Ronu Spirit

Episode 11: From Ghana's Independence to Black History Month UK: A Conversation with Akyaaba Addai-Sebo

• Ronu Spirit • Season 1 • Episode 11

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In this episode of the Ronu Spirit podcast, host Hameed sits down with Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, the father of Black History Month in the UK, to explore the significant moments in African history and their lasting impacts. They discuss key historical events, including Ghana's independence and the influence of Kwame Nkrumah, the struggle against neocolonialism, and the assassination of African leaders like Patrice Lumumba. They also delve into Addai-Sebo's journey from Ghana to London, his role in founding Black History Month in the UK, and the importance of using this period for self-examination and community empowerment. Lastly, Addai-Sebo shares his thoughts on the current challenges facing Africa and the need for youth and the diaspora to reclaim their heritage and work towards a liberated future.

Addai:

I was writing articles in the newspapers saying that ghana's gold, the revolution swims or sink by it they should consider gold as a strategic national asset They should stop exporting gold raw. I touch on rawness and the government got concerned there's no problem child but a problem parent or a problem home. And I am very angry with the churches i'm very angry with the churches because our parents the children's parents have to work some two jobs three jobs they do not have quality time with their children.

Hameed:

hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of Ronu Spirit podcast, where you follow my learning journey as I explore ways to empower African nations. Address the legacy of colonization and enhance the global respect for Black and African. My name is Hameed and, today we actually don't have Dr. Sum Faha in the background. it's just gonna be me and my guest today is Mr. Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, the father of Black History Month in the uk. Mr. Addai Sebo was born in Ghana in 1950. He's a renowned journalist, analyst, and Pan-African activist celebrated for founding Black History Month UK in 1987. he is deeply influenced by Kwame Nkrumah's vision. He participated in the Young Pioneers Movement and later engaged with civil rights leaders like CLR James and John Henwick Block doing his studies in the US seeking Refuge in London. In 1984, he worked with the Greater London Council to spotlight the contribution of African, Asian, and Caribbean communities. Honored with an SOAs Doctorate in 2022. His work continues to inspire the celebration of black identity. So welcome to the podcast Mr Addai Sebo.

Addai:

Thank you for having me. Thank you.

Hameed:

no problem. Oh my God. So yes. First of all, how are you dealing with the weather in this country?

Addai:

is difficult for me and I'm trying to find a way to get out of here and get into the warmth.

Hameed:

Okay, cool. Yeah. you are based in Ghana, right? Full time.

Addai:

I am in Ghana. Yes. I live in Ghana now.

Hameed:

Amazing. And that must be pretty nice. Like when did you go back to Ghana? What year

Addai:

about 12 years ago.

Hameed:

Okay. it's not too far away.

Addai:

Yeah. Not too far away. Yeah.

Hameed:

yeah, and just for those who don't know, you were born in Ghana and you grew up in Ghana, but you had to leave Ghana, because you were fleeing persecution. Right. maybe we start the story there. understanding. Your time in Ghana under the influence of, Nkrumah's Pan-African vision. like how did that shape your view on the world and your early activism?

Addai:

Well, I was lucky to have been born in the early beginning of the 1950s. It was a period of heightened tension and awareness and protests for liberation from Colonial Rule, both the French, Portuguese, British, Spanish rule in Africa.

Hameed:

Yeah.

Addai:

And, we also were lucky to be in a period where there was heightened consciousness, there just being the 1945 Pan-African Congress held in Manchester. Which was very critical in pushing forward the whole process of liberation, I was born in that period. And, Nkrumah Sierra James Padmore, Boez Johnson. Jomo Kenyata Hastings Banda, all these people were around at that time. And, saw that the whole issue of Pan-Africanism, was concentrated in the diaspora. And, the 1884 85 Berlin Conference, partitioning of Africa

Hameed:

Mm-hmm.

Addai:

remained. They had split Africa like a cake, cut it to pieces and shared it among themselves. And, something had to be done. So the whole Pan-African struggle could not be based in the diaspora. They came to the realization that with that land, whatever they were doing was meaningless. They had to have a land base, a liberated territory. So they deliberated these between 1943 and 1945 and they came to the conclusion that, yeah, let's look at Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone may be very, propitious for what we want to do because of the peculiar nature of settlement. They were slaves from the US Novaco area that were settled in Sierra Leone. So there may be a good understanding with the settlers and the local people. And also there was a very vibrant and, trade union is called, was Johnson, who was from Sierra Leone and he was part of the Pan-African group here in London.

Hameed:

Yes. The question I wanted to ask is, so the Pan-African Congress happened in London, and this is where they decided that Sierra

Addai:

in Manchester 1945, the preparation took place in London,

Hameed:

Oh, I see. Sorry.

Addai:

but, the Frankfurt Conference itself took place in Manchester in October, 1945.

Hameed:

so the conference happened in Manchester and then they decided that, the Pan-African movement, needs to have a home on the continent. And decided Sierra Leon would be a good, position,

Addai:

a letter came from Ghana.

Hameed:

Okay.

Addai:

There was an organization there called the United Google Convention, and they were a movement also fighting for liberation. And they needed a secretary, needed a dynamic person who could mobilize. So one of the members called Akuji, who was also a student in the UK and knew Nkrumah from the US to the uk, recommended Nkrumah So somewhere in, 1947, around, October, November, the letter came requesting that if he could come and take this position, so he went, he took the letter to. The group, George Padma, CLR James, principally. And they discussed it and they said that, well, this is for tissues. So we have to call Wallace Johnson and tell him that the plan has changed his gold coast.

Hameed:

So they changed the location.

Addai:

From sierra Leone to the Gold Coast. And Nkrumah even protested that he was about to complete his doctorate degrees at, London School of Economics, I think University of London, one of those And they said, no, you have to go. So he and Kojo Botsio his right hand man, they took them to Liverpool and put them on a ship in late November, and then early, December, getting the late December. They arrived in Gold Coast in 1947 and he started work right, according to the program that they had prepared for him. And he started work. And, within 10 years, 47 when he arrived. And then 1957, he was able to mobilize a country, sensitize a country for the country to rally behind a party that he set up that is a convention people's party. In 1949, he broke from the United Gold Coast Convention that had invited him. They had some problems because they said that, he was too radical and he was communist inclined and marxist communist inclined. And, uh, they wanted a slow approach. The group that had invited him

Hameed:

They wanted a slower approach towards independence. And this United Gold Coast, group that invited him over to Ghana, where he set up the base for the Pan-African movements. Who formed that group? Was that group supported by the British or something?

