Monday 15 October 2007

BLACK HISTORY MONTH !!


Black History Month has been celebrated in the UK ever October for over 30years. It was set up to commemorate and celebrate the achievements of the black community and to also uncover the hidden history about our communities -BHM Website.
I am very passionate about my culture and heritage and always defend it to the best of my ability. This is not very easy when you live in a society where people take you for granted and belittle you just because of the colour of your skin, where the only ideas that your friends and colleagues have of your so called country of birth is what they see in Oxfam Adverts and on CNN,where people think that all Africans live in huts and that Africa is country and not a continent!

Most of us have left our countries of birth in search of greener pastures but let us not forget who we are and where we come from.....be proud of who u are and where u from and no one can ever take that away from you.
I came across this poem by Wayne Visser( a South African Poet) during my first year when I was carrying out some research for my Media Studies assignment. Just thought i share it with u.





I AM AN AFRICAN........
I am an African Not because I was born there But because my heart beats with Africa’s
I am an African Not because my skin is black But because my mind is engaged by Africa
I am an African Not because I live on its soil But because my soul is at home in Africa
When Africa weeps for her children My cheeks are stained with tears
When Africa honours her elders My head is bowed in respect
When Africa mourns for her victims My hands are joined in prayer
When Africa celebrates her triumphs My feet are alive with dancing

I am an African For her blue skies take my breath away And my hope for the future is bright
I am an African For her people greet me as family And teach me the meaning of community
I am an African For her wildness quenches my spirit And brings me closer to the source of life When the music of Africa beats in the wind My blood pulses to its rhythm And I become the essence of music
When the colours of Africa dazzle in the sun My senses drink in its rainbow And I become the palette of nature
When the stories of Africa echo round the fire My feet walk in its pathways And I become the footprints of history

I am an African Because she is the cradle of our birth And nurtures an ancient wisdom
I am an African Because she lives in the world’s shadow And bursts with a radiant luminosity
I am an African Because she is the land of tomorrow And I recognise that her gifts as sacred

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!!!

14 comments:

princesa said...

Am i first or what???
Yea am First!

princesa said...

Hey girl!
Its great to be African abeg!
Forget all the bad belluses oyibo peeps. They are just jealous of our skin, beauty, rich heritage, culture, values, i could go on and on!

Black is beautiful!

Oya come drink champagne for my blog o! Mum is okay.
Thanks for the support darl.

E.Michael Liu said...

great blog thanks

Aijay said...

Wow! & to think Akon's "Mama Africa" has been playing in my head since morning.
Black is truly beautiful!!

I also hate it when they refer to Africa as a country. How ignorant. Can someone please tell them to wake up? Its 2007. Lol.

Queen of My Castle said...

Black History Month doesn't start here until Feb. Nice post. I hope I am not out of order by commenting because I am not African, but reading all of your blogs has really been a learning experience for me. You are correct, here in The States, the only images that are portrayed of Africa are those of huts, dirt, and starving children, so many of us are/were very ignorant when it came to Africa. My brother-in-law is Igbo, and I have learned sooooo much from him because he answers all of my questions, even the stupid ones, and I now know that many Africans are much better off than most Americans financially and academically, and yes, I frequent Naija blogs the most because they contain the most substance.

Love ya babes! Great post/poem.

Aijay said...

*Singing* "So much love to share. Pure blackness, oneness so rare.
So much love to give. Let them know they're missing out.
Mama Africa has so much love to share. Sweet blackness, oneness, meet me there.
So much love to give. Let them know they're missing out. Sing again..."

Thanks for the song Arewa.
I love Akon btw, he rocks, although he messed up sometime ago :-(
I was listening to this song while I was getting dressed this morning & its been stuck in my head since then.
You're such a sweetheart for dedicating it to me. ~Kisses~

Anonymous said...

happy black history month sweetie.. although its february out here... hope you're doing good this week sweetie

Zena said...

I didn't even know the U.K celebrated Black Heritage(forgive my ignorance)
Queen of my castle, here I am thinking your Nigerian or something,
I loved that poem Arewa, it was soooo true.

I dey babes, just bn very busy, Happy Black History month

UndaCovaSista said...

Nice one. Happy Black History Month, babe...

Jotees Trendz said...

I thot Black History month was Feb?! :0

Okay just read queen of my castle's post...thot i was a dumb broad for a minute.

Thirty + said...

TOAST TO MY BLACKNESS!!!

Arewa said...

@ Everyone:Thanks for all the wishes people.At least u all learnt something new - THE UK CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN OCTOBER.
@ Queen of my Castle:OOOOMMMGGGGG U R NOT NIGERIAN....DAMN!!!

Queen of My Castle said...

Sorry to disappoint you babes. :-(

My secret is out now...I'm American.

Wayne Visser said...

Nice to find a place where people can share their sense of African inspiration. I'm glad my poem resonated ... All the best, Wayne