PORTSMOUTH – The rhythms and sounds of the African drums, the soulful chants, and the bon fire; symbolic of purification and the ascension to heaven of the prayers and praises of the Nyahbinghi Brethren gathered at the Benjamin’s Park in Portsmouth yesterday signaled the start of African Liberation Day 2011 observance.
On this 48th anniversary, the Nyahbinghi Brethren celebrated under the theme ‘Patriarchs of African Liberation from our Waitukubuli’ in honour of three prominent personalitites who they believed have significantly contributed to the development and deepening awareness of the African consciousness in Dominica.
This year’s observance began at 4:00 pm with a march from Glanvillia and through the town of Portsmouth to ‘communicate the feeling of African Liberation and to demonstrate the divine love and recognition of its brethren’ as they promote ‘one God, one aim, one destiny’, organizers said. The event continued with a fire lighting ceremony followed by remarks and drumming and chanting.
The Honorees at this event were deceased Premier Edward O. Leblanc, for his contribution to culture and the uplifting of the poor working class, deceased Prime Minister Roosevelt Douglas, cited as ‘Father of African Liberation in Dominica and Mr. Isaiah ‘Zaii’ Emmanuel John for his strong ‘Garveyism’ intellect and promotion. Organizers said they wanted to bring recognition to these local men as they have done with other persons in the struggle such as Nelson Mandela, Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
Mayor of Portsmouth, Vernon Daniel who gave brief remarks, recalled his childhood memories of the relationship between former PM Douglas and his grandfather, Mr. Isaiah E. John and his inculcation of black consciousness through these men as he grew up. He urged the Brethren to continue the educational drive to keep the flame of African consciousness burning for generations to understand and appreciate that awareness.
Remarks also came from the ranks of the Nyahbinghi brethren interwoven with drumming and chant. The young Paix Bouche drummers also made their contribution.
Organizers and other individuals who gathered for the observance were pleased that the event went without interruption.
INI take this moment to Give praise to all Ones & Ones who worked alonside INI saw this observance to fulfillmant, the Media, DNO, DBS, KAIRI, Dominica Brewery, Ras Kelly Tours & driver, Portsmouth Town Council and Sports Community(Benjamin Park), Fire Service (P/mouth overlooking our borne fire) Police Office (p/mouth) guiding the march along the chosen route, Events & Things (tents Dewa give praise) Air Bloss (printing and copying), RasTaFari Community of the North and all patrons who were around INI to offer support.
De Almighty Guide, Protect De I dem…
One Love RasTaFari.
African Liberation Day 2011.
It seems I left out some of the hands and hearts that saw the activities to fulfillmant, wow, Benet Sound System and Crew, my brother with out you we had no sound give praise & big up, family companions and well wishers …. yow the lists goes ono & on …
One Love RasTaFari…..
Guideyance & Itection …..
What is said not all culture is good . there are things you can embrace but there are things you need to refrain from.
eg. for the simple minds : if culturally you was born in Ghana and your fathers worship the moon – you do not fall in the culture and do the same.
Dont give the Rasta folks any bad name. They are intelligent people like ourselves with blood coursing through their veins. The African Liberation Day 2011 celebrations was a great effort on their part and we should respect their beliefs and practices.
I do not support rastafarianism as my spiritual upliftment,but Kubilian,what that means i don’t know and i am not in full agreement with u Kubilian.I am a firm believer and knower of the messiah and the CHRIST,but culture and tradition if u truely knew the significance some of the comments coming from u would not have been made,i can sense how naiive u are.From time imemorial it’s written in the bible men has always culturally served GOD,JESUS as his custom was it’s written, done certain things certain ways,is that not a culture a way of doing things?The way u choose to worwship is a culture,just wanna brief u my brother can’t go into every detail now.
DNO come on i think you leave out some of the story.
Drumming and chanting and no weed smoking. come on tell us the place was up in good smoke. lol
Blessed
What does it all mean will someone please explain?
where are the african youts
Its a Blessing that Dominicans are not taking part in that Rasta rubbish which has
– no roots
– no foundation
– and little to no significant
– the Rastafarian movement is not recognize as any root or roots of the African culture
It merely bring about the awareness of out African heritage which is questionable; since not all culture is Godly. Though we can appreciate the fact of our roots, we cannot continue to practice our ancestral tradition in entirety since it is rooted in occult and devil worship .
The word or Christ supper seed our African culture and forbids some of such practice.
So i feel good when i see 20 weed smokers walking around beating drums as a posted to hundreds of Dominicans.
I believe that the so call Rastafarian of Dominica needs to wise up and get to know the Lord of lords and the True King of all kings the real concurring lion from the Tribe of Judea, the Bright and Morning star, Bread of Life , Living Water, Lord of Hope, Lord or Glory, Son of the Living GOD, The Author and the Finisher, Alpha and the Omega, Lamb of God .. who died us all.
Accept the invitation – he says come to me – you who are thirsty and i will give you to drink of that living water , the door is open ! Come.
Ppl like you give Christianity a bad name! What you aim to achieve by crying down a peaceful event the ppl had to celebrate Black awareness? If you have an issue with it SHUT YOUR mouth. They should apply that law to those of the Ignoramus Tribe like you. Grace…You are really a shame…better DNO had ignored your dumb comment.