Addai:

these were mostly, lawyers and, people who were like middlemen to the colonial system. and they were intermediaries. what one has to realize is that there has been resistance to the colonization and taking over of Africa. There's been resistance right from the beginning, and the resistance has continued. And particularly in the Gold Coast area, people knew the importance of land. You couldn't take away the land or, so they fought back and they had the ab origins, rights Protection, group and, several organizations that evolved and newspapers and magazines and all that, that campaigned to free themselves from Colonial Rule. But there were some who wanted, an approach that. Was somehow accommodating to the,

Hameed:

colonial Masters.

Addai:

Yes. They wanted total and complete independence. And now self-government, now, they wanted self-government now. So that was the slogan that they chose. And they said, the others said that they wanted self government, but they won't self government, within a reasonable period. But Nkrumah's group, they were saying that they wanted self government. Now, now, now, now. So that was the basic difference.

Hameed:

This is so interesting. So that means those people, the United Gold Coast, What is the name again?

Addai:

United Gold Coast Convention. UGCC. Yeah. They were led by, PAA Grant, Nkrumah, J.B Danquah Ofori Atta and others. most of them were heavily linked with the chiefs and traditional rulers and all that.

Hameed:

Yeah. So the United Gold Coast Convention, they wanted a slower approach. There wasn't, they wanted to take it slow. They had been the intermediaries between the Colonial masters and the people. but I suppose you can call them co-ops. They were cooperative to some extent, and accommodating of the colonialist

Addai:

yes. Mm-hmm.

Hameed:

and they felt Kuma was more radical because he wanted

Addai:

Correct. Mm-hmm.

Hameed:

Okay. And this is the environment that you were born into?

Addai:

So that's the pillar that one was born into. we were lucky, that is it. And then, Ghana fought hard and, nkrumah fought hard. and then we gained independence six March, 1957, but the CPP won elections and they took over government in 1951, but there was still the governor General. That's a British, they were in control of the military, the finance and foreign affairs. And Nkrumah was a leader of government business or the prime minister at that time. So they started to institute measures to bridge the gap of underdevelopment and, bring the population up to make up and to catch up. So several educational institutions sprung up and developments sprung up, over the almost a hundred years of the British presence. Within 10, 15 years, the state of development was far more than all the hundred years or so together. That was incredible. And that regime. yeah, we all benefited from that, system, the free education and, it was a period when you saw that the country was moving. You all felt in yourself that there was something happening, there was movement, there was high expectations, there was work and happening. People were working. You saw construction all over the place, and, people were busy and studying. People were being sent abroad to study and all that. So it was a period of, fruitful, endeavor. It was a period where you called it work and happiness. so much to do, and people felt that We were building a nation that was a spirit. Everybody had it.

Hameed:

that sounds amazing. that sounds like progress, a period of progress that sounds like potential that we can be, can create basically a nation that we want. but the one question that is in my head right now is, how does that time compare to Ghana now that period, and Ghana now? when you compare those two periods, what are the main differences and what are the similarities, if any?

Addai:

Well, at that time period you felt that we were in charge of our own destiny

Hameed:

Mm-hmm.

Addai:

and we were shaping things, dictating things.

Hameed:

Mm-hmm.

Addai:

But now it is different. Ghana, like many other African countries, has been recolonized and, we are tele guided from White House from and all that. So that is a reality now.

Hameed:

when you say recolonize, you mean economically, right?

Addai:

economically and politically, the political economy is shaped from outside,

Hameed:

I see.

Addai:

is totally different from what happened. during our time in the fifties and the sixties is totally different. And, there was a watershed, I think there was a watershed and Nkrumah and Ghana were progressing and, developing as such a race and also influencing, the rest of Africa. So the US and Britain basically, and the French, the Germans and the Canadians, they became very worried

Hameed:

Why?

Addai:

because they depend on Africa, Africa has what they need in terms of minerals and other things, agricultural produce and all that for them to develop and then for them to continue enjoying the lifestyle that they do. They needed Africa

Hameed:

and they were worried?

Addai:

Yes, they were very worried. So they started sabotaging Nkrumah. How? what you have to look at things in context. When Ghana Nkrumah, gold Coast gained, its IT independence in 1957, there were eight independent countries in Africa, six in the north that you are looking at. Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt. Sudan, Morocco. Then you had Liberia and Ethiopia, they were eight. And then Nkrumah Ghana came 1957. And between 1957 and 1963, after Ghana gaining it, independence, Ghana became the frontline state. it became a place where the liberation struggles were launched. And between 57 and 63, about 23 other African countries gained their independence.

Hameed:

Including

Addai:

Nigeria including Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and all that. 23 It's incredible. Within six years.

Hameed:

basically, the western nations that have been dependent on the resources from the continents, from Africa, they were scared that with this weight of progress, they basically lose control of the place where they get all their resources,

Addai:

Yes, correct. they were scared and, they were doing everything to reverse it as it is happening in the Sahel now that the Niger Burkina Faso and Mali.

Hameed:

What kind of things were they doing to reverse this progress that Nkrumah was making?

Addai:

they were, they had sent some saboteurs into Ghana who were teaching those who were opposed, those who wanted a slow approach, opposed in Nkrumah. How to sabotage economically. they were very secretly terrorizing, the nation to make it impossible for Nkrumah. There were several attempts on improvement's, life, about nine attempts on Nkrumah's lives. There were several attempts on Nkrumah's life and, some children were killed, because they gave parcel bombs and other things, a bouquet. And they would put a bomb, be it to give it to a child, to give it to a whole lot of things. it was terrible. But, because of the spread of the demand for independence and, the resistance they were facing all over. And they said that Nkrumah was a trigger and Ghana was a base, and Ghana was a base because Ghana provided training facilities for most of the freedom fighters. They had training camps Ghana, had training camps in strategic places in the country where freedom fighters from South Africa from. Rhodesia from, Tanzania, all these other East Africa, north, central Africa, Southern Africa. They came to train, they came to train. and, Nkrumah also gave a lot of scholarships to people from those areas who come to the schools in Ghana, secondary schools and universities also to study. So the British particularly, and the French and the Americans were very concerned. And, they said that Nkrumah had become the Castro of a Africa. And he was a, a single person, the most, dangerous person that they've come across. And, something had to be done about him and they went ahead to do something about him. And, there's so many to say, but I was speed up. you see, the period, we had. In 1961, January, 1960, you heard about the Congo and Lumumba.

Hameed:

Yes.

Addai:

Yes. the Belgians in Congo. Congo is the heart of Africa, is the richest, and they see is Congo. And they fought for independence and Pat Lumumba won. But the, they said that Pat Lumumba was a communist. Can I pause?

Hameed:

Yeah, no problem. yes. Let me recap what we were talking about. So where we left off was 1961 in Congo, the assassination or death of Patrice Lumumba, who was the, first Prime Minister of Congo after the independence.

