Akbar Muhammad's message in Accra

Akbar Muhammed is the representative of Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam. He is the chosen successor that will put on the jacket of authority when Farrakhan dies as the leader of the Nation of Islam, a black/Muslim movement that emerged as a response to a specific racially-charged climate in the United States. Historically, Farrakhan succeeded the Nation of Islam’s first leader Elijah Muhammad; this makes Akbar the third leader in-waiting.

Being on a working visit to Ghana, Akbar Muhammad, the man who appears soft spoken but very critical and analytic with his opinions on issues requested for an opportunity to speak at the Freedom Centre which is run by the Socialist Forum of Ghana (SFG). The Freedom centre is the kind of place that provides a platform for youth from diverse persuasions to engage and learn through political discussions to raise their social and class consciousness.

On this occasion, Akbar had the opportunity to be the main guest speaker at the weekly Wednesday Palaver discussion organized Centre, a forum that discusses both local and international issues.

This was his first time at the Freedom Centre, and Akbar delivered as expected. His opinions and analysis on geopolitics, China and Barrack Obama, under his main theme of consciousness was cutting edge. For one hour, he held the youthful audience, which included Ghana’s youngest minister, deputy minister of information, Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa; and the deputy Cuban ambassador to Ghana,Milena Zaldivar Piedra; glued to his riveting speech.

“Your consciousness must be tied and shared to the young generation. Whatever I know, whatever I’ve learned I’m going to share with the youth before God takes me away” he said.

In this short video clip, Akbar Muhammad laments the leadership crisis in Africa, heavily exposing African leaders who act as agents for the West. He also spoke about how he was inspired by Malcolm X, who was dispelled from the Nation Of Islam. The Middle East was not left out, according to Akbar foresees a struggle by Israel for the water resource in Sudan in the next 50yrs from now.

Do have you participated in any event of the Nation of Islam? What are your thoughts on their beliefs? Please share with us.

Rehema Bah reads at Monday Groove

Rehema Bah is African-American from Oakland who is currently undertaking her independent studies at the University of Ghana here in Accra. In Ghana she has decided to adopt an Akan name which she relays to people who want to know her name. That name is 'Yenmre' [pronounced: yen-me-ray; our time]. For her, the name signifies that it's time for Africa to take on the world to reclaim its past glorious history.

As a dancer herself Rehema teaches various African dances, and is currently rehearsing a theater production with the School of Performing Arts headed by Nii Yartey at the University Of Ghana.

I invited Rehema to the Freedom Centre where i volunteer three times a week to facilitate a number of events ranging from film shows (documentaries), poetry and public forums. The Freedom Centre is socialist and pan africanist in outlook. Will write more about the activities of the Freedom Centre in subsequent posts.

I got introduced to Rehema through a socio-politically passionate friend, Kai Brown, who is also an African-American married to a Ghanaian in Oakland. She had visited the Centre together with her boyfriend to donate a couple of Kwame Nkrumah books to the library and DVDs for the weekly friday filmshows. Kai also wanted Rehema, while undertaking her masters program to also have a feel of the the Freedom Centre.

We arranged and had her to be the main feature for the Monday Groove poetry, readings and music sessions. Being someone so concerned about name and identity, she decided to share with the group her favourite passage from 'Someone Knows my Name' written by Lawrence Hill. It was her attempt to emphasize the importance of why Africans must maintain their indigenous names other than taking on european and arabic names. A phenomenon she decried and described as 'too prevalent in an African country like Ghana'.