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Sunday, February 18, 2018

Mutabaruka Speaks on Black History on Cutting Edge 1-31-2018

I was listening to Mutabaruka's Cutting Edge radio show on January the 31st, previewing Black History Month which would begin the next day. The Bredren reasoned in depth about the brainwashing that plagues African people and how we get caught in European interpretations and philosophy. Basically, how as black people we just accept European culture, embrace it and defend it as we own. I think its because many of us are lost, especially when it comes to history and culture. Many of us accept European culture, religion and mannerisms without even understanding how these things developed and how they became ingrained in our day to day lives as black people. 

Mutabaruka said:
"Issa mad thing. Is mad we get mad. All a we get caught in it; all a we, there's no exception to the
rule.... Valentine's day a come, most people get caught inna that. Easter a come, it bigger get caught inna because that is the most auspicious 

Mutabaruka
time of the Christian calendar. That nuh have nothing to do with Africa; that nuh have nothing to do with blackness. All when you hear a man talk bout him a read Bible and a try switch the characters in it to black, him thinking is white. Is not the color of the characters, is the mindset that drives the characters in the Bible. So you could a paint Moses black little more, and Jesus Christ black little more, it don't make no difference if what is there yet still wallow inna the same thinking that in the first place tell you they white. We need fi search fi a new understanding, 'cause Planno did say a new faculty of interpretation. Even Rasta get caught inna it. We get caught inna it to the point where now that we all Jews, heh-heh, and we love say it too, and 'we are Christian soldiers, onward Christian soldiers marching on.' Our reference is always in the context of European understanding. So we define and we use logic that is determined and decided by western thinkers, western philosophers, and we don't know how to decipher what is ours and what is not ours..."


Now I can guess that many readers are thinking, So what? Jamaica (or any other Caribbean country) is a Christian society. 
Yeah, but how did it get so? And, if we know that it was forced upon our forefathers, then why black people so quick and ready to defend it? And worse, if you tell some of we that Shango is we thing, is our culture, some of us going to get vex and tell you that you working obeah. 
Now, get this straight: I am not a follower or practitioner of any form of obeah or voodoo. But those things are our own African thing and I acknowledge them as such. I even embrace the knowledge, knowing full well that just because Europe says that these things are inequity and idolatry, doesn't make them less important or less-than anything for that matter. Black history and culture is our story, its rich and we need to learn to embrace our African selves.

Mutabaruka stated:
"African sensibility don't prevail inna the Jamaican society. We celebrate almost 360-odd days of white history and tomorrow is the first day of February, which is Black History Month. But most people will not, and I'll repeat, most people will not even think of commemorating Black History Month. As one, young politician say, 'Black History Month is irrelevant to Jamaica. It was started in America because of the need, and because of how white people was treating black people in America so that was the necessary in America but here it don't necessary.'
But it more necessary yahso. Because the slave master left all of him thinking here and it embedded and pinned down inna we. That all when him no deh yah (when he's not here) we are living out the slave masters ideas and philosophies. And we even implement it and institutionalize it inna we politics, inna we religion, inna we social order..."

Another point I thoroughly agree with. We uphold Christmas, which is a lie, and turn our noses at Kwanzaa? And give all kind of reasons why we won't support it; bout how that is an American thing.
But Ethiopian Orthodox (one of the oldest Christian churches) doesn't celebrate the 25th as Christ's birthday. You know who instituted the 25th as Christmas? Rome. So, in fact we following the Romans. So, we following Rome, but can't see the goodness in a Pan-African concept like Kwanzaa? Or, Black History Month?
Because these are American holidays that have nothing to do with us. But we celebrating Halloween!? Stop the madness.




Friday, February 16, 2018

The Cries of Redemption Meet and Greet Party

Cries of Redemption Meet and Greet Party at Blush Couture 

The Cries of Redemption Release Sunday, the 11th, grew into a beautiful day even though the skies were gray. Made some wonderful new sistren and some old bredren and family came through. The day began a lil hectic, and just true I strive for perfection, as 3 o'clock approached, I worried cause things were running late. 
But I must admit, Andrea and Theresa and Lia and her crew had everything under control; so, 'Baby don't worry about a thing 'cause every likkle thing is gonna be all right.'

So thanks to those who came out, all in thru clouds and thru rain. I really had a ball with you all.
Bless up. See you next time.
Kaya Omodele

              


 Purchase Cries of Redemption and support Kaya and The Abeng and My Conscious Pen, an independent author and publisher.


Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Abeng Update: Kaya Omodele's Debut Cries of Redemption



Greetings Abeng and My Conscious Pen readers!
As you may done know already, Cries of Redemption is available in paper back on Amazon and ebook on Kindle. I have been getting great reviews but more importantly, readers genuinely love the positive vibes in this, my debut. As I stated before Cries of Redemption is wonderful combination of riveting short stories, heart-felt poetry, and informative and thought-provoking commentary. It is strapped with culture and history and positive reasoning, and rich in dialect and philosophy.


You can order or read a free preview here (Click Book Image)




Cries of Redemption will also soon be offered on other platforms like Smashwords and Book Baby.

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