Addai:

Yeah. so Africa, the west were in turmoil, or the colonial powers were in turmoil because there was, Nkruma's influence was all over the place. And, the Congo became a classical case because of uranium. Uranium became very, very strategic because of the strategic military importance. for the atomic bomb, nuclear bomb and all that. So Congo had plenty and the Americans were interested and they felt that, Lumumba was moving towards the Soviet, sphere of influence, which of course was not true. So. they sabotage Lumumba the Belgians, the Americans, the French, the South Africans, Rhodesians, all they put go together and sabotage Lumumba and, Ghana stood up and got the United Nations that they should intervene or they themselves gone. Nkrumah was mobilizing people to go and intervene. So he mobilized Ghanaian troops and were telling other African countries also to provide troops for them to go and intervene in the Congo and kick out the Belgians and the Americans. So it became a un oppression, and there they sabotage. and then it ended up, there where Lumumba was assassinated. That was January, 1961. And that incident shook Africa and shook Nkrumah. So he started to strategize. and then pushing for unity and the need for an African high command that we all have to come together, pull troops together, and defend and protect Africa. That was his message. he also started writing and exposing the whole character and nature of colonialism, and particularly what he called the New colonialism. and, it got to a point where another incident happened that was between 63 and 64, Rhodesia Present day Zimbabwe. They, it was a settler regime and they also declared unilateral independence. That was a settler. The whites.

Hameed:

the white settlers in Zimbabwe.

Addai:

yes. In that time it was Rhodesia. And then at that time, the British Prime Minister was a labor prime minister. That was Harold Wilson. Mm. had become the new Labor Prime Minister and Nkrumah and others were very happy that, well, we have a labor government, so they would be sympathetic, but it turned out not to be. So, Nkrumah asked Harold Wilson to send troops to Rhodesia, to Quail The Rebellion by Jan Smith and his people. Harold Wilson told Nkrumah that, did he expect him, the Prime Minister to send troops to go and kill his Keith and King? That really devastated Nkrumah and said that something had to be done. So we had to start mobilizing ourselves to go and stop that separatist agenda. They had South Africa that they were concerned about. You had Namibia, you had Mozambique, Angola, then you are going to have a Rhodesia also. So something had to be done about it

Hameed:

were you involved in, because you were aware and you were part of the young, Pioneer movement

Addai:

No, I was not involved, at that particular time because I was in my teens I but I was aware

Hameed:

of what was happening around you

Addai:

I was very much aware one of the, greatest impact of my life was the death of Lumumba the assassination of Patrice Lumumba and Nkrumah came on the national radio to tell the nation about it. And he was crying basically, as he told the nation about the dastardly Act that had committed. And Lumumba had been slaughtered along with two others of his compatriots. And, Nkrumah always kept the nation informed of activities across Africa and the world. He regularly speak to the nation and educate the nation about what was happening. So some of us always. We were by the radio, reading our newspapers and all that, and following things avidly and, we were really highly in tune with what was happening across Africa. So coming back to Rhodesian, Harold Wilson, they declared the independence and, Nkrumah was mobilizing other African countries for them to go and intervene in Rhodesia and Quail, Yian Smith. And the rebellion, this became a great concern to South Africa, to the us, to the French, the Belgian, Germans, Canadians, Australians, all of them. And the Israelis. This became of peculiar concern to them. So they had to stop this, and they managed to do that by planning, placing, a CIA agent in Ghana and, who masterminded, the overthrow of Nkrumah in February, 1966. I will go back a little bit. In 1963, may, the organization of African Unity was formed in Addis Ababa 1963.

Hameed:

Yeah.

Addai:

Look at the period 1963, that same period, 63, then 64 that we had the Rhodesian he problem in the Rhodesia, that is current day Zimbabwe. And in 1963, the chairman of the organization of African Unity was his s Peri, because the summit took place. He was a host of summit in Addis Ababa. Then in 1964, the second summit took place in Cairo. So, that was under Nasser Abdul Nasser who was also a very radical person who had kicked, the British out of the Suez Canal. You remember, you recall, so very radical at that time. if you host, you become the chair, basically of Africa for one year.

Hameed:

Yeah. For the organization of African Unity, the OAU.

Addai:

Abdel Nasser Gamal Abdel Nasser became the chair in 64 and Nkrumah was to follow in 1965.

Hameed:

Mm.

Addai:

And what they dreaded was that with Rhodesia and all that, for Nkrumah to become the chairman of the organization, African Unity and Accra was gonna be the base it threatened the hell outta them. So everything to be done to stop that,

Hameed:

Okay. do they believe that, with Ghana, be in the chair and Nkrumah leading that particular meeting, he would be more likely to get more armies to go stop the settlers separatist in rhodesia.

Addai:

Correct. 63, then 64, that is May. Then 65 May but then the summit was going to be held in Accra. So the British, the Germans, the French, and the Americans, the Israelis, the South African, they did everything to sabotage to make sure that the summit could not take place in, Ghana for Nkrumah to assume the chair of the organization of African Unity. So they got several African countries also to boycott. the summit So the summit, instead of taking place in May, 1965, there was so many attempt to sabotage that the summit eventually took place in October.

Hameed:

October of the same year? Okay. Okay.

Addai:

And during that period, Nkrumah was also writing a book called Neocolonialism, the Last Sage of Imperialism and the, white House. And Whitehall told him not to publish the book, or face the consequences, but Nkrumah ignored them and published a book and distributed it. Yes,

Hameed:

Another question in October, 1965, when the organization of African Unity, when that event did happen, did it happen in Accra still?

Addai:

yes

Hameed:

Okay, so Nkrumah was still the chair,

Addai:

Yes. Became the chair in October, he became the chair.

Hameed:

but a lot of countries, African countries boycotted that particular

Addai:

They got, a lot of African countries to boycott them, to boycott. but the summit came on.

Hameed:

Mm,

Addai:

The summit came on and he distributed the books. That was in October. Towards the end of October, the summit came on. Then accelerated the process of undermining Nkrumah to prevent Nkrumah from, executing the plan that he had in terms of intervening in Rhodesia. And if they got rid of Rhodesia, then of course South Africa will follow, Namibia will follow, Mozambique will follow, Angola will follow and all that. So they saw what was happening and everything that had to be done to get nkrumah, they did. By that time they had planted A CIA person, in Ghana, CIA personnel, and also, a British And a French intelligence as security operators they planted them in Ghana and they were causing a lot of problems.

