Save the date for the NBUF 14th Annual Sankofa: Caravan to the Ancestors recognizing the International Year for People of African Descent (IYPAD),The theme of this year's caravan will be R...A...P... (Revolutionizing Afrikan People)
We are asking all who are planning on attending or who support the Caravan to help in spreading the word to others . We hope to grow in numbers of attendees from Black people making up the global African... diaspora and inclusive of Africans from the continent and worldwde.
The purpose of the Sankofa: Caravan to the Ancestors is as follows:
Give Praise & Thanksgiving to the Almighty Creator
Give Praise & Thanksgiving to our Holy African Ancestors
Educate our community on African and African diasporic Spirituality, History and Culture
Invoke the power of our spiritual traditions for blessings on our community in all worthy endeavors
All Faiths Are Welcome
Sankofa is a word from the Akan people of West, Africa which means : Go Back To Your Past and bring to the present, past values needed now. Often the concept of Sankofa is symbolized by a mythical bird which moves forward while looking backward. Certain depictions of the Sankofa bird shows an egg being held within it’s beak symbolizing the future of those yet to be born, if the egg is held too tight then it will break, if the egg is held too loose then it will fall. One must move forward while gaining wisdom from the past and exacting the proper balance in preparation for the future. The Caravan makes the Sankofa connection through prayer, ritual, African drumming and dancing, speakers and martial arts.
Research reveals that Galveston beach was a port of entry for our enslaved African ancestors. The Moor Estevanico or Esteban came to the shores of Galveston as a servant, navigator and guide to Portuguese explorers in the year 1528. It is recorded that in the 1780 's reports traffic in enslaved Africans flourished by way of Morgan's Point across the bay from Galveston Island. This barbaric practice of profiting from human cargo was plentiful in Galveston for many years with slave traders skillfully circumventing laws banning the uncivilized practice. Further, Galveston, Texas is the place where General Gordon Granger delivered his decree of the emancipation of Africans held in slavery on these shores on June 19, 1865. Hence, the commemoration of the Juneteenth Holy Day. The spirit and history of our ancestors truly dwells in Galveston, therefore there are many values, which we can bring forth for our use today.
Caravan History - In 1998, NBUF - Houston hosted the 18th National Black United Front National Convention; The theme of the convention was Sankofa. Planning for the convention , members suggested a retreat to Galveston. Research was done to uncover little known history of Afrikans in Galveston and Texas. A decision was made to hold an ancestral remembrance , including performing an IFA ritual in honor of our "Holy Afrikan Ancestors". the location chose is near a market where our ancestors were bartered for and sold as chattel On the day of the 1st caravan. Professor James Small declared the day of remembrance to be a holy day that should be commemorated annually.
A key part of the event is an actual police escorted caravan from Houston to Galveston As many as 100 vehicles have participated over the years.
A decision was made later to move the actual date of the caravan to mid October for better weather conditions. October is also seen by many African descendants as the month of the Maafa or Afrikan Holocasut month.
The Sankofa: Caravan to the Ancestors is one of the premier Afrikan ancestral remembrance ceremonies in the U.S. .Donations, sponsorships are needed to make this year's caravan even more a success.
How You Can Help :
• Bring a group to the Caravan
Do outreach out to all areas of the African diasporic community
Prominently display promotional material in your organization or business
• Donate or sponsor to help defer the cost
Thursday and Friday (OCtober 13 and 14) activities will be announced in the future;
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Arrive 6:00am Caravan ;Departs Houston NBUF 2428 Southmore, Hou, TX 7:00am
Ceremony Begins on the Beach at 29th St. & Seawall Blvd.9:00 am Galveston, Texas
FREE-Donations Accepted
Wear WHITE for Spirit
Special Egun (Ancestor) Remembrance For
Those Who Died In Katrina Aftermath : Haitian earthquake and cholera victims; Victims of wars against African people
Momma Ruby Cormier, Jaramoji Abebe Agyeman, Dr. Lorenzo Jelani Williams, Khallid Abdul Muhammad, Sederick Sussberry, Enomoyi Ama, Bro. Omari, Rose Upshaw; Father Clarence Dember
For information on vending ( $25 per day), edutainment, promotion, organizing and sponsorship opportunities, call 713-402-8052
Send donations (check or money order) to:
NBUF
Caravan fund
2428 Southmore
Houston, Texas 77004See More
We are asking all who are planning on attending or who support the Caravan to help in spreading the word to others . We hope to grow in numbers of attendees from Black people making up the global African... diaspora and inclusive of Africans from the continent and worldwde.
