Although the dominant structures of colonialism have to a certain extent disappeared from our world, more subtle remnants of colonialism are still impacting our societies. As a part of this, the content of much of our literature is still dominated by the perspectives of the colonial masters of the past. These historical remnants, and other sly messages coming over today in our societies, are controlling minds, and we are not hearing Africa’s real stories. A continuation of the discussions “Reclaiming Memories, Repairing Lives,” will strengthen the awareness of the benefits for all of us to be involved in the renewal process.

Ananse Story

 ‘Hol on, mi no dis already!’

‘Tiger still tefin de story dem! Tel de people dem weh mi cum from. Mi story all ova de worl now, and we need to use dem fe open minds.’ 

 ‘Mi  story cum from Africa, much o dem from Ghana. Mi memba wen Tiger tief dem in de pass an how me trick im an get dem back. Problem is im tryin fe get dem back agen and mi need sum help! Tiger spreadin stories bout Africa an Jamaica dat not good, an dis mekin mi look bad and controlin minds.  Dis is ‘Colonization o de mind.’

‘Sum o dem in de hood tink dem av no choice but to be a gangster, and sum pikney in school swichin off from learnin cos de only history dem hearin is bout slavery, an dem don see how dem fit in to de Western norm. In de slave time Tiger used gold to control minds, an people all ova mek wrong choices. Today, many teachers not expectin pikney of African heritage fe do good, an wen dem grow up, too many o dem endin up in jail! Mi is a real philosopher, an mi redesignin mi web fe spread de real stories dat we nat hearin to free minds. Help mi nah!’
                   
Akan Culture

 ‘Listen to weh mi cum from…………..’

The Akan culture of Africa has strongly preserved the African stories from the past. Ananse the spider, also known as Kwaku Ananse, the Sky God, who used tricks to overcome the controllers, was a dominant creature in this. He is right, and his stories have now spread across the world. The potential for them to be utilized for us to hear Africa’s real stories will continue to grow. The creative Ashanti people of West Africa, in the country of Ghana, blended their folklore and art into symbols printed on their fabric to spread messages to inspire us. 

The gold boom in the Akan area brought wealth to many people and the wealth in gold attracted many European traders. Tiger was very much in control and manipulated minds using gold as a temptation. Ghana later apologized for the role some of its people may have played in the slave trade. It is important to understand that many countries in the world were using the bartering of their own, and neighboring people, whilst trading goods during this time, so this needs to be understood in the context of the time.

Colonial Controlled messages

Colonial Controlled messages continue to impact minds. According to Hotep, the method was designed to gain control of the African mind through “disconnecting Africans from their heritage and culture,” which would achieve the colonizers’ purposes “because people who are cut off from their heritage and culture are more easily manipulated and controlled.” This may be very complex, because those involved as the colonizer, or the colonized, may not be aware of their role, and the effects are long lasting and not easy to remove. This may be transmitted within social systems through mental habits and contents via the family, traditions, cultural practices, religion, science, language, fashion, ideology, political regimentation, the media, and our education systems.(Colonizing and decolonizing minds, Marcelo Dascal Tel Aviv university)

Many of our education systems are focused around depositing information into minds so children can pass tests. The African history we are hearing is mainly steered around the slave trade and European domination, and there is a neglect of African history and culture in schools. There is severe cultural collision in urban schools where students are confused as to who they are, and how they fit into society. Racism and xenophobia are rooted in colonization of the mind. I was very aware of this within my previous role in education in the UK. I worked for the Equality and Diversity Education Service. Our aim was to promote the value of all cultures in an atmosphere of equality within school systems.

Cultural decolonization

An educated person is not just someone who has high qualifications; it is someone who holistically understands themselves, mentally, spiritually, culturally, emotionally, physically and materially. From this perspective, rooted in strong self-awareness, they have an understanding of the wider community, and determine how they can positively link with others and work constructively together. Our education systems need to eliminate the colonial biases, evaluate the roots of expectations, and how, and what is delivered in the curriculum, in order to help everyone to move forward.

Cultural decolonization must eliminate not just the surface manifestation, but the underlying roots of our thoughts. Decolonization is Re-Africanization, Re-covering the uncorrupted roots of tradition, and the demolition of the colonizers conceptual system. We must emphasize Re- not De-. This is very complex, and mythology is a unique way of re-constructing minds. African philosophy can be seen as the collection and interpretation of traditional proverbs, folktales, myths and similar materials, Kaphagawani (1998: 87) It transforms the ordinary into the magical, and gives people dignity and an opportunity to express themselves positively within their culture. Oral traditions pass this on from generation to generation.

In Africa, many cultures have developed a rich and sophisticated oral tradition of communicating history, teaching lessons, and entertaining. In some cases, griots, professional tellers of history whose roots can be traced back nearly 1,000 years, would fulfill this role. However, stories were also passed on within communities in informal and formal ways. Here is an example of a lesson plan which is a great way to pass on this message… Why the Praying Mantis Still Shakes (African Cultural Center USA).

Who can utilize this across the diaspora?

This can be strongly utilized across the diaspora by Education, Parents, Community leaders, Business leaders and those involved in music and media. But it will take much creativity to open minds, re-activate self-awareness and develop an unbiased understanding of others so we can constructively work together in our diverse world. Initially post-colonial thinkers should analyze what is happening and build on an awareness of unique situations to create ways to free minds. This will involve research into cultural roots, and ways that positive messages were spread in the past, to build self-awareness, and motivate others to think outside of the colonial box, and move themselves, and others, through the renewal process.

Ananse’s stories can be used as a way to connect people with their culture and help people see their current situations in a non-blaming way. Then they can determine how Tiger’s controlling ways were reversed as a result of Ananse’s actions, so that the same creative tactics can be used today.

 ‘Yuh gat it!’ Ananse concludes, ‘All o yuh out deh, read fe mi stories and get de message out. Nuh blame nuh bady. Use Tiger as de bad one an open doors so people can value dem culture. If nuf people do dis cross de worl, den change will happen!’

Think outside of the colonial, box free minds, to move ourselves, and others, through the renewal process…..

Note: ‘More than one cock crows!’  Dr. Jonathan Chimakonam, Calabar University, Nigeria, has written a thought provoking book, ‘Introducing African Science, a Philosophical approach’which is an historical odyssey into African science, logic, metaphysics and epistemology. According to Professor G.O. Ozumba, Head of the Dept. of Philosophy, University of Calabar, it is an unprecedented attempt to wake us all up from our colonial complacency and cultural ineptitude.

‘A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.’ Marcus Garvey.

 ‘Musicians and singers need to take control of the messages they are putting over.’  Bob Marley sang…

‘Emancipate yourself from mental slavery.
None but ourselves can free our minds.
Won't You help to sing these songs of freedom?
Redemption songs!’

Memba "One, one coco full basket"
Let’s get started!  Tell the real stories….

By Mary Nelson

'Sankofa Directions.'

The author is from Wales (UK). Ananse stories have been used to portray Jamaicans as tricksters, but these same Ananse Stories can be redesigned to show Ananse as hero or mentor. Among the Asante people of Ghana, Ananse was synonymous with skill and wisdom of speech. Surely these abilities should be respected and sought after! Hence the purpose of the storytelling festival, 'Ananse Sound Splash,'in which this presentation was delivered in Jamaica – to focus attention on the unique value of Jamaica’s rich oral tradition and its potential for enhancing national development.

References:

Compiled by: Tetteh V.A. NCC.  ADINKRA - Cultural Symbols of the Asante people 

Dascal, M. Colonizing and decolonizing minds. Tel Aviv University
Kaphagawani, D.N.1998. What is African philosophy? In Coetzee and Roux(eds.)

African Cultural Center  USA- http://www.africanculturalcenter.org/resources

Chimakonam, J. O. Introducing African Science, Dept. of Philosophy, University of Calabar, Nigeria

Quotes from Marcus Garvey. http://www.africaspeaks.com/marcus_garvey/

Bob Marley Lyrics. ttp://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/bobmarley/redemptionsong