I would like to take this opportunity to share with my fellow readers a wonderful letter written by the independence hero of Congo, Patrice Lumumba .The letter reads:
My dear wife,
I am writing these words not knowing whether they will reach you, when they will reach you, and whether I shall still be alive when you read them. All through my struggle for the independence of my country, I have never doubted for a single instant the final triumph of the sacred cause to which my companions and I have devoted all of our lives. But what we wished for our country, its right to an honourable life, to unstained our dignity, to independence without restrictions,was never desired by the Belgian imperialists and the Western allies, who found direct and indirect support deliberate and unintentional, amongst certain high officials of the United Nations, that organisation in which we placed all our trust when we called on its assistance.
They have corrupted some of our compatriots and bribed others. They have helped to distort the truth and bring our independence into dishonour. How could I speak otherwise? Dead or alive ,free or in prison by order of the imperialists, it is not myself who counts .It is our poor people for whom independence has been transformed into a cage from whose confines the outside world looks on us, sometimes with kindly sympathy, but at other times with joy and pleasure.
But my faith will remain unshakeable. I know and i feel in my heart that sooner or later my people will rid themselves of all their enemies, both internal and external, and that they will rise as one man to say No to the degradation and shame of colonialism, and regain their dignity in the clear light of the sun.
We are not alone.Africa, Asia and the free liberated people from all corners of the world will always be found at the side of the millions of Congolese who will not abandon the struggle until the day when there are no longer any colonialists and their mercenaries in our country.
As to my children whom I leave and whom I may never see again, I should like them to be told that it is for them as it is for every Congolese, to accomplish the sacred task of reconstructing our independence and our sovereignty; for without dignity there is no liberty, without justice there is no dignity, and without independence there are no free men. Neither brutality, nor cruelty nor torture will ever bring me to ask for mercy, for I prefer to die with my head unbowed, my faith unshakable and with profound trust in the destiny of my country, rather than live under subjection and disregarding sacred principles. History will one day have its say, but it will not be the history that is taught in Brussels, Paris, Washington or in the United Nations but the history which will be taught in the countries freed from imperialism and its puppets. Africa will write its own history, and to the north and south of the Sahara, it will be a glorious and dignified history.
Do not weep for me, my dear wife. I know that my country, which is suffering so much, will know how to defend its independence and its liberty. Long live the Congo! Long live Africa!
Patrice.
Michael Secka,
Ministry of Basic and Secondary education
In honor of black celebrities
Dear editor
Honoring black celebrities on the occasion of black history month serves as a reminder of the efforts made by many to unite all races under one umbrella. This spirit of leadership pioneered by former Ghanaian president Nkrumah is what is paved the way for most African countries to gain independence from the colonial masters.
Considering the fact that their contributions towards making the world a better place to live cannot be over emphasised, we should be reminding ourselves of the reasons which led to the struggle of independence in Africa.
In more recent times, black history month has been celebrated in America and most parts of the world which takes the form of celebrity parades. This involves the showcasing and demonstration of the efforts of blacks in the Diaspora and in Africa are showcased thereby adding value to the struggles and efforts made by the founding fathers of the struggle for freedom and independence so as to create a room for self-sufficiency and economic freedom.
Over the past century, African American life, history and culture have become major forces in the United States and the world. In 1915, few could have imagined that African Americans in music, art, and literature would become appreciated by the global community. Fewer still could have predicted the prominence achieved by African Americans, as well as other people of African descent, in shaping world politics, war, and diplomacy. Indeed, it was nearly universally believed that Africans and people of African descent had played no role in the unfolding of history and were a threat to American civilization itself. A century later, few can deny the centrality of African Americans in the making of American history.
This transformation is the result of effort, not chance. Confident that their struggles mattered in human history, black scholars, artists, athletes, and leaders self-consciously used their talents to change how the world viewed African Americans. The New Negro of the post-World War I era made modernity their own and gave the world a cornucopia of cultural gifts, including jazz, poetry based on the black vernacular, and an appreciation of African art. African American athletes dominated individual and team sports transforming baseball, track-and-field, football, boxing, and basketball. In a wave of social movements, African American activism transformed race relations, challenged American foreign policy, and became the American conscience on human rights.
Ebrima Jallow,
Bakau Sama Kunda.
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