Continued... Nkrumah is still very influential among pan-Africanists today. A thinker and writer, one of his most famous books is 'Neocolonialism - The Last Stage of Imperialism.' In this book, first published in 1965, Nkrumah notes that, 'the foreign firms who exploit our resources long ago saw the strength to be gained from acting on a pan-African scale. By means of interlocking directorships, cross-shareholdings and other devices, groups of apparently different companies have formed, in fact, one enormous capitalist monopoly. The only effective way to challenge this economic empire and to recover possession of our heritage, is for us also to act on a pan-African basis, through a Union Government.'

Africans continue to draw inspiration from his contribution to pan-African thought. His still-relevant ideas are a testament to his foresight and understanding of the African struggle. We honour his memory by carrying on the struggle he devoted his life to: to free Africa for the benefit of its people.

How has he inspired you?

THE SOUTH AFRICAN EXILE REPATRIATION PROJECT

Throughout September, South Africa is marking Heritage Month. This year, it is “celebrating the lives of our heroes and heroines who laid down their lives for our freedom.”

The annual event draws attention to various aspects of South African culture, such as creative expression, music, historical inheritance and language.

This month, the government is also launching the Exile Repatriation Project. This initiative aims at bringing home the human remains of South African freedom fighters who died in exile - as well as of people whose bodies were collected illegally or unethically in South Africa or overseas for the purpose of, for example, racial research.

It’s hoped the project will bring closure to families, and help facilitate healing and restoration as a nation.

Continued...
During the era of struggle, several African countries played a crucial role in supporting and sheltering South African exiles - for example, Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Libya, Mozambique, Nigeria and Uganda. Zambia hosted the ANC headquarters in Lusaka and Ethiopia hosted the first ANC office in exile in Addis Ababa in the 1960s. Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Angola provided training camps.

Sources:

https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/president-ramaphosa-honour-memory-struggle-stalwarts#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20repatriation%20headed%20by%20the,Presidential%20Spokesperson%2C%20Vincent%20Magwenya%20said.

https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2024-09-06-government-to-launch-exile-repatriation-programme-during-heritage-month/

SUDAN'S UNDYING SPIRIT 17 MONTHS INTO WAR

Two Sudanese men typify the war-torn country's unbowed spirit as the 17-month-long conflict rumbles on. British outlet Channel 4 News featured Rasheed Ahmed and Mohammed Bannaga in a May story about the situation.

Ahmed, from the city of Omdurman, vowed to rebuild his shattered home once the war ends. Bannaga, a medical doctor, has risked his life by staying behind and starting a soup kitchen to assist displaced people. It's the kind of spirit needed to rebuild Africa's third-largest country by area.

The war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, and propped up by foreign states, has displaced over 10 million Sudanese and k*lled nearly 19,000 (with the US envoy reporting in May that figure might be 150,000). Meanwhile, 25.6 million people suffer acute hunger, and 755,000 are on the brink of famine.

Continued... International media has largely kept Sudan out of their news cycles as global attention has focused on Gaza and Ukraine. But Sudan's situation is already catastrophic, with no clear end in sight.

Sources:

https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/07/1152596

https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudan-500-days-death-devastation-and-destruction

https://www.genocidewatch.com/single-post/nine-million-people-have-fled-up-to-150-000-are-dead-no-one-is-talking-about-it

https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/sudan

https://nation.africa/africa/news/uae-fingered-again-in-sudan-arms-violations--4658596

https://www.rescue.org/article/crisis-sudan-what-happening-and-how-help

https://www.nrc.no/feature/2024/can-the-world-afford-another-crisis

https://sudan.iom.int/news/sudan-internal-displacement-set-top-10-million-famine-looms-iom

CHRISTIAN ZI*NISM IN AFRICA

Why do Christians in Africa strongly support the settler-colonial ideology of Zi*nism, despite living on a continent still reckoning with the legacy of colonialism?

