Activist Pearl Eintou Springer Laments: Another Voice Cries Out! (Do African Chiefs Listen To Afro-Caribbean Voices?)

[Pan'tum - The Ghost Who Talks]

The Trinidad Guardian Online, ran this article, on the panel discussion "Reclaiming", that I thought to be very thought-provoking. What I found even more thought-provoking was an online response, which stated "With unity among people of African heritage at a staggering low I would have suggested that every entertainer of African heritage boycott every thing carnival for the coming year. There should be no new calypsoes no steelband music nor anything that makes up carnival and let the powers that be see what powers that celebration. I bet the high class thieves would come begging on their knees for some kind of power sharing." dakaygees • 5 hours ago. http://www.guardian.co.tt/entertainment/2012-07-28/springer-africans-being-robbed-carnival What are your views? What thoughts really come to mind? Is African consciousness among Blacks at an "all time low", and would they have as much control, if we really showed where the "power" originates"? And, do our African brothers and sisters,such as Chief Bowie Sonnie Bowie hear those African ex-slave class (the one the "Ghost" represent) voices, or care about those emotions? Or, is he too busy, seeing only the profit, and not the Afican-rooted culture, of a people who tried their best to hold on to their "roots"? I have always stated the importance of crediting parts of Trinidad and Tobago "culture", as distinctly rooted in the rituals and traditions of the "African slave class", and, because of that, many have confused that position, as saying that only people of African descent, had anything to do with pan, as we know it today. I have taken quite my fair share of criticism and attacks, for inserting an "African reality", when it comes to Carnival, the steelband, and pan. I have even been called "insane", by people whose comments are among the most irrational, including the African Chief. I am thankful, for, at least he did not call me "cockroach". All fun aside, he boldly informed me that the Afro-Trinbagonian is not his concern, and he left that (concern) in the "trusting hands" of a partner, he admits to knowing nothing of. I remind everyone of the importance of having a strong identity, one that is congruent, with who you really are. I totally agree with Peter Tosh, that every "Black man...is an African", and I also walk the walk. In my "rebirth", I was given the name Jabari Baruti Osaze. Every one of my three kids, including the one that can truly be considered "mixed", have AFRICAN names: Imani, Jelani, and Folasade. Ironically, the last name is Nigerian, and the shortened form, is what we know the international Nigerian superstar, SADE, by. When I extended my arms, and informed them of my "Afrocentric" views, that did not matter to these Nigerians; rather, they chose to endorse the comments of a well-known juxtaposing "multimillionaire" cheerleader. (Maybe the Chief is also in search of an "idiot" for his "village"...) They chose to take the low approach, and expose more about their psyche, that one day, I know they will come to regret. You do not treat a "brother" like that. You do not endorse the very one who attacked anything African, at least, until, he saw, what he thinks is a "multimillionaire" African, who happens to be a partner of another "multimillionaire" shareholder, but "non profit union", that he is trying to position with. Then again, the two Chiefs (Bowei & Diaz), are showing and telling us clearly, that they are ONLY about the money, and not about the culture. The same as the plantation days, just that, now, some Africans, including "ex-slaves", are now plantation owners, and aspiring plantation owners. This is my truth. In Ma'at, Pan'tum - The Ghost Who Talks. Honoring The Legacy Of George "Sonny" Goddard. http://www.guardian.co.tt/entertainment/2012-07-28/springer-africans-being-robbed-carnival

[jerome ebenezer clarke]

Pan'tum!! ah gon ask yuh something ,,,yuh eva see a VAUTLT  BEHIND A CASKET...in nengre ,it,s Surinaams language,,,yuh eva see wan brandkast  baka wan lijk,,,,,have you ever seen a Vault filled with cash behind a Dead/ Hearse, we leave this world  with nothing,this is for those that wants to become Millionaires disregarding their fellowmen who do speak the Truth,,judging and the  giving of  names to defame and  embarass  their Black Brothers ,,Respect Brother.

[Anthony Corbin]

Get real brother, it is only we of Caribbeans of African descent, who have a wholistc view of Africa,

Those Africans who now inhabit the colonial creations of Nigeria, Congo etc, hardly regard 

themselves as 'Africans', their true loyalty is to 'tribe', while we identify with 'blackness' ' Africa' and our 'nation - states.

We have to educate them,so that they can reclaim 'Africa'. It is only then they will be saved from the neo-colonialists of

Asia and elsewhere.

[Pan'tum - The Ghost Who Talks]

Anthony Corbin, thanks for your honest comment. After my interaction with Chief Bowei and his Nigerian counterpart on this WST forum, I may add that those two "Africans" help in validating your claims, as stated above. I have to agree with you, and hopefully, we have what it takes to return our brothers and sisters in the "Motherland", to "Pan Africanism". (No pun intended.)

Ghost.