"Egypt is to Africa and African people as Greece is to Europe and European people" Cheikh Anta Diop
"Kemet and the Role it must play in Black Liberation"
A presentation by Brother Bashir Muhammad Ptah Akinyele.
History and Africana Studies Teacher, Weequahic High School, Newark, NJ
ASCAC’s Study Group Coordinator for Newark, NJ
ASCAC’s New Jersey Regional Representative
Insights on his recent visit to Kemet ~ Exploring the common cultural connections through the generations
Reaffirm . Recommit . Assess . Believe . Trust . Confidence . Hope.
The continent of Africa is incredibly diverse in geography and climate. The earliest organized civilization grew up along the Nile River and in civilized peace. The ancient Egyptians were a mystery to modern scholars until the modern scholars decoded the Rosetta Stone and began to understand the ancient language Medu Neter. We know that the ancient Egyptians' role in life was determined in large part by caste, or the class of society into which a person was born.
Thousands of years of Ancient African knowledge and scholarship traveled to what was then Persia and on to the Greek civilization when the Greeks studied with African scholars during the second classical season from 525 B.C.E. to 641 C.E.
Many African Americans look like the ancient Nubians. Egyptians today, often call African Americans "Nubian Americans."
During the ancient classical season from 6000B.C.E. to 525 B.C.E., important classical African traditions, art forms, religious beliefs and concepts developed that are part of our culture today.
During the third classical season from 641 B.C.E. to 1600 C.E., Africans were feverishly struggling with new beliefs and ideas, including the religion of Islam.
Ancient Africans believed in the concept of duality, or the perfect harmony and balance needed in the world. The ruler was a god, and his or her physical stamina was important or he or she would not be strong enough to balance the opposing forces and keep the world in harmony. The Egyptians also believed that after death, the soul could only live in the preserved body.
Reflections:
Analyze the three classical seasons of Ancient Egypt. You can write about them or do an art, sculpture or poetry piece.
Why do you think it is necessary to study African civilization? Can you list some reasons/ What else would you like to learn about Africa?