To understand this phenomenon, we spoke to an Anglican minister who is no stranger to the subject: Stephen Sizer. He is an author and scholar with extensive research and publications on the interconnection between Christianity and Zionism, including his influential work, 'Christian Zionism: Road-map to Armageddon?'

Continued...

In this interview, he unravelled the complex relationship between African churches and Christian Zionist benefactors from the 'Bible Belt,' a region of the southern United States where socially conservative Protestantism reigns, influencing elections and cultural values. Slavery and racism were and still are entrenched in this area.

Sizer explained how foreign funding forces African churches to align their doctrines with these Christian Zionist benefactors. As a result, many African Christians defend Israel, wrongly believing they are supporting 'God's chosen people.'

Since 7 October 2023, Africa's position on Israel's occupation and ongoing military onslaught in Gaza has split. Kenya, Zambia, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo came out in support of Israel. Meanwhile, South Africa and Algeria are among the states that have expressed full solidarity with Palestinians.

Our position as African Stream has been to expose imperialism in all its forms, especially against Africans and people of African descent wherever they are. We also stand in solidarity with Palestinians in their struggle against Israel's apartheid and racism. Our clear stand has earned us the wrath of US imperialists, who have used tech giants to silence us by deleting four of our social media accounts: Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube.

We think a return to the authentic faith initiated by the anti-imperialist Jesus Christ—that of being peacemakers, not widowmakers—could go a long way in healing the world. A faith that embraces all regardless of race, tribe, social status or other criteria.

What are your thoughts on Sizer's take? Let us know in the comments.

SOURCES:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/02/12/black-zionists-israel/

https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/03/1114702

https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/8605/25372

https://www.theracialequityinitiative.org/anti-black-racism-in-israel/

https://www.blackagendareport.com/why-africans-black-folks-should-oppose-zionism-some-aspects-racist-imperialist-ideology-africa-and

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2018/3/29/black-lives-do-not-matter-in-israel

https://thepanafrikanist.com/leaving-christian-zionism-i-was-blind-but-now-i-can-see/

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/10/14/israel-hamas-war-why-is-africa-divided-on-supporting-palestine

https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/07/19/world-court-finds-israel-responsible-apartheid#:~:text=%22In%20a%20historic%20ruling%20the,finding%20Israel%20responsible%20for%20apartheid.

https://www.christianitytoday.com/1992/01/why-christians-supported-slavery/

3RD PROGRESSIVE OPTION IN U.S. ELECTION?

The Republican and Democratic parties dominate US electoral politics. Political actors divide the North American country's 50 states into so-called 'blue' (Democratic) and 'red' (Republican) states based on how their populations tend to vote. That's why parties invest much time campaigning in the few 'swing' states that don't show that tendency.

The Green Party, an independent option, is particularly relevant to Africans on the continent and in the diaspora. This party advocates social justice, reparations, environmentalism, and an end to US imperialistic militarism abroad, among other policies. Its presidential nominee, Jill Stein, a graduate of Harvard Medical School, has long criticised Democrats and Republicans, describing them as 'zombie parties that are completely out of touch.'

Video credit: Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM (@breakfastclubam)

Continued...
Stein's vice-presidential pick, Rudolph 'Butch' T. Bilal Ware III, is a 50-year-old Black Muslim activist and professor specialising in the history of empire, colonialism, genocide and revolution, with an emphasis on the history of revolutionary movements in West Africa.

In this clip from The Breakfast Club's 10 September interview that went viral, Ware said a vote for the Green Party would give it the mandate to follow through with its pledge of paying reparations to descendants of enslaved Africans and bring about an enduring ceasefire in Gaza.

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Green-Party-of-the-United-States

https://www.gp.org/the_green_party_is_the_party_of_hope

https://www.gp.org/the_green_party_is_the_party_of_hope

https://news.gallup.com/poll/512135/support-third-political-party.aspx

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/1/26/can-the-us-ever-break-the-two-party-binary

HAVFY: RAPPING ON NON-NATIVE ENGLISH MOCKERY

Have you ever heard native English speakers mocking someone for speaking English in a 'African accent'?

