Out of Africa

“If we as a people realized the greatness from which we came, we would be less likely to disrespect ourselves.” ― Marcus Mosiah Garvey

 Biden’s legacy in the USA has not been particularly good, dropping from 61% in 2021 to a mere 37% favorability today, according to some polls. 

However, I suspect that with his pardoning our first national hero, Pan-Africanist Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey, it will be much higher among Jamaicans.

I am of course aware that we still have a significant number of Jamaicans who do not wish to highlight or celebrate our association with Africa or may even not realize the revolutionary developments made on the continent before slavery distorted the records, so of course they will not celebrate.

I know these people are an insignificant minority, but even I know at least one such person! And while I know he is also a staunch MAGA, when I texted him the news about Garvey, even I was shocked when he replied that Garvey was a criminal and shouldn’t be pardoned!  

Oh well, every human, no matter how accomplished, will always have detractors.

So, while we and most of the black world may celebrate this pardon as a great first step, we must be cognizant of the fact that in the USA which leads the white world, it will probably take another century before he is recorded in their textbooks as anything but a criminal, as my daughter who is a teacher in Colorado tells me is the current situation.

In the meantime, I am waiting to see how long it will take for Jamaica to introduce the philosophies of Garvey in our own schools!

My interest in Africa and things African did not start today, as from my paternal grandmother told me when I was around six years old, that we were descendants of the warrior Mandingo tribe and therefore must always stand up for our rights, I have always wanted to visit the continent and know more about my heritage.

However, due to the immense cost of traveling to the continent, I never got the opportunity to do so until friends invited me to visit them in Kenya in 2018. (That was after I had moved to the USA where we can find good airfares, due to the competition among the myriad of airlines here.)

My most culturally insightful trip to the continent however did not take place not until 2023, when my granddaughter, daughter, and I visited Ghana to get our true names, on a trip organized by my daughter, an active member of Black Lives Matter.

 There, the names you are given have real meaning, as they depend on your age, the day on which you were born, your gender, the position you fall among your siblings etc.

My African name is Korleki and I am now a member of the Krobo Tribe. 

 Ghanaians know which tribe someone belongs to by their name.

 Our naming ceremony was performed in the village of Odumase Krobo, which is around four hours away by road from the capital Accra. 

 Before going to the community center where the ceremony was performed, we had to stop to pay homage to our Chief Nene Sakitey, who was also President of the Ghanaian Council of Chiefs, an elected position.

 He told us through an interpreter, that all African descendants born in the diaspora are welcomed to his country, but we must always have an open mind, as there are many cultural differences.

(That’s when I learned that women were not allowed to cross their legs when sitting in the presence of the Chief!😢)

 At that session, I also learned a few tribal differences too. For example, different tribes have different naming rituals, so members of the Ashanti tribe have names all beginning in AS. 

Further, Krobo parents can only pass down their surnames to their children, but it's different in the Ashanti. Also, because African names are so difficult to pronounce, many Ghanaians use their surnames as first names when introducing themselves!

 It was a most enlightening and educational session with our Chief.

 Later at the actual naming ceremony, I found that aspects of the rituals there were similar to what the Accompong Maroons practice at their annual festival in St. Elizabeth.

 So libation, (where liquor is poured on the ground for the ancestors)  is continuous and the drumming and dancing is similar. However, while in Ghana the liquor used was vodka and none was imbibed during the ceremony, our Maroons (in Jamaica) use white rum and sip a lot of it regularly.

 More on my experiences in Ghana anon.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

-- 

A cultural awakening

I have experienced many cultural events in my long life, but the ceremony in which I participated  to replace my anglicized name with an African one, was among one of the most interesting I have ever participated in.

The Chief Nene Sackitey

This was in the village of Odumase Krobo which is around 4 hours away from Accra in Ghana. 

To prepare for the ceremony we had to dress in white, but were wrapped in the traditional robe of Ghana to get our new names.

Part of the official outfit includes a straw bracelet which one must wear until it falls off then keep in a secure place.

A closeup of the straw bracelet and bead bracelet made from recycled glass I was fitted with.

Decked out in white on the way to the ceremony.

Ike and I.

We were the ones receiving African names.

L-r my granddaughter Madelyn, her mom Michele, neighbor Cheryl, friend Ike organizer Samantha, friend Daniel and myself.

Before going to the ceremony, we had to stop to see Chief.

His name is Nene Sakitey. His is an inherited title but apart from being the chief of the Krobo, he is President of the Chief Council of Ghana.

   He was educated in the USA and lived there for 25 years. 

The reason for our visit was outlined by Ike, in their local languages. The Chief then addressed us in the Krobo language before repeating his message in English.

 He advised that all in the diaspora are welcomed to Ghana but we must come with an open mind, recognizing that the cultures are different. Examples cited were that while so-called LGBTQ is ok in America it's not ok in Ghana while the opposite is true of polygamy, quickly assuring us though that he personally had only had one wife. (We never met or saw his wife as during the visit, the officials were all male).

In front of the chief is an empty chair to prevent anyone from sitting in front of him.

On the way to the naming ceremony, we had to stop to pay homage to the chief. Samantha and some minor Chiefs also gave him gifts.

The chief's interpreter carries a solid gold staff, (which no one else can touch). The interpreter speaks English, French, German plus many local languages, Beside him is the chief's valet.

A closeup of the figures on the top of the interpreter's solid gold staff.

Newly named, we posed with the Queen mothers and minor chiefs.

We took pictures in front of the chief's Palace after meeting with him. He did not follow us downstairs.

 

My new name is: tada.....

Posing with our new names

 My name is designated by the day of the week I was born, my gender, whether I am first born, second, third etc. 

Ghanaians can tell what tribe you belong to by your name.

Different tribes have different rituals though, so for example, members of the Ashanti tribe (the largest tribe) have names all beginning in AS.

Further, whereas Krobo parents can only pass down their surname to their children, it's different in the Ashanti. 

Because African names are so difficult to pronounce and remember, many Ghanaians use their surnames as first names when introducing themselves.

Lots of dancing and fun after getting our new names.

                                                                                                         The Palace.

Standing between the Linguist and a minor Chief who was my surrogate father during the ceremony.

Link;

https://youtu.be/lQ_fk59dHbQ

 

Notes.

I found that aspects of the ritual were similar to what the Accompong Maroons practice at their annual festival in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica.

 There is the libation, where liquor is poured on the ground for the ancestors and the drumming and dancing is similar.

 At our naming ceremony, the liquor used was vodka and none was drunk during the ceremony. Our Maroons use white rum and sip a lot of it each time after pouring some on the ground😁.

I learned that it is a major no-no to cross one's legs in the presence of the chief and it is generally considered disrespectful for women to do so anywhere in the Krobo village.