The purpose of the Sankofa: Caravan to the Ancestors is as follows:
Give Praise & Thanksgiving to the Almighty Creator
Give Praise & Thanksgiving to our Holy African Ancestors
Educate our community on African and African diasporic Spirituality, History and Culture
Invoke the power of our spiritual traditions for blessings on our community in all worthy endeavors
All Faiths Are Welcome
Sankofa is a word from the Akan people of West, Africa which means : Go Back To Your Past and bring to the present, past values needed now. Often the concept of Sankofa is symbolized by a mythical bird which moves forward while looking backward. Certain depictions of the Sankofa bird shows an egg being held within it’s beak symbolizing the future of those yet to be born, if the egg is held too tight then it will break, if the egg is held too loose then it will fall. One must move forward while gaining wisdom from the past and exacting the proper balance in preparation for the future. The Caravan makes the Sankofa connection through prayer, ritual, African drumming and dancing, speakers and martial arts.
Research reveals that Galveston beach was a port of entry for our enslaved African ancestors. The Moor Estevanico or Esteban came to the shores of Galveston as a servant, navigator and guide to Portuguese explorers in the year 1528. It is recorded that in the 1780 's reports traffic in enslaved Africans flourished by way of Morgan's Point across the bay from Galveston Island. This barbaric practice of profiting from human cargo was plentiful in Galveston for many years with slave traders skillfully circumventing laws banning the uncivilized practice. Further, Galveston, Texas is the place where General Gordon Granger delivered his decree of the emancipation of Africans held in slavery on these shores on June 19, 1865. Hence, the commemoration of the Juneteenth Holy Day. The spirit and history of our ancestors truly dwells in Galveston, therefore there are many values, which we can bring forth for our use today.
Caravan History - In 1998, NBUF - Houston hosted the 18th National Black United Front National Convention; The theme of the convention was Sankofa. Planning for the convention , members suggested a retreat to Galveston. Research was done to uncover little known history of Afrikans in Galveston and Texas. A decision was made to hold an ancestral remembrance , including performing an IFA ritual in honor of our "Holy Afrikan Ancestors". the location chose is near a market where our ancestors were bartered for and sold as chattel On the day of the 1st caravan. Professor James Small declared the day of remembrance to be a holy day that should be commemorated annually.
A key part of the event is an actual police escorted caravan from Houston to Galveston As many as 100 vehicles have participated over the years.
A decision was made later to move the actual date of the caravan to mid October for better weather conditions. October is also seen by many African descendants as the month of the Maafa or Afrikan Holocasut month.
The Sankofa: Caravan to the Ancestors is one of the premier Afrikan ancestral remembrance ceremonies in the U.S. .Donations, sponsorships are needed to make this year's caravan even more a success.
How You Can Help :
• Bring a group to the Caravan
Do outreach out to all areas of the African diasporic community
Prominently display promotional material in your organization or business
• Donate or sponsor to help defer the cost
Thursday and Friday (OCtober 13 and 14) activities will be announced in the future;
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Arrive 6:00am Caravan ;Departs Houston NBUF 2428 Southmore, Hou, TX 7:00am
Ceremony Begins on the Beach at 29th St. & Seawall Blvd.9:00 am Galveston, Texas
FREE-Donations Accepted
Wear WHITE for Spirit
Special Egun (Ancestor) Remembrance For
Those Who Died In Katrina Aftermath : Haitian earthquake and cholera victims; Victims of wars against African people
Momma Ruby Cormier, Jaramoji Abebe Agyeman, Dr. Lorenzo Jelani Williams, Khallid Abdul Muhammad, Sederick Sussberry, Enomoyi Ama, Bro. Omari, Rose Upshaw; Father Clarence Dember
For information on vending ( $25 per day), edutainment, promotion, organizing and sponsorship opportunities, call 713-402-8052
Send donations (check or money order) to:
NBUF
Caravan fund
2428 Southmore
Houston, Texas 77004See More