While mastering the language can be important for some, Nigerian award-winning spoken-word artist Havfy (@havfy) argues it's no reason to belittle anyone.

She captures this sentiment in her powerful piece, 'To the Girl in English Class,' urging us to take pride in our African identity, regardless of language fluency. Havfy reminds us that our intelligence and values are not tied to English fluency, and that an 'accent' only indicates survival. Plus, the artist relays that she is engaged in a decolonial process, where those who mock her should learn her language.

We think the African accent is powerful and is an act of resistance. What's your thoughts?

Video credit: @havfy
Mixed and mastered: @makesenseproducer
Videography: @spectrummedia

SOUTH AFRICA’S FIRST BALLON D’OR NOMINATION

Content creator Goolam Sayneds (@sayneds) breaks down how Ronwen Williams (@ronwen30) has become the first South African ever to be nominated for a Ballon d’Or award.

His nomination is in the Yashin Trophy category - and is a recognition of his goalkeeping excellence for both Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns.

The Yashin Trophy, named after legendary Russian goalkeeper Lev Yashin, honours the best in the position, and Williams has proven himself deserving with incredible performances in the 2023/2024 season.

He played a crucial role in Mamelodi Sundowns' triumphs in the African Football League and PSL noscripts. His impact was equally impressive for the South African national team, where he kept five clean sheets in seven games at AFCON.

Video Credit: Goolam Sayneds

Continued... A standout moment came when he saved four penalties against Cape Verde, leading South Africa to the semi-finals and earning him the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award.

Competing against top goalkeepers like Gianluigi Donnarumma from PSG and Emiliano Martínez from Aston Villa, Ronwen has cemented his place among the giants of world football. His nomination for the Yashin Trophy is a milestone for South African football, and as we approach the Ballon d’Or awards on October 28th, the entire continent stands behind him, with pride and admiration.

Sources:

https://www.cafonline.com/news/williams-makes-history-as-first-african-based-footballer-to-make-ballon-d-or-nominees-list/

https://www.news24.com/sport/soccer/psl/bafana-star-williams-makes-history-as-first-south-african-nominated-at-ballon-dor-awards-20240905

https://punchng.com/ballon-dor-south-african-goalie-williams-gets-first-ever-african-based-player-nomination/?amp

BEFORE COLUMBUS: AFRICANS IN AMERICA

In 1498, Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) took a third voyage from Spain to the Americas to further extract wealth. Looking for new routes to Asia from Europe, and in search of silk and spices, among other goods, his first sailing attempt in 1492 had brought him to the Americas. Scholars wrongfully described his findings as 'discoveries,' as people had established civilisations in the Americas long before his arrival.

In this 1997 clip, Afro-Guyanese scholar Ivan Van Sertima (1935-2009) provided examples of Africans reaching the Americas before Columbus.

Video credit: TVO (@wearetvo on IG, @tvo on X)

Continued...
His evidence for this, is Columbus' own admission, as noted by Spanish clergyman and writer Bartolomé de Las Casas' writings recounting his 1498 voyage with Columbus, that 'there had come to Española from the south and south-east, a Black people who have the tops of their spears made of a metal which they call guanin, of which he [Columbus] had sent samples to the Sovereigns to have them assayed, when it was found that of 32 parts, 18 were of gold, six of silver and eight of copper.'

Here, Sertima elaborates on how the names these Black people used for their spears can be linked to sounds from West Africa.

Why do you think Christopher Columbus is still credited with the 'discovery' of the Americas?

Sources:

They Came Before Columbus: The African Presence in Ancient America (1976)

https://www.americanjourneys.org/AJ_PDF/AJ-066.pdf

http://shipsofdiscovery.org/columbus-the-age-of-exploration/columbus-lost-ships/1498-2