On the occasion of the passing of the afrocentric grand master teacher, Baba Dr Runoko Rashidi, in August 2021, we as Mutapa Afrocentric Dialogues hosted a tribute lecture.
One of the sections of this lecture was titled ‘Critical Moments of Black Resistance That Occurred in the Month of August’.
I indicated then that I believed that this section of the Rashidi lecture deserved specialised attention and that I might consider doing this on a month- to -month basis.
You may also be aware that for over four years now, Mutapa Afrocentric Dialogues has been hosting what we call Afrocentric lectures.
These are structured and interactive blacks-only critical conversations on moments or individuals that are important in the history of global black resistance.
Our focus is particularly on those black moments or individuals who are either erased or ignored by so-called mainstream academic, the mass media, or related platforms.
The overall objective of the Mutapa Afrocentric Lecture series is not just to inculcate a deeper appreciation for the study and narration of authentic black resistence history.
But also, to enable us as individual Black people, to develop our own cognitive instruments, through which we can look at the self and world.
Essentially, our work seeks to liberate the black mind from the cognitive cage of Europe and other anti-black groups in the world.
In this essay, I have provided a list of important black anniversaries that are connected to the month of December.
These are individuals and moments I believe are worth remembering and studying by us as Black people. The list doesn’t claim to be exhaustive.
There could be other moments or individuals I may have omitted. So, the whole point of this project is merely to get us to internalise an afrocentic memory.
IMPORTANT MOMENTS IN BLACK RADICAL RESISTANCE HISTORY
1 December this year marks the 63rd anniversary of the declaration of independence by our black kin in West Papua and the raising of the Morning Star flag on 1 December 1961.
West Papua was initially colonised by the Dutch and later, with the connivance of the United Nations, got recolonised by Indonesia.
Since the 60s, Indonesia (with the backing of some Western and Asian countries) has been carrying out a programme of genocide against the native Black people of West Papua.
Indonesia’s genocidal campaign is said to have claimed the lives of over 500 000 native Black people in West Papua and includes mass rape, mass detentions, torture, kidnappings and disappearances
3 December this year marks the 74th anniversary of the birth of the black consciousness and AZAPO giant, Baba Muntu Myeza.
A significant black consciousness leader in South AfriKKKa and the black liberation movement broadly.
Myeza stands out for leading that epoch shaping moment that was referred to as the Viva Frelimo Rallies in the 70s. This was an act of solidarity with the people of Mozambique Myeza was born on 3 December 1950.
4 December this year marks the 55th anniversary of the assassination of the Black Panther Party (BBP) leader, Baba Frederick Hampton.
A significant leader of the BPP and the broad Black Power Movement in the United States. Hampton was instrumental in forging important alliances between the BPP and other progressive groups in the US. Hampton was assassinated on 4 December 1969.
5 December this year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Baba Mangaliso Sobukwe. The founding president of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC).
A leading afrikanist thinker and significant contributor to the liberation project in South AfriKKKa and the global pan afrikanist project.Sobukwe was born on 5 December 1924.
6 December this year marks the 63rd anniversary of the death of one of the most influential philosophers and revolutionaries of the 20th century, Baba Frantz Omar Fanon.
Fanon’s ideas continue to influence political movements and academic studies in such fields as existential philosophy and decoloniality. Fanon died on 6 December 1961.
16 December this year marks the 52nd anniversary of the murder of the playwright and black consciousness leader, Baba Mthuli Shezi.
Shezi was pushed in front of on oncoming train by a white railway guard. This is after he came to the defense of a black woman, who was being brutalised by this railway guard. Shezi was killed on 16 December 1972.
17 December this year marks the 361st anniversary of the passing of one of the most iconic figures of black resistance, Queen Nzinga Mpande.
Nzinga holds the distinction of being one of the black Queens who led Black people in battle against European invaders.She scored many significant military victories. Queen Nzinga died on 17 December 1663
18 December this year marks the 78th anniversary of the birth of the founding leader of the Black Consciousness Movement in South AfriKKKa, Baba Bantu Biko.
A leading thinker and significant contributor to the black liberation project in South AfriKKKa and the global fight for Black Power. Biko was born on 18 December 1946.
21 December this year marks the 75th anniversary of the birth of one of the greatest Black men to ever walk the earth, Baba Thomas Isidore Sankara.
A fearless, visionary, and inspirational military commander and ideologue who transformed the lives of the people of his native Burkina Faso within less than five years of being head of state. Sankara was born on 21 December 1949.
23 December this year marks the 209th anniversary of the birth of Baba Henry Highland Garnet.
Garnet is regarded as one of the earliest exponents of black nationalist/ pan afrikanist/ black consciousness thought in the United States of AmeriKKKa.
He is also remembered for his historic speech ‘An Address To The Slaves of America’ delivered at the National Negro Convention of 1843 in New York.Garnet was born 23 December 1815.
31 December this year marks the 106th anniversary of the birth of Baba Dr Yosef Alfredo Antonio Ben- Jochannan.
A master afrocentric teacher and scholar, Jochannan dedicated his life to re-educating Black people about history, spirituality, culture and philosophy.
He made a significant contribution to exposing the lies that are contained in western literature about Black people. Jochannan was born on 31 December , 1918.
BY VELI MBELE KA-SOMPISI, 2 DECEMBER, 2024