Credit: Wayne Rose – Baltimore Rastafari Examiner | June 30, 2013
Many Pan-African, Ras Tafari followers and race conscious Africans born in the Americas, Europe, and outside of Africa have been beating the drum of repatriation and their right to return to the motherland. Their noble desires are inspired and sometimes energized by music and performers that preach of the glory, prestige and invaluable contributions made by our rich heritage to the development of the world. Chants of “repatriation is a must” “Africa for Africans” and Babylon is falling as Africa is calling; are but a few of the one-liners used by enthusiast to the idea of Africa repatriation.
For some, repatriation has become a rhetorical ideology that expresses their Afrocentric intellect and enhances their “expert” academic credentials. They suffer from “repatriation analysis paralysis”. They are not the ones to whom this article is written; their paralysis is western ‘terminalysis’.
For others, repatriation is a hope that burns to the core of their consciousness; a longing and a prayer for genuine economic intervention, so they can ‘escape to Africa’. They yearn for the freeing of their spirits from the oppression of the colonial and post-colonial systems of rule and for the granting of new challenges in an ancestral space and time. For these brethren and sistren we pray that their legitimate aspirations be realized. May the Almighty JAH bless them!
There are some to whom JAH has provided the inspiration and the Will to create the economic means and the physical planning, we MUST do preparation for repatriation.
We have often heard stories of ones planning a vacation, a party, a cruise, or for retirement. They discipline themselves to a specific budget, organize, and set aside a specific portion of their income for these plans. They research the environment, the climate, the culture and even the community that affect their plan. If the issue of language, food or physical attire is in question, they research and learn the necessary skills that will enable success to their plan. Repatriation preparation requires no less planning and commitment. In fact all of the above factors MUST be done and more.
As I visit with my family here in America, I am grateful to the Almighty that HIM has provided I the privilege of traveling to both West and East Africa and Repatriating to Ethiopia. Yes, Ethiopia, the most spoken of, sung about and romanticized gem on the African continent. Transition to Ethiopia for most of us, spiritually and emotionally may be a lot easier than it will be socially and economically. Thanks to the Conquering Lion for affording us a place, Shashamane. Thanks also to the Patriots, many of whom sacrificed the material comforts of the west, to preserve what is left of the gift from the Almighty, so we have at least one spot where we can socialize.
Regardless of where on the continent our repatriation aim take us, our responsibility to the process remain the same. We MUST do the due diligence that is consistent with the scale of the endeavor. Retiring from the West means, leaving; stop working in; packing up and getting out. Contact a retirement specialist or consult with those who done it and are making a success of it, or if you are disciplined enough, start setting aside the resources necessary to facilitate the plan.
For those of Us who will remain intercontinental and international travelers and residents, its our duty to fulfill the legitimate aspirations of the many who may never see the continent, we must provide the bridge in information and communication to the family at home and those abroad. We must create the economic vehicles and the humanitarian apparatus’ that will assist in alleviating the challenges that face our continent and this portion of the human family. Thankfully, there are several groups and organizations including the I-Niversal Development of Ras Tafari Inc. (IDOR) that has already started and are setting great examples for the rest of us to follow. We pray for the vision and courage to fulfill our divine destiny.
May the Power of the Trinity be our collective guide!
