HARAMBEE GLOBAL RENAISSANCE DRUM CALL FOR LIBERATION AND SOVEREIGNTY

HARAMBEE GLOBAL RENAISSANCE DRUM CALL

FOR LIBERATION AND SOVEREIGNTY

The African Drum has long been an instrument of communication and spiritual healing and expression. Even when drums were denied to South African miners, they duplicated the beats of the drum by patting on there boots, thus, the Boot Dance. As one of the first instruments the drum has been used to call our people to action, to express reverence and adoration in spiritual ceremonies, and to announce the comings and goings of our spirits upon such events as birth and death. Many African beats and rhythms are said to be formulated with mathmatical precision and to be in harmony with vibratory frequencies in the universe and cosmos. This is not an esoteric conclusion, but a highly evolved spiritual one, which permeates African Culture. It is with this backdrop, that we, African People, Rescue and Ressurect the meaning, substance and symbol which the drum has had to the African Community.

In many African ceremonial rituals, the Drum Call is performed first, to awaken consciousness, welcome ancestors and the unborn into our midst, and to call on the participation and engagement of participants in sacred and community oriented activity. We, African People, again, call on our Drum Circles and Dancers to do Drum Call, but this time for Liberation and a Higher Level of Life for the entire Global Pan African Community. We do Drum Call to revere and honor our Ancestors who sacrificed that we might have a fuller, more fulfilling life. We do Drum call for those who continue to wage Revolution in pursuit of a Sovereignty and Dignity which allows African Descendent Peoples to determine their own destiny and future. We do Drum Call for our children now, and those unborn that they might fashion and achieve a Pan African Community reflective of our ancestors' vision and which gives adoration to those Heroes and Heroines, who have given their life in Revolutionary Struggle.

8 FOLD PATHS TO AFRICAN RENAISSANCE

1. Unity of the Pan African Community – Continental and Diasporan using Operational Unity
2. Self Determination and Sovereignty – Recognition of and Engagement in determining our own destiny and future.
3. Food Security – NO GMO Seeds on African land; Build seed banks; Urban and personal gardening; Redefining Healthy food as Soul Food.
4. The Ascension of Black Women to Queens and Goddesses – and their shared Role in building viable and sustainable Institutions and Industries for and in our communities. A key industry Associated with this Ascension is the Natural Hair and African Centered Design Industries.
5. Adopting and Adapting Traditional African Institutions into the Revolutionary Process – Cultural Revolution is defined by the quality of institutional structures which promote and advocate for progressive African values, ethics, and morality systems. Among the most Pan African are the Nguzo Saba and Ma'at Those Institutions worthy of rescue and reconstruction are Council of Elders, Queen Mother Associations, Rite of Passage, Arusi (African Marriage), Maziko (African funeral or transition ceremonies), Akika (African Naming Ceremony), Pan African Flag (Bendera), Pan African Song

6. Reclamation of African Land from Alien Hands and Reparations – No African has the right to sell African Land to NON African descendent aliens; Every African Descendent affected by the
   Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and subsequent Colonization has the right and responsibility to be made whole via some form of agreed to, compensation.
7. The raising up of a Pan African Youth Corps and/or Simba Wachanga - which are responsible for the defense and development of our Global Pan African Communities and who serve as added Gatekeepers for the preservation and promotion of African Culture, Values, Institutions, and the unique African Personality.
8. Healing on a Personal and Collective Level - Healing from the forced displacement and dispersement of our people from our Homeland. This healing process is currently being defined by our healing community and involves ritual, herbs nutrition, prayer and active engagement in a significant and substantive manner, the process of making Cultural Revolution.
   
   

   
   

PROCESS, RITUAL AND PROCEDURE

1. DAYS: First and last days of Kwanzaa - Umoja/Unity and Imani/Faith. Early morning or Evening Event
2. VENUES – Parks, Halls, Community/Convention/Culture Centers
3. RITUAL –
   A. Umoja Day - is more celebratory and is a call to Unity and Unification of Africa and Diaspora. The Fihankra Chief will issue a major address which gives focus for the upcoming year. After the Drum Call (which should be a standard beat chosen by a committee of Master Drummers), the Standard Dance for this event, will be the Zulu Warrior Dance which will be done by young males and females. The rationale for selecting one dance as standard is that it would serve as a unifying factor for youth, and give them something in common which they all can identify with as a unifying African cultural activity. Also, Chaka and the Zulu Warriors, have historically been the symbol and substance of the African Warrior Spirit in opposition to alien intrusion and domination. No matter which part of the African world they travel too, all African youth will know the Harambee Drum Beat, Dance and Song. The Dress, shield and spears should be uniform. The Dance, Drumming and Song should be incorporated into all Pan African Youth Corps and Rites of Passage curriculum and orientation.
   (1) Libation, which reveres and invites our ancestors to enjoin the celebration, should be performed by an accepted Cultural Leader in your community.
   (2) Speakers at this event should focus on each of the 8 Paths to African Renaissance (above).
   (3) Karamu – Optional. It is up to the discretion of the organizers if they wish to have a mini or major Karamu (Feast) at the conclusion of the event.
   
   

   
   
   B. Imani Day – Imani Day marks the end of one year, and the beginning of another, and therefore it's Drum Call and Dance movements should be more solemn and sacred allowing participants to be contemplative about the lessons of the past, even while charting a path to our collective and personal vision of the future. The African Warrior no matter where from, engages in a Movement to Restore the Ancient Values and Ethics passed down to us by our Ancient Kemetic Ancestors, in the form of Ma'at. Therefore, speakers at this event should focus on the Seven Cardinal Virtues of Ma'at; Truth, Justice, Balance, Harmony, Order, Propriety and Reciprocity. Master Drummers (and Koro players) are mandated to submit beats or vibrations to be chosen along with a Council of Elders, or in their absence, the Fihankra Queen. It is suggested this event begin on the eve of the day, Kuumba, and end after 12am Midnight on Imani. Again, Council of Elders are encouraged to make sure that Youth are intricately engaged in these rituals and re-enforcing gestures, which, in turn, support African Values and Ethics. Drum Interludes can be conducted all during program.