Dumb Kubilian, how dumb can you be to deny African connection the Rastafarian movement and AFrican liberation Day as insignificant. You need to wise up and stop worshiping a figure painted by Michael Angelo as your savior. You need mental liberation so that you can understand African Liberation
rasta shares the same old testament with christianity judaism and islam
While I don’t support Rastafarianism, I hate christianity even more. Christianity has promoted the most Atrocious acts on the face of this earth and has been responsible for the murder and wanton slaughter of MILLIONS of INNOCENT people over the past centuries. Christianity IS NOT THE RELIGION OF BLACK PEOPLE, BUT was created to enslave the world. I will not worship a GOD who sits idly by while my innocent brothers and sisters perish from hunger, disease and all kinds of suffering. Such a God is not worthy of praise.
May God have mercy on you for you know not what you are doing.
I bet you are amazed by the July 4th fireworks in the states and that you are thrilled by the anthem, God Save the Queen. But you disown your African ancestry? Who should we worship, Allah, Yaweh, Buddah, Jehovah, Jah or Mohammed? I bet you do not know. You are confused and only accept what was forcefully handed down to you.
Positive work Nyahbinghi. Keep the African Liberation flame burning. May 25th 1963 was the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). It was founded when Africans were up in arms for their independence from European colonialism. Kwame Nkruma of Ghana was the founding father of the OAU.
” It was founded when Africans were up in arms for their independence from European colonialism.”
you are right ! Tell me where Rastafarians play a roll there! – YOU all need to get Wise UP –
I use to think like you guys think so i can forgive you all be do me a favor and do some research! you got google
come on.
On April 15, 1958, in the city of Accra Ghana, African leaders and political activists gathered at the first Conference of Independent African States. It was attended by representatives of the governments of Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, The United Arab Republic (which was the federation of Egypt and Syria) and representatives of the National Liberation Front of Algeria and the Union of Cameroonian Peoples. This conference was significant in that it represented the first Pan-African Conference held on African soil. It was also significant in that it represented the collective expression of African People’s disgust with the system of colonialism and imperialism, which brought so much suffering to African People. Further, it represented the collective will to see the system of colonialism permanently done away with.
After 500 years of the most brutal suffering known to humanity, the rape of Africa and the subsequent slave trade, which cost Africa in excess of 100,000,000 of her children, the masses of African People singularly, separately, individually, in small disconnected groupings for centuries had said, “enough”! But in 1958, at the Accra Conference, it was being said in ways that emphasized joint, coordinated and unified action.
This conference gave sharp clarity and definition to Pan-Africanism, the total liberation and unification of Africa under scientific socialism. The conference as well laid the foundation and the strategy for the further intensification and coordination of the next stage of the African Revolution, for the liberation of the rest of Africa, and eventual and complete unification.
The Conference called for the founding of African Freedom Day, a day to, “mark each year the onward progress of the liberation movement, and to symbolize the determination of the People of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation.”
Five years later after the First Conference of Independent African States in the city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia another historical meeting occurred. On May 25, 1963, leaders of thirty-two independent African States met to form the Organization of African Unity (OAU). By then more than two thirds of the continent had achieved independence from colonial rule. At this historic meeting the date of Africa Freedom Day was changed from April 15th to May 25th and Africa Freedom Day was declared African Liberation Day (ALD). African Liberation Day has been held on May 25th in every corner of the world since.
African Liberation Day as an institution within the Pan-African movement reflects the growth and development of Pan-Africanism. When Pan-Africanism was faced with fighting colonialism, the focus of African Liberation Day was on the anti-colonial struggle and the fight for national independence. As Pan-Africanism grew stronger and developed into a more mature objective, African Liberation Day activities reflected this maturation.
African Liberation Day has contributed to the struggle to raise the level of political awareness and organization in African communities worldwide. It has further been used as a tool to provide a platform for many African and other oppressed peoples to inform the African masses about their respective struggles for true liberation and development. Particularly for Southern Africa, African Liberation Day played a critical role in the defeat of colonialism and apartheid. It inspired others to support through various progressive organizations, liberation committees and movements both in Africa and the socialist countries around the world, the building of anti-colonial and national liberation movements by generating arms for the freedom fighters, offering a platform where the world could receive political education on the nature of the struggle, and providing a mass assembly where the spirit and moral of the freedom fighters could be reinvigorated.
African Liberation Day has helped to expose U.S. led imperialism, Zionism and colonialism as enemies of Africa. Imperialists for decades have attempted to distance African Liberation Day (and the African Revolution in general) from the struggle for socialism. Remember that it was, and is, capitalist Europe, and not the Soviet Union, Cuba, North Korea, China or Vietnam which occupied, colonized and exploited Africa. Several states in Africa today stand independent because of military and other assistance from socialist countries.
From the first ALD held in Accra, Ghana where Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah planted the first seed to the hundreds of African Liberation Day observances which have occurred all over the world. African Liberation Day stands committed to the struggle for national independence, African redemption, African liberation, African unification and scientific socialism. Today African Liberation Day activities are being organized throughout Africa and all over the world where African people are living and struggling. The journey down the Revolutionary path can only be accomplished by joining a revolutionary organization working for the people. The freedom of Africa and African people demands revolutionary action through revolutionary organization
i suspect u drinking too much kubuli!!!lol
@Kubilian,
that’s why we spent over 400 years in slavery as oppose to none. That’s why every nation and creed laughs at the blacks and the Africans and treat us like nothing, because of sell-offs like you. You are what Malcolm X the grand son of a white Man called the house slave.
Positive vibes…hold on strong brethren.
…and sistren too…
dominicans do not know anything about black history,and there fallen soldiers its a shame.
poorly written story
it was not a sorry i just quickly gave my views. maybe you should share yours.
it may help others
it is a shame that dominicans are not participating in this movement,