⁣Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé Kambon at Phone/Laptop Plant in Burkina Faso

Since he was a young boy, Manuel Henrique, son of Joao Grosso and Maria Haifa, learned the secrets of capoeira in the street, with Mestre Alipio, in Santa Amaro da Purificaçao. He was "baptized" into capoeira with the name "Besouro Mangangá", (a large and dark species of maybug), for his flexibility and the ability to disappear when the time called for it. Strong, black and with an adventurous spirit, he never worked in one place steadily nor had a definitive profession. When the adversities were heavy and the advantage of the fight was with the opponent, Besouro would disappear "flying" without a trace. The belief that he had supernatural powers began to grow.

By train, by horse or on foot, depending on the circumstances, Besouro traveled from Santo Amaro to Maracangalha or vice versa, working on plantations, farms or mills.

Mestre Cobrinha Verde, Besouro's cousin and capoeira student tells a story about him. One day unemployed, Besouro went to Colonia Mill (now called Santa Elizia), in Santa Amaro to look for work. He was authorized to work and became an employee there. One week later, on payday, the boss told all of the employees, that the work contract was "quebrado para São Caetano" (closed or broken for Saint Caetano). This saying was used during this time period to say that no one was going to get paid. Those who dared to challenge the boss were tied to a trunk of a tree, whipped and left there for 24 hours, but with Besouro, it was different. When the boss told him he would not pay him, Besouro grabbed him by the shirt and violently forced him to pay the money he owed him.

Besouro was a revolutionary. He didn't like the police and was always involved in complications with them. More than once he used physical force to disarm policemen. Once armed with their guns, he would use them to lock the policemen up in jail cells meant for criminals.

One time, in Largo de Santa, one of the main squares of Santo Amaro, Besouro forced a soldier to drink such a large quantity of alcohol that he passed out on the ground. When the soldier woke up, he went to his commander, Capitan José Costal, who assigned 10 men to catch Besouro dead or alive. Besouro, hanging out in a local bar, had an intuition that the police were coming. He left the bar and went to the main square. When the police arrived, he walked up to the Christian cross that was in the square. He proceeded to spread his arms out like Jesus Christ and told the police he would not surrender to them. Violent shots were heard and the capoeirista fell to the ground. Capitan José Costa walked up to him and probed him with his gun, thinking the was dead. Besouro, who was very much alive, to the great surprise of the Captain, grabbed his rifle from him. He then ordered all the policemen to put down their guns and leave the square. They left unarmed and to the tune of Besouro singing a cheerful song.

Besouro's fights and revolts were successive and much of the time, he was in opposition with the police and owners of the farms and mill. While Besouro was working on Dr. Zeca's plantation, the father of a young man called Memeu, he was marked to die.

Dr. Zeca was an influential man, who wanted Besouro dead. He ordered Besouro, who didn't know how to read or write, to deliver a piece of mail to the administrator of Maracancalha mill, a friend of his. The piece of mail said, "Kill the man who is delivering this letter." Dr. Zeca's friend said very calmly to Besouro that he would stay the night and return to Dr. Zeca's with a response the following day. Early the next morning Besouro went to look for the man and was surrounded by a group of about 40 soldiers. They shot at him with a violent round of bullets. The capoeirista began to escape, dodging bullets by moving his body to the rhythm of the guns. At this moment, a man arrived called, Eusebio de Quisaba, who violently stabbed Besouro with a knife made out of a special wood called "turcum". This wooden knife has significance in the African tradition of Candomblé. Candomblé is a strong, religious tradition that was established in all Latin countries where there was commercial slave trade of Africans. The folklore says that this wood is the only way to kill a man whose body and spirit are "closed" to death. This idea that a person is unable to die was a characteristic associated with Besouro; a man that no bullet could enter.

Manuel Henrique, Besouro Mangangá, died in 1924, at the young age of 27, but lived on in two of his capoeira students Rafael Alves Franca, Mestre Cobrinha Verde and Siri de Mangue.

Today Besouro is a capoeira symbol throughout all of Bahia. He is well known for his bravery and loyalty. The support he gave to those who were persecuted and oppressed by the police and owners of plantations was not forgotten.

North Koreans speak their own language, have their own names, their god is in their image, they can walk the streets of North Korea without having to worry about racism, racist cops, their money isnt going to feed some redneck Sheriff, racist Judges or racist DAs.

⁣Kambon morning rituals

Professor Bayyinah Bello welcomes Dr. Wade Nobles on her weekly webinar series Bayyinah & Friends. Part 1 of 2.

This Participatory Video, produced by the people of Lamin, Makumbaya, and Mandinari, in the West Coast Region of The Gambia looks into the contentious issue of land grabbing. It captures the ordeal of land owners from three communities, regarding the forceful seize and sale of their lands by one Lamin Jarju, a resident of Babylon who has claimed ownership of and chieftaincy over the said farmlands.

Babylon, the area of land in question has been historically a large farmland utilized by the people of Lamin, Makumbaya, and Mandinari for their farming activities. Most of them rely on these farms to earn a living. It is not a recognized settlement legally speaking, thus has no chief. Albeit this reality, there is this tussle of ownership of these lands, leaving many people dissatisfied and frustrated.

Numerous attempts have been made to solicit support from various government institutions for them to intervene to find a lasting solution to this issue but nothing was achieved.The video essentially captures numerous stories of struggle for sustenance and justice.Facilitated by Gambia Participates, with support from the ATJLF.

Brandon "Okumapem" Rogers - Capoeira Testimonial

⁣Dr Wade Nobles: Reclaiming Education African For African People

⁣Poto Mitan Haitian Women, Pillars of the Global_Economy

⁣Namibia has the third highest levels of income inequality in the world. 6% of the population own 70% of the land and here, the wounds of German Colonisation run deep. Between 1904 -1908, the Germans established concentration camps where the indigenous Herero and Nama people were interned. Up to 80% of them died in what Germany later recognised as the first genocide of the 20th Century. While the descendants of these victims, like Karvita, live in illegal settlements in constant fear of eviction, the descendants of these colonists continue to own most of the land and have no problem justifying their inheritance.

Most of Namibia’s vast natural resources are owned or controlled by foreigners. The diamond industry is dominated by DeBeers and the ruling Swapo party, widely seen as corrupt, is propped up by its historic ally: China. The construction and uranium industries are controlled by the Chinese and documents leaked in 2021 revealed that North Korea was illegally subcontracted to build the country’s State House.

Most of the country is sparsely populated, enabling nature to flourish. It’s home to one to one of the greatest wildlife populations in the world, including the only free-roaming black rhinos. But these animals are constantly threatened by the Chinese mafia while global warming is increasing desertification, threatening indigenous communities.

Description:
What if you could build wealth while strengthening a global Black community? Whether you’re a long-time Abibitumi member or just discovering the platform, this exclusive 2-hour seminar will reveal real ways to generate income