By CHIDIEBERE ANELECHI OGBU and CLYDE RIVERS
It is necessary to look at the author’s mind when conceiving the “African Twelve Apostles” – The Liberators Book aimed at deconstructing the negative narratives that African Leaders are violent and rebels, creating a new narrative for Africa.
I consider the African Twelve Apostles as the men who laid down their lives for the peace of Africa; Men who sacrificed and committed their lives to the empowerment and dignity of the African man; Men who fought for the African freedom from enslavement; Men who gave liberty to the bonded in Africa; some of them assassinated and some died as a martyr of liberation of Africa; without them there will not be African independence, freedom and human rights!
It is worth noting that from the formation of the Organization of African Unity in 1963 until date, over 28 African Heads of State and Governments and African Descendant Leaders have been assassinated – All were Pan African Leaders who believed in the unity of Africa and all Africans; killed for what they believe in, the freedom and emancipation of Africa; branded violent, rebels and terrorists.
In the words of an African Legend and Former President of South Africa, Dr. Nelson Mandela; “I was called a terrorist yesterday, but when I came out from jail, many people embraced me, including my enemies, and that is what I normally tell other people who say those who are struggling for liberation in their country are terrorists. I tell them I was also a terrorist yesterday, but today, I am admired by the very people who said I was one”.
Because our Leaders had not collectively at any time remembered to celebrate our Fathers and Mothers and heroes who died and some fell by the guns trying to emancipation of Africa; according to the African culture, when parents die it is important to remember them and officially celebrate them after some years to allow their spirit rest in peace. Our inability to do this has brought our lackadaisical attitude and inspiration in the pursuit of Africa’s major political, economic, social, and technological freedom from her colonial masters. The Book “African Twelve Apostles –The Liberators” is a major honor and celebration of our African Leaders who paid the price for African independence.
My concern in authoring this book is not in the premeditated actions of our former slave and colonial masters in creating falsehood about Africans and their African Descendants; rather my concern is in the passiveness of our African and African Descendants Legends in recreating the history which was created, through changing the mindsets by changing the narratives, that those Leaders were not rebellious and violent, rather they were African Liberators who sought to emancipate their people from the bondage of slavery, colonialism and apartheid.
It is not enough to criticize our colonial and slave masters, and certainly not enough to attend hundreds of summits, conferences and workshops talking about what they did to us; rather we have to create strategies to change the false narratives and to do a reversal of the false history and false labeling of our Liberators, and uncover hidden truth in this present generation by leaving a legacy of truth behind us before joining our ancestors.
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African Diaspora Union (AFRIDU) recognizing the diverse cultures and languages of the African people all over the world; the diverse historical facts of all the African and black people all over the world; believes in the Tripod Stand of Integration of the Diaspora:
1. Those African Diasporas who wish to return to their motherland Africa and become part of Africa and participate in every endeavor as Africans with full rights of African citizenship. Their desire and idea of Homecoming is coming back as African citizens, not as Investors or as Tourists.
2. Those African Diasporas who believe in investing in Africa and become part of the African businesses and economy.
3. Those who wish to identify themselves with the African culture and inheritance through their genealogy with intention of participation in all African affairs, but not having the intention of returning back to Africa their motherland.
