Decades after the European powers carved up the African continent for their own imperial needs, Africa is undergoing a new wave of resource and strategic exploitation – some are calling it the new scramble for Africa.

The United States is increasing its footprint across Africa with AFRICOM, fighting terrorism and ensuring stability are the trumpeted motivations. Resource security is a more hushed objective.But it is not just about the US.

During the last decade, China's trade with Africa not only caught up with America's, it has more than doubled it.The new battle for Africa does not deploy strong-arm tactics, it is now a soft power game: economic and humanitarian aid, interest-free loans, preferential trade agreements and investments in infrastructure are currency across a continent that is, for the world's established and emerging powers, seemingly up for grabs.

India, Brazil and Russia are all invested in Africa's present and future, and old imperial powers like France are fixing to retain their loosening grip on the riches of former colonies.So what does all this mean for Africa and Africans?Empire travels to Kenya to examine the continent at the centre of the world as it is courted, cajoled and carved up by global powers to its East and West.

A song and video I put together to honor my haitian ancestry and to tell the story of how Haiti became the first independent black republic in the western hemisphere following a successful slave rebellion.
Lyrics:
Nowadays you can die from too much sodium.
We hearing lies from the guys behind the podiums.
but while the whole world is warring for petroleum
we can't forget that the haitians beat Napoleon.
Yup, It started 1791. A whip cracked. A cracker said this is what I need done.
A voodou priest gazed high into the shiny sun
and thought "I'de probably get caught if I try to run.
How can I make it so they'll never be pursuing me?"
He held a ceremony, started preaching unity.
Within 10 days of taking out revenge they
took over the north province. Bondage abolished.
By the next year, 1792
they gained a 3rd of the island since the fight ensued.
Niggas was wildin'. French bodies was piling.
They tried to give rights to the freed to end the violence.
But it was too late. The haitians wasn't giving in
to leave their kin in the condition they was living in.
By seven trey (73) the French was warring with the Brits.
The Spanish took the British side and got up in the mix.
The blacks fought along with Spain.
The French caved and emancipated all their slaves.
It wasn't over tho cuz Britain and Spain
figured they was royalty, was setting to reign.
So a black commander who was fighting for the Spanish crown
fought for the French. Former slaves held him down.
This was in 74. They fought for four years.
Sent the British home running. They was all tears.
In 1800 went to Santo Domingo
and by 01 they freed the slaves from the gringos.
But Napoleon needed slaves.
He tricked the commander and then he had him locked away.
For a few months Napoleion was back in power,
but then a general took wind. Was smelling something sour.
His name was Dessalines.
He led a next rebellion and chased them out the scene
as bodies sunk in the ravine.
Established a republic. Policy was closed door
since the first of the year in 1804.
Big up to Dessalines. Big up to Toussaint.
Big up to Boukman. Big up to Petion.
January the first dont watch the ball drop.
We celebrate our independence. Bring out all stops.
Where my soup joumou at?

Sheikh Danjuma Bihari breaks down the role geography and migration plays in the history of various nations.

Soundiata est un spectacle multidisciplinaire interpretée ici par le Balais National, le Koteba National, le Badema National et l'ensembe instrumental du Mali. Il nous plonge dans la legende de l'epopée mandingue et l'histoire de Soundiata Keita. Cette piece est inspirée de l'oeuvre de Mamadou Badjian Kouyaté.

⁣Nana Thomas Sankara - The Upright Man

From the archives of the UCLA Communications Studies Department. Digitized 2013.

The views and ideas expressed in these videos are not necessarily shared by the University of California, or by the UCLA Communication Studies Department.

A transcendental fuse of modal experimental Jazz and Eastern spirituality, inspired by the teachings of Swami Satchidananda. Track taken from the album of the same name, recorded at the Coltrane studio, New York, and released on Impulse! (1971) - ft. Cecil McBee (Bass), Majid Shabazz (Bells, Tambourine), Alice Coltrane (Harp, Piano), Pharoah Sanders (Sax, Percussion).
Sampled by Black Moon "Enta Da Stage" (1993).

"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favour of fair use."

In this clip I discuss the ancient Afrikan origins of writing and the historical role of writers in the preservation of Afrikan civilizations.

Sidenote: Sankore was in Mali, not Ghana.

⁣The Story Of One | 2014