Hameed:

Yeah. I just wanted to add for the listeners as well that, with what happened to Patrice Lumumba of the Congo, it's actually public knowledge now that the CIA was actually involved. They, carried out an operation to go to Congo. and I think the operation lasted almost seven years and it was aimed to eliminate Lumumba and replace him with a poor, Western leader. Yeah. That was their main aim. And I think that's like more or less public knowledge now that every everybody knows the CIA was involved when you talk about the CIA and the British intelligence and French intelligence being in Ghana at that time, I'm certain the context. So that the audience realize that this isn't, it's not an exaggeration, you know, this type of things was constantly happening

Addai:

Thank you very much. you all have to study the Congo very well, and Nkrumah has a book called The Challenge of the Congo. It is very important that you study the Congo because the truths and the police personnel and others that Nkrumah sent to the Congo to help and support, Patrice Lumumba. They, the leading offices were the Americans managed to co-opt them and the British and the French. So those officers at a critical time that Lumumba had to broker us to his people. The radio station at that time was controlled by Ghanaian troops and they sabotage Lumumba. So those people, Ghanaians who collaborated officers, military officers and police officer who collaborated with the British, the Belgians, the Canadians, the Americans, the Israelis and South Africans. When the Congo, after the assassination of Lumumba and the whole peacekeeping force and everything collapsed, somehow they came back to Ghana and they were used to overthrow. Nkrumah.

Hameed:

Okay.

Addai:

They were used to overthrow Nkrumah. it was the Congo that they got them. There are a lot of things are tied to it because the British intelligence and security agencies, including the Americans, they were formed or organized in pursuit of strategic minerals and assets. You remember the opium was in China and all that. That was where the intelligence, services and all that arose out of. So the same thing in Ghana. They were there in the Congo to ensure and sabotage that they get their hands on the diamonds. the copper uranium, what they needed, and there were a lot of businessmen, American businessmen also that were also in the Congo dealing. uranium dealing in diamonds and all that. And, these businessmen also co-opted some of the Ghanaian officers and got them involved in, diamond gold minerals racketeering. So those who came to Ghana, the officers that was called to Ghana. There were some that later intelligence, Nkrumah's intelligence realized that his inspector general of police, his, commissioner for CID, criminal and verification Department of the Ghana Police Service, the head of the Army, they were all involved in diamond racketeering with Israeli military intelligence and all that. And so Nkrumah got there, his Attorney General in 1965 to investigate it. And, this is very, very important. I have to bring this up. It

Hameed:

okay.

Addai:

because, they were sabotaging Nkrumah, you know, that, the OAU and the, all the efforts of the western countries, the us, Britain, Germany, France, and all that to prevent Nkrumah from assuming the chair of the organization of African Unity, all that was happening in 1965, coming to the end of October, 1965. And then, so Nkrumah had to reorganize his intelligence services in October and he appointed a civil servant called Eric Otu as a coordinator, but unknown to Nkrumah. Eric Otu was a CIA asset

Hameed:

Hmm.

Addai:

who was working closely with, the Inspector General of police halli, the CID boss Decoup. Who was head of the first, it was OTU, And they were all working together. And after the attorney general's report on the demo racketeering of these police officers, senior police officer, the army officers, the report was given to Eric Otu who also was the coordinator of security for him to give the report to Nkrumah. Instead of giving the report to Nkrumah, he took the report and showed it to the police chief, the IGP, you understand what I'm saying? And then they realized that they were in trouble. So they had to speed up the process of trying to get rid of Nkrumah and of course, the CI and all that were there. So between December and then February, 1966, Nkrumah was overthrown

Hameed:

this has been, very educational on the historical perspective and learning about, the things that happened around the Ghanaian independence, but I want you to talk a little bit about you and the work you did in London with Black History Month and everything. But I also want to allow for some time for us to explore, the challenges that Africa's facing today and potential solutions that we can do to address them, it's good to know about the history, but we also need to explore a little bit about what can we do today.

Addai:

okay? Yes, that is fine.

Hameed:

So, so the first

Addai:

got, I got into this country. around about, late January, 1984,

Hameed:

from what I read. You were fleeing persecution in Ghana when you came into London, right?

Addai:

what had happened was that there was a coup deta that took place on the 31st December, 1981, which brought into Power Rollins, and his military offices, and they had overthrown a democratically elected government that was Nkrumah's regime. It was original members of the Convention people's party that was banned after the coup of 1966. They reorganized themselves and money to win power back through elections. That was in 1979. And, president at that time was Leman, who took office in September, 1979. Then in 1981 December he was overthrown. at that time I was in the us

Hameed:

what were you doing in the US by the way?

Addai:

well, I was studying, and also was heavily involved in politics. I was, an organizer of the all African People's Revolutionary Party

Hameed:

in

Addai:

of, Kwame Ture. and Bob Brown and others, they had the All African People's Revolutionary Party.

Hameed:

you were doing that in the US at that time?

Addai:

Yes, I was coordinator of the All African People's Revolutionary Party. when the coup took place, we were very concerned and particularly at that time I was with CLR James and, They asked me to go to Ghana and, find out what was happening.

Hameed:

When you were in the States, around that period, was Black History Month a thing there in the States,

Addai:

when I was in the States, it was called the, Negro Week.

Hameed:

okay, so Negro History Week was a thing when you were in the States.

Addai:

yeah. In the states. and then in 1976, mark the 200th anniversary of the independence of the us.

Hameed:

Hmm.

Addai:

1976, 1776 to 1976. At that time, the president was Gerald Ford. he made a proclamation turning the Negro week into month, black History month. But it was a campaign. It was a campaign, became part of the Civil Rights Movement and all that. And, that led to the pressure from the Black Haw and all these, N-W-A-C-P and the other groups that, forced the White House, the president to meet that proclamation and also as part of the, bicentenary celebrations. I was involved in that process as a, an organizer of the all African People's Revolutionary Party. And, so I was familiar with Black History Month

Hameed:

I guess, what I wanted to know is that, did you leave before it became known as black history month,

Addai:

No, no. I left for Ghana in 1982

Hameed:

Okay, so after

Addai:

Yes. I left for Ghana in 1982. So I got to Ghana in 1982 and, got into troubles with the military government of, Rollins. Got into troubles with them.

Hameed:

because of your reporting or

Addai:

no, well, they had, instituted what they call the defense committees. So when I went the defense committees was something that, organizing the workers and the communities to defend the revolution, what they call the revolution at that time. And that was something novel in Africa. And, it's excited some of us that, it was mobilizing the people to action, which was, similar to what we've grew up in with the young Pioneer movement and the builders brigade and all that, during the Nkrumah period we felt something like that was going to happen to turn the country around and to be thoroughly independent, rediscover itself, and then, take control of its own destiny. So I was sent back to the Ghana to go and study and see what actually was happening. And, at that time also, because of what I had known about what was happening with regards to the significance of gold and diamonds and all that in national development, I started to talk about the issue of gold and national development. We knew that Ghana had a lot of gold

Hameed:

How were you talking about it?

Addai:

this was in 1980s.

Hameed:

No, but how were you talking about it? Were you talking about it in the radio, newspaper, or,

Addai:

I was writing articles in the newspapers, basically saying that, ghana's gold, the revolution swims or sink by it that the gold, they should consider gold as a strategic, asset, national asset, they should take control of gold and add value to gold. They should stop exporting gold raw. I touch on rawness and the government got concerned and the unions that is the man workers union also saw the wisdom in what I was saying. So there was agitation and, The government sent their death squad after me, and so I had to escape and I was declared a wanted man on fourth January, 1984. And all the, radio, television, and all that announcement was made that I was a wanted man, and, intelligence and security agencies were instructed to look out for me. So there was a manhunt all over the country for me. But with the help of the defense committees and the unions, they hid me from town to town, village to village and all that. And for about three weeks were playing hide and seek with the security agencies. But finally they managed to make arrangement and sprint me through by boat. Across the border into Côte d'Ivoire Ivory coast And then I went to abidjan and prepared and then came to London. I decided to come to London because CLR James had moved to London

Hameed:

Oh, I see.

Addai:

Uhhuh. I came to London and was with the, and the collective, in Brixton.

Hameed:

That's where I live right now.

Addai:

I came to Britain into the movement.

Hameed:

Yeah. But the thing is, you came to Britain, and you made a lasting impact because of the work you did with, bringing black History month over here and making it a thing. And, I think, my, the first guest that I ever interviewed on this podcast was Patricia.

Addai:

Was who?

Hameed:

Patricia Lamore,

Addai:

Oh, pat. Okay. Patricia. Right.

Hameed:

she was the first guest I ever introduced. And she told me the story of how, it came with the motivation to want to do the same thing that was being done in the US over here in the uk. And, how you had the idea and you wanted to push it forward and do certain things. And the fact that there were actually people against you that didn't want this thing to be a success. the constant battle you have to go through. So if you can just talk a little bit about that

Addai:

Okay. What happens is that, I was lucky and la I got a job at the Greater London Council, and one day I was going to work. I got to work then the secretary to the principal, race relations, advisor to the council Hanson Wong, was crying. She had her head on the her desk and was crying. So I asked Elizabeth, the matter? She said, would you believe it? Last night I was putting Marcus to bed and after prayers, as I left the room, Marco called me back to his bedside and asked me, mom, can't I be white? She was devastated. She said she could not sleep and she cried all night. She said she had deliberately named his 6-year-old son after Marcus Mosiah Gavi, and here is his 6-year-old son questioning his identity. She said, I have failed my son. I have failed my son. I said, no, Elizabeth, you haven't failed your son. No, it is rather the institutions of state, the national curriculum, the Department of Education, the Inner London Educational Authority. The local authorities, the burs, the museums, the libraries, the churches. They have failed your son, but not only your son, but every child growing up in this United Kingdom has been failed. So it stire something in me that something has to be done about this. For a child to be growing up in this United Kingdom in London, the financial center of the world in London, of Great Britain, whose wealth was generated out of our resources in Africa, our intelligence and human labor that has made Britain what it is. And for a child to be facing the trauma of identity, this could not continue. Then there's something wrong. Something has to be done about it. So I set out to do something about it and we did something about it. I put together programs and activities for London to celebrate Africa's contribution to well civilizations. So we organized what we called the Greater London Council historical lectures and concerts. So we brought in historians, psychiatrists, sociologists, and all from across the world into London. And they gave lectures, spoke in forums, in halls, in the communities, and some were sent out to Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, and other places. that was in 1986, the incident with Marcus and the mother. Was in 1985. it took a while for us to organize that and get the council, the whole greater London Council to support it and to get the ethnic minorities unit and the various women's unit, various units in the council to support it. And we were lacking also that we had a enlightened leadership at the council under Ken Levison. And Ken Levison was a chair of the Ethnic Minorities Committee. And the deputy chair was, Paul Boateng, who was then the chairman of the police committee. Ken Livingston took the issue of race very, very seriously. we were very, very lucky and we had a wonderful team in Greater London Council, very dedicated Patricia Lamour, and a whole lot of people. they were all very supportive. we organized these lectures to sensitize London, England, and Britain, the whole of Britain, about their contributions. Of Africa to world civilization. And we did this through lectures and popular culture through music. So we also organized concerts and brought in

Hameed:

nice.

Addai:

artists. But in doing all this also, we understood the importance of solidarity, that you cannot struggle alone. And this was demonstrated by Marcus Gavi, who had principle support for the independence of India and also for the Irish struggle was always supporting them. So we also carried this forward. So when we organize the concerts, we brought artists from India and local Indian artists, Alap And we also brought artists from Ireland Elsin flight. And we grouped them all together at the Royal AB Hall and we packed the Royal AB Hall with school children, school children.

Hameed:

Yeah. I love this. I love this.

Addai:

It's an incredible period. we tried the atmosphere and we had the lecturers. You see, you had Benje, Kanan, Henry Clark, Tony Martin Francis Chris Wilson, all these people. We got them here. We got Angela Davis here.

Hameed:

yeah. Angela Davis. that's a big deal.

Addai:

We've got all these people here, is incredible,

Hameed:

No, it was, when I was reading about it, I was surprised. I was wow, You guys did a lot

Addai:

We did a lot and I had association with them also in the US so they knew what I was trying to achieve here.

Hameed:

okay, so because they've known you from the us.

Addai:

they came to support what we were doing, were doing, because I studied at the feet of John Henry Clark and Bill Kennan and Francis, Chris Wilson. I studied at their feet in the us. They taught me everything that I knew and CLR James and all of them. So I was blessed to have been in the company and being a student. Of some of the greatest minds, political minds of the 20th century, and I invited them all over to London and we sensitized the atmosphere.

Hameed:

you said someone, someone always knew that we couldn't do it alone. that's why he would support the Indians. or he would support the Irish. Who, who was that person? Yes. Marcus. Marcus Garvey. Marcus Garvey always knew that we couldn't do it alone, so in pushing for the black cause he was supporting all other people that were being oppressed. Right? and if we were doing the same thing today, doing Black History Month, we should be supporting all other people that are being oppressed Black History Month should be a time where if we are keeping in that spirit of Marcus Garvey, that he actually started Black History Month should be a time where we are highlighting all the oppressed people and supporting them and, Talking about them because like you said, it is better for us to do it together. So we should be talking about the Palestine struggle during Black History Month. We should be talking about, Sudan, talking about Congo. let me ask you, how do you think it has actually evolved? And I know you've been in Ghana for the past 12 years, so maybe you haven't seen that much of it, but how do you think Black History Month has evolved from what you guys wanted to do from the beginning, 1987, and how you wanted it to be something that empowers black people and gives us power How do you think it has evolved today?

Addai:

am happy with how things have turned up

Hameed:

Okay.

Addai:

because what you have to realize is that have the space of October, one whole month in British annual calendar, and, permit me to go back a little bit for you to understand this. During 1986, 85, 86, organizing the historical lectures and bringing all these people, Angela Davis, Max Roach Ghanaba, all of them, we brought them here. And, we realized that the period 87, 88 was very critical in the life of the Pan-African world. It marked the hundred and 50th anniversary of emancipation in the Caribbean. It marked the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Marcos Gavi, the 25th anniversary of the founding of the organization of African Unity and the 30th anniversary of Ghana's independence. So we put all of that together and said that we're going to celebrate the period 1987, 88, as African Jubilee year. We prepared a declaration called African Jublia Declaration, which was adopted by the London boroughs, and the declaration was very clear. The declaration appealed to the London boroughs to be mindful of what was going on in South Africa, the struggle against the apartheid regime in South Africa. They should commit themselves not to do anything to support the apartheid regime. And also what you have to notice is that in 1981, Sheffield Council Sheffield, the Pass and anti apartheid declaration and to get pension funds withdrawn from companies that were doing business in South Africa. Then Brent followed then GLC also passed the anti apartheid And then, they also passed the anti-racism declaration in 1984. London and the United Kingdom as a whole, there was a thrust towards ending a apartheid and make it impossible. For apartheid to survive and bringing pressure on Margaret Thatcher's regime. At that time, Margaret Thatcher was in power in the United Kingdom and Reagan was in the us So these two were also in support of the apartheid regime. So there was a struggle.

Hameed:

Oh, really? They were in support of it. Yeah.

Addai:

Yes. even the local authorities and others were demanding that companies boycott South Africa and even boycott the Krugerrand. they are gold coins that were issued, they depended on. Margaret Thatcher came on the air to say that never will they do that. it was a very interesting period in the United Kingdom. So we got the Afghan Jubilee year declaration, and those, at that time I think 120 or so local authorities that have come together to form the association of local authorities against apartheid. And this association, all of them also endorse the African Jubilee year declaration. Then we launched African Jubilee year I think July 30th at the, Westminster Central Hall with, we chose the Westminster Central Hall because the first Pan-African Congress in 1920 took place at the Westminster Central Hall. And at that time we invited, Robert Mugabe, who was a president of, Zimbabwe to come and launch it. But there was an emergency summit of the OAU call. So he sent the wife, Sali Mugabe, he came to launch it and he launched it together with Burning Spear and Donald Brand Abdu, Rahman. And it was an experience at the Westminster Central Hall. What Burning Spear did that night was incredible. incredible. It was so powerful. And the atmosphere was said that it troubled the rector of the central hall. So he came to me and said that he was going to turn the light off and cut off the power, and people were smoking also ganja and all these things, you know, so he were concerned. I said, you're going to do what? He said, yes, I'm gonna turn all this. I said, come, come, come follow me. So I took him backstage and opened the curtains. And when he had me and had what was saw, what was going on, he quickly walked back and left me alone. That was how powerful the atmosphere was. It was incredible. So we launched African Jubilee Year and at the tail end of the declaration said that all the boroughs. In London, including the Inner London Education Authority, the Association of London Authorities, and then the London Strategic Policy Committee. They joined together to declare the month of October as Black History Month. and every October after as Black History Month. And this declaration was sent across the country for other boroughs to endorse and all that. And so Black History Month then came to be launched in October of 1987,

Hameed:

Yeah.

Addai:

and we chose the month of October specific reason. I knew that Black History Month is celebrated in February

Hameed:

in the us

Addai:

but I proposed October and had to defend it because there were some at the Greater London Council and also at the London Strategic Policy Unit at that time, Greater London Council was abolished by Margaret Thatcher in on April 1st, 1986.

Hameed:

why did Margaret Thatcher abolished abolish the Greater London Council?

Addai:

Look at all that was happening. They, they said that the newly left Red Ken, Ken Livingston and his people at night in and, Linda Bellos Bes and, others in Lamberth was too radical and it was opposing the central government in their foreign policy.

Hameed:

Okay, I get it now.

Addai:

London was the heart of it, and the Greater London Council under the leadership of Ken Livingstone Paul Boateng and Benny Grant and all these people. And also 1987, you remember that we've elected four mps.

Hameed:

Mm

Addai:

Keith Vaz Diane Abbott

Hameed:

oh. Diane Abbott

Addai:

Yes. Paul Boateng, and Benny Grant. that was an interesting period, It was our period. because the motivative, factor was Africa and apartheid regime that had to go. That was a driving force, and we were blessed at that time to have ken Livingston and others as an enlightened leadership.

Hameed:

but Margaret Thatcher was, in support of the apartheid that was happening in South Africa,

Addai:

Yes, yes,

Hameed:

whereas the Greater London Council was against the apartheid

Addai:

over hundred and 20 barrels across the country. Were opposed to, it included the minor and trade unions and all that were opposed to it.

Hameed:

So this was a time when the people actually had power and they could go against

Addai:

Correct

Hameed:

the prime ministers. Unlike today, we've seen 500,000 up to almost a million people marching against what's happening in Palestine. And the leaders and the politicians, they don't care. It doesn't affect them in any way.

Addai:

by that time, yes. We were blessed with enlightened leadership. That is why we managed to achieve this.

Hameed:

Okay.

Addai:

yeah, that is it. We were blessed with enlightened leadership.

Hameed:

you said that you are happy with how Black History Month has evolved today, and I want to know why. because based on what you started with, and the purpose, do you think it's achieving that purpose?

Addai:

I will come to that. We got October instituted, and we launched first October at the Council Chambers at the Greater London Council. And we chose the month of October because of the significance important of October to us as African people. The autumn Equinox very important to us during that period. is the period of the harvest. There is plenty. So in the old kingdoms, all the chiefs, sub chiefs and all other people will gather at the capital, and They take talk of what has happened in the kingdom over the past year and where there are difficulties and problems and all that they are resolved. So it is a period of self-examination.

Hameed:

Ooh, like that. That's not how we've been using it though.

Addai:

I'm coming, to that. It's a period of self-examination

Hameed:

Okay.

Addai:

and then also we chose October because of Marcus and children. I remember when I said that we gather children at Royal Albert Hall for them to listen to their historical lectures to know what they have done in this world what the world owes to them. So it was children. Then we said that February still cold. And then October, the children had just come back from the long vacation, the summer holidays. there's a lot of camaraderie, and the children are not saddled with exams and tests, their minds are fresh. They can absorb instruction. That's why we choose October October also, when you go out into the countryside, driving along the countryside in the valleys and the hills and all that. Then you look at the changing colors of the trees, the leaves, the canopy, the yellows, the browns, the green. It is so colorful. It shows the diversity, the beauty, you understand?

Hameed:

Yeah

Addai:

that's why we chose the month of October. And the whole meaning is this, we take talk of the state of Black Britain. October is a period that we pause because you cannot just be, continue running, running around, and living your life and all that. You have to pause and examine your life. October has selected for us to pause and examine our life, our relationship with one another, starting from the home because Marcos experienced the trauma that the mother faced was at home. So how is it at home? What is the relationship between the siblings, the parents, with your cousins, with your uncles, your aunties, with your neighbor, with your community? That is what we have to look at. The school, the responsibility rests more at home than the school because the child is yours. And you have to bring the child up the child to be holistic in the child's learning and upbringing, to have a sense of who that child is you remove that trauma that they face in school. Because children can be very cruel. And at that time also was a period that you had, Bob Geldof and, what they did for Ethiopia, the raising the funds for Ethiopia and all that life age.

Hameed:

bandaid?

Addai:

The images that were vehicle on televisions and all that was not very nice. So children could be very cruel. And at that period too, I also experienced it. children will not like to relate to Africa at all, something had to be done to turn that. it starts from the home.

Hameed:

Yeah. that concept thing that Bob Geldof did, he's actually trying to do it now. He's trying to bring it back and do another version. And there was a conversation on news recently where he, approached Fuse, ODG and a artist, to join in the revampment of that song. And Fuse said, he would join if they changed the lyrics they changed the lyrics and they changed the images and it doesn't give the same negative impact that it had then, because the impacts that you talked about when you said kids didn't want to be associated with that because of that Christmas song, whatever. it's something that a lot of people felt Fuse was like, we need to change that and, but have this negative portrayal of hope as a place that's constantly suffering but, Bob Geldoff isn't having it. Bob Geldoff isn't happy, that's something that's happening right now as we speak on the news in pop culture. everything you've said is, is quite important. And I like the way you mentioned that Black History Month was supposed to be a month where we take stock of progressiveness last year. I'm not sure if that's how we use it, but that's a good way to use it. I think if we were, if we were using it like that, it can be used to empower communities beyond just raising awareness. It could actually be used to empower communities, black communities, and it can be used for action. It can be used for policy change for education. If we were using it the way you said, in months to take stock and track the progress.

Addai:

Yeah. Then you plan for the year coming, then you take talk. That is the cycle. That is our life. you have to pause. black History Month is your space. It's your space and you have to control it. You have to provide a content. You have to enrich it.

Hameed:

Yeah.

Addai:

if someone is criticizing Black History Month, that Black History Month has been taken over by the local authorities, have been taken over by the museum, the banks and all this and all that. But ask yourself, can Black History Month exist without people or human beings who are organizing these activities that you are criticizing? They live with you in the communities. They don't live in cyberspace. They live with you in the communities.

Hameed:

Yes, very true.

Addai:

So if Hameed, you are organizing something, then I see that, it could be done better this way. All what I do is that after the event, I come to you and congratulate you and tell you that, oh, I have resources and I can help you enrich it. And you discuss. That is what we have. it's our space and we have to fill the month with rich content. It is our responsibility. It's ours. Please. It's your space. We have created the space for you one whole month of reflection of taking stock and planning to make our world better, to make the home better. my disappointment very much is that I come back here and I hear about knife crimes and guns and all these, our children stabbing each other and all these things, and it worries me. The child who will pick up a knife and go out and cause mayhem, an injury, fatal injury to a colleague, where does that child come from? He comes from a home.

Hameed:

Comes from our Communities.

Addai:

He comes from a home, that child comes from a home. So everything begins at the home. That is why we have to take stock also at the home to see our relationship, our children, are we parenting them Well, what is our responsibility? That is what the month is about. Then you say, the hell no, no. Child of mine is going to get into this trouble because there's no problem, child, but a problem parent or a problem home. And I am very angry with the churches. I'm very angry with the churches because our parents, the children's parents have to work some two jobs, three jobs, they do not have quality time with their children. The chi break break up from school between three o'clock. By the time the parent come home at about seven, eight o'clock, that period, the child is subjected to peer pressure and a whole lot of things. We don't have places for them to go to be taken care of and taken off from the streets. Then the weekends, the churches take over the weekend, the churches take over because the mothers another will go to the church to go and service or clean up. Do this, do this so hardly. Do we have quality time with our children and hardly do we listen to the children. We don't have time to listen to the children and the pains that you're going through. And Black History Month is a month that we have to think about these things. Why our children misbehaving out there and what do we do about it? And the churches, you have all these spaces. Why don't you organize something for the children of your congregation? don't you organize something for them? You have money. You live in mansions. You live in this. What about these kids? You have responsibility towards them. I'm very angry with the pastors and the bishops and all these people. Yes, the religious leaders. I'm angry with them. I'm angry with them. They have failed us. They have failed us, and they are failing the children.

Hameed:

Yeah, I was just saying that, using black history month, the way that you've just explained to me I believe is more impactful. we did this every month and we actually use it as a reminder as a community and try to use that opportunity to look at the problem that we're facing within the community and just try to address that. I'm grateful and I think that what you've just said here by explaining your frustration we just need to communicate. That

Addai:

But what is most important? What is most important is this, the purpose of Black History Month is to ensure that every child growing up in this United Kingdom has an appreciation of and respect for the value of the contribution Africans, and people of African descent to well civilizations, and especially to the growth and development of this United Kingdom and Europe. antiquity to the present,

Hameed:

Okay.

Addai:

that is our responsibility. And so every October at home. You assess whether you have achieved that with your children, with yourself, in your community, with your neighbors. it is our responsibility to ensure that we also educate ourselves and to have an appreciation and understanding of our contributions to wealth civilizations. And it's not only you, but also your neighbors and the children, everybody, black, white, yellow, green, whatever it is, everybody. Because if they don't have that appreciation and respect for the value, the value of your contribution, look at the light. Louis Latine, he came to set up the lighting system in this country. You hear, you know about Electric Avenue in Brixton, it was Louis Latine, an African, and you know about all the inventions, all that, our contributions and all that, that we now coming out, from antiquity to the present that Roman god, that the Greek gods, they used to go to Africa for vacation to renew themselves. look Biblically, the 12 tribes, Abraham and his people, they were facing pestilence in Shadia, modern day Iraq. And where did God point them to? God pointed them to go to Egypt. all these things have to be taught, and it is our responsibility and your responsibility and parents' responsibility to ensure that the home has an understanding and an appreciation of the value of Africa's contribution, including Africans and people of African descent to world civilization, from antiquity to the present, and especially for the development of this country and Europe. that is the task facing us. So every October we have to take off whether we achieved this in the schools, universities, in the museums, libraries in the city, at the workplaces and all that. because we are dealing With human beings and human beings, occupy all these areas

Hameed:

Yeah, definitely. So I have a question. Very, very, enlightening What is your vision for the future of African unity, and empowerment, and how can we contribute towards achieving that vision? what should we be doing? to be moving towards that vision

Addai:

as I'm speaking to you now, I am very, very disappointed and angry with my own generation because my generation that the Nkrumah, Lumumba, Martin Luther King and their generation they fought to make it possible for me to be who I am. My generation, we took over power over Africa and we have failed and allowed Africa to be recolonized. As I speak to you. I cannot point to any single African country that is liberated and it's on its own as Ghana was, and Nkrumah not a single country. Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Algeria where There isn't. So the challenge facing you now is you should not be accepting your generation. should not be accepting all the mess and the bad leadership that is going on in Africa. You should not be accepting of it. You should organize yourself to make sure that the regimes are changed in our own image, interests, and security. Because the colonial powers, Britain, Germany, France, America, Canada, they changed regimes. They killed Gadhafi. They killed Lumumba. They killed our leaders, Malcolm X, they kill them. So that they take control. you have a responsibility to make sure that you organize yourself and own Africa. Africa is yours. Africa is yours. I'm African first who happened to be born in Ghana. I could have been born in Haiti. I could have been born in Surinam, go anywhere as Peter Tosh said, so far as, you are black, you are an African, you are an African, so don't be confused. And you have the biggest real estate, you have to take control. my generation, have failed you because we have sold out. So you have to liberate us. We have sold out, so you have to liberate us. That is the challenge I'm putting before you. All these countries have to be liberated again

Hameed:

That's, that's gonna be hard.

Addai:

Next year, we'll mark the 80th anniversary of the fifth Pan-African Congress in Manchester, the 80th anniversary next year. that means that you have to go back to the drawing board and take and learn from what they did. They sought to liberate and control land. but africa now is being still controlled. Our gold, our diamond, Everything being taken away. You should not accept this in the same way that in Chroma seal, James Padmore and others said that no, what was going on was not acceptable. We're going to do something about it and they did something about it.

Hameed:

what can we do about it? what advice would you give, activists, young activists or educators like myself

Addai:

Yeah, you have to consciously takeover in your mind, Africa is yours. Don't let anyone alienate you from Africa that you are black, British, you are this, this, You are an African, and if Africa is not important to them, they would have left us alone. Africa is very, very important. So you have to own Africa in spirit, in everything. And you have to be angry at the bad leadership in Africa. And you should not accept it. It is that leadership, bad leadership that traumatized young Marcus and the mother said, why can't I be white? Alright, what I'm trying to tell you is that the future of Africa rests in your hands. younger generation, you have to go back and take Africa.

Hameed:

what gives you the most hope for the future of African nations at the diaspora?

Addai:

Is the diaspora that gives me hope because historically, the diaspora that simulated the whole process of, liberation starting from the Pan-African congresses ending with the fifth Pan-African Congress in 1945. the diaspora is very critical and there are some ways that I don't want to use, but all that I can say is this, that the diaspora is very critical and you should not be alienated from yourself. To be alienated from Africa is to alienate yourself as a human being. Africa is your home.

Hameed:

Okay.

Addai:

You should not let any mechanism or any situation alienate you from your sense of being, because it is Africa that defines your being. If Africa is not well, you are not well. That is a reality. And this the whole talk about life aid above Gildor and all that, it's all that the imagery and all this psychological warfare and all these things that being played all over. Okay?

Hameed:

Yeah.

Addai:

we have to be conscious of this, and particularly you, the younger generation, you have all the tools of modern technology at your disposal and make sure that your education is set, that it'll be instrumental in liberating Africa. And you go and develop Africa in your own image, collective interest and security.

Hameed:

Mm.

Addai:

That is your responsibility.

Hameed:

Okay.

Addai:

And. The Wise is spoken to in Proverbs. I can speak to you in Proverbs

Hameed:

Mm

Addai:

you have to decode it in Africa. Our life is coding.

Hameed:

mm,

Addai:

Everything about us is coding. Look at how we treat our hair. It it speaks our clothing, the way we tie the lapi and everything, it is coded. Our life is coded in the same way. The black history month is coded,

Hameed:

Okay.

Addai:

you have to decode it. But the important thing is that Africa is yours. Do not let anyone alienate you from Africa.

Hameed:

Yeah. Powerful, Thank you. Thank you very much. Mr. Addai-Sebo, I appreciate your time today. we've gone way over the time, but I learned so much. there's still so much questions I have If I had more time with sits here and just talk and talk and talk, But I do appreciate you giving me the time today I'm looking forward to other people hearing this. I truly feel like, I dunno what to say, but No, it has hit me. the way you said Africa is yours, not just me, but for everyone that's young that's out there. And when I asked you about what gives you hope for the future, you said it was the diaspora and the fact that the change can come from there as well, you know, yeah, I can't thank you enough for your time today. I do appreciate it. And yeah, thank you for joining me.

Addai:

Thank you. Thank you very much. Black History Month. During the month of October, we paid tribute to our common humanity.

Hameed:

Yeah.

Addai:

Black history is the history of humanity. All research, whatever they, do, always points to Africa. Africa is the mother of humanity.

Hameed:

Yeah.

Addai:

So you are humanity.

Hameed:

Indeed. I love that. That is so true.

Addai:

your struggle is humanizing the dehumanize, humanity. Colonialism is nothing else but dehumanization. For colonialism to succeed, it has to dehumanize the African, your culture, your language, your technology, your religion, your faith, everything has to be dehumanized. when you are decolonizing, you are doing what you are humanizing.

Hameed:

Yes.

Addai:

decolonize to humanize. as an African, your struggles have been humanizing the world. It is out of your struggle that the women got liberated. It is out of your your struggle that human rights became a universal issue that embraced the women to get their They dehumanize slavery and enslavement and selling human beings, or the auction block is nothing but dehumanization. KKK, Ku Klux Klan Lynching is dehumanization.

Hameed:

Yeah.

Addai:

The national front is a dehumanization. And lastly, have you asked yourself why the why the Race act, the Race Equality and Human Rights Act? why do the People's Representatives gather in Parliament to pass a Race Relations Act of 1976 to be followed by the Equalities Act and now it's Human Rights and Equalities Act. Have you asked yourself why? Because they felt that there was something wrong with their society. Racism was a problem and they had to deal with it. So they debated it and passed an act to remedy the problem of racism so that all people in this country can live harmoniously. That is the essence of the Race Relations Act. The rulers of this country saw that race has become a problem, racism, the abuse of another human being. I did not did not classify myself as black. I'm a

Hameed:

I'm a human being.

Addai:

I'm Not a color. It is they classified me my fight is to humanize them. you are the parent of humanity as an African, thank you.

Hameed:

Thank you very much Mr. Addai-Sebo. Appreciate it. And thank you so much to all of our listeners. thank you for the listening. we are gonna be sharing any links to Mr. Addai-Sebo work in the descriptions below. thank you for listening.