oyo Tunji means Oyo will rise again.

Accounting Feasibility:

4. We must be more feasible with our treasury. Meaning we must learn to bargain shop. Women are very good at this and that is why all over the world women control the budgets of families and the market in Africa. We must learn to resist the temptation to spend, spend, spend with our treasury collected. Besides money in the bank grows interest why yank it out so quickly? Our Youth Civil Corps must have advisory board and feasibility board who are appointed by your traditional leadership who yields this treasury. I suggest you respect Sango in the Alaafin and allow him and his court to be the only ones to approve spending or release of monies for public works projects. Too many hands on the money invites theft and mismanagement of funds and soon the public will see and refuse to give more. Scandal invites intrigue so avoid it like the plague. Set up the two boards as places where council members or board members can vote upon proposals that have come from listening to the people's immediate needs. Everyone should have input that's why Yorubaland has so many associations not to be divided but to include any the smallest ones in our government. Love for Africa as Africa has always promoted free and just society. All winning proposals should have at least a 2/3 vote before being signed by a reigning Chairman then forwarded to feasibility before approval by the Alaafin's court. This is a cabinet institution I am suggesting not a public or private one. This is exactly what you need as Yorubas. Sango speaks.

Now in summary, right now I like to mention the historical Sango as this Youth Civil Corps is called Sango Civil Corps. Sango is the yielder of the double axe of Justice. This entire suggestion is two fold or dual in that it tackles two much needed concerns, which are the building of the infrastructure of Oyo empire and the education of our youth. To me Sango was successful not because he did witchcraft or sorcery but because being an Ibeji at a time when Yorubas saw Ibeji as a curse and killed them he wasn't seen coming. Never let them see you coming. So the Alaafin hid his sons in the land of Nupe where their mother the Princess of Tapa was from. When Ajaka acended the throne he was ineffective at getting the war ministers to respect him as Alaafin this occurred at a time when the Yoruba outer lands were being seized and increasingly encroached upon by invaders. The Elders made a wise decision to remove Ajaka from the throne and Sango was fetched from the country side. Sango while living in the country side was a trained army man and knew how to lead. Sango was very effective in rebuilding Yoruba armies by instituting a higher standard of military discipline. Yorubas generals were now required to win battles or not return alive. A soldier is expected to die fighting for his country especially when his unarmed and untrained countrymen are being slaughtered and his world as he knows is being extinguished. An army who loses the total war actually dies because when they return there is no state to return to. This is crucial and needs to understood that there is no spookism in the worship of Sango. Because Sango is an ancestor or Egun who embodied Olodumare's spirit of justice, balance and equity. Sango was enlightened. The conflicting stories of his dethronement is a lesson that the Elders implanted that means no King no matter how great can be despotic or cruel towards the people. Sango was Africa's greatest king as he ruled over more territory than any other African king in history. I didn't know West Africa was so huge. But the present European map doesn't show her true size but Africa is a big mama I guess that's why Nigerians love big women. Lol. My joke here.

Anyone who has any content they can add may do so. I look forward to our new relationship and friendship from across the Atlantic. Please ask me questions and I will give you more content so that the details will be clear to all. Thank you.

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Re: Public Donations Can Lift Up African Kingdoms. Suggestions For Renaissance. by gatiano(m): 11:07pm On Jan 08, 2015
I like the first few lines of what you wrote, and this is what the enlightened black communities all over the world are coming up with. It is a fantastic idea and a way forward.
However, There is a lot that i need to learn about my culture, not religion. like the origin of the black people according to my culture, not myths, but fact, because i am 100% sure that the yorubas have it in full detail so are the other family tribes across the black nations. I love Black! I love Black nation, and i consider it the most perfect, i won't of all races because we are not a race racing anywhere, rather a Nation.
Have you read a book from a brother from Batwana Tribe? it is called Blackroots science, The summary of the book is in the link below
http://www.angelfire.com/planet/blackrootswisdom/BookPages1.html

The full book is available free on the internet and can be downloaded in pdf format. or you can read it on muurroots science.

Also is the teachings of Elijah Muhammad from The Nation of Islam (i beg you not to view this from religious angle), were it not for The NOI, i would have called your absolute idea nonsense. Don't get me wrong, i had always have a high self-esteem of myself, I only became sure of it through the Teachings of Elijah Muhammad, so i'm a Muslim. All religion come from the African(Black) Traditional Religion.
Black people have lost self worth, i knew this before i was 10, If you know sir, It is time you began awakening our families. It is only when you raise our awareness that we can or may comply with this absolute truth you wrote.
Re: Public Donations Can Lift Up African Kingdoms. Suggestions For Renaissance. by KingSango(m): 10:41pm On Jan 09, 2015
Asi Lami Lakium, I greet all Muslims in their culture out of respect for them.

I'm familiar with the Nation of Islam and the teachings of Elijah Muhammad. Yet knowing that the Nation of Islam focuses primarily upon Libya and Northern Africa and they try to stick close to Islamic power. I think this is not an issue and as we all came different parts of Africa and different things arise within us from our DNA that points into specific directions in Africa. Africa is a very big place with the most varied types of peoples and cultures in the whole world. There is enough room in the sky for 2 eagles to fly in Africa that's for sure. We need not collide with one another in our efforts to raise Africa. The Ooni of Ile Ife, who is the spiritual king of Yoruba land is a Muslim. The Alaafin who is the political King of Yoruba land is a Muslim. The president of Benin Republic is a Muslim. The former president of Senegal who ordered the building of the African Renaissance statue is a Muslim. Africans on the continent are acculturated meaning they have European culture and language but they do so for survival and still remain their traditions. So many Muslim Africans follow African traditions and go see traditional priests and priestesses like their ancestors always have done. As pro Islam as Hausa put on they still also go see traditional African clergy.

Change is always gradual and should be implemented that way in your practice. Keep practicing Islam but learn your African traditions. African diaspora are assimilated meaning the only culture and language you know are of your former European slave masters. This is not good for you as it will prevent you from connecting with your brothers and sisters when you arrive in Africa, as well as this is a hindrance in Africans communicating with each other as language is culture as well as symbolism. The story of Shabazz that is taught in the Nation Of Islam is Arab racism. Africans did not originate in Arabia or Asia. As yall say, "The Black man is the original man the Asiatic Blackman, cream, maker of the planet Earth and God of the universe". This may sit well with the pride of a destroyed Blackman but isn't true. All humans beings originated in Africa and as did all civilization. The story of Shabazz taking his tribe down into the jungles of Africa and reverting to savagery is false but even worst implanted Arab racism. I don't think Elijah Muhammad knew what it was he was teaching as he didn't even go to Africa or Asia to investigate any of Fard's claims before promoting them. When Malcolm X went to Mecca I think he went before Elijah even went and I think Wallace Elijah's son studied in Mecca so he saw much of what Elijah taught wasn't true too!

Don't get me wrong Elijah Muhammad was divinely inspired. Anybody that risks his life for a noble cause is divinely inspired. We have to stop thinking this is some kind of unique calling rather than an answer of what must be done by brave men and women. So few were brave enough in that time of the early 20th century to challenge White Supremacy when they were lynching Blackmen by the thousands. Also Europeans were slicing up Africa and held absolute power all over the Earth. So Elijah Muhammad was a very special man considering the great accomplishments he made that were more like miracles. But others heroic Africans worldwide have done great feats as well in response to the call of love and justice. Let not your pride in your leader be a divider to find out the truth. Elijah Muhammad was a great great African as was Malcolm X, Noble Drew Ali and is Louis Farrakhan.

There's no older civilization on Earth compared to Africa, all the bones and stones dug up verify Africa's ancient roots as the origin of mankind. So any story or expert that is telling you that civilization came from somewhere else you have to take that with a grain of salt. Personally I say save the salt and throw out the garbage.

As for the Yoruba people they go back a very long, long way. There are two stories of creation in Yorubaland one featuring Obatala as the originator of Ile Ife and and creator of mankind and another one with Odduwa his brother as the originator or finisher of what Obatala started. There may have been two pivotal points I believe in these myths of Yoruba civilizaton. First off the holy city Ile Ife goes back 10,000 years before the Birth of Christ maybe more like 12,000 to 15,000 as West Africans were smoldering metal way back then. You can't cut down trees and create farm land with cave man tools like stone axes. grin I think cave man mostly used those to tools to kill each other. grin Ile Ife is the spot where Obatala or Odduwa was supposed to have created mankind. 15,000 years ago Egypt would be just starting as a kingdom as well. It is my belief both of these great African centres began around the same time. For whatever reason Yorubas left Ile Ife and went to join their brothers and sisters in East Africa for an explosive civilization building adventure. Ancient Kemet or Egypt may have been the result of many Africans worldwide combining their resources, knowledge and power more like an African Union that we have today. But as we know Egypt collapsed many times under a weight of problems, and suffered upheavals, different groups amongst them had disagreements and some felt a need to no longer be apart of it. There are stories of these turmoil's and they are not well known but they speak of this collapse occurring in stages. That slowly Egypt began to erode after foreign intrusion into their country. Odduwa an ancient Yoruba king is said to have left with his people and returned to Ile Ife, the place of their ancestral origin. Once they arrived they encountered Igbo people who were living there then. There was conflict between the Igbos and Yorubas but the Yorubas insisted the land was their ancestors land that was being occupied by the Igbos. Without getting into the divisive issue war ensued and the Yorubas managed to win the war and drive the Igbos out of Ile Ife. Some say the farm land was the real issue here. Farm land doesn't just appear out of nowhere you have to till the land first and that means cutting down brush and big trees, taking up roots and preparing the soil. This is hardwork and Igbos were not originally farmers but hunters so the land of Ile Ife wasn't theirs they just moved there after many Yorubas migrated to Egypt. But in the end who cares? We are all Africans and that was a long time ago.

The program I have posted is very possible and many such programs are happening on the continent. But none of them are like I just described or more detailed that what I just described. But our African ancestors did originate the concept of Youth Civil Corps long before I ever thought of it. This is how the pyramids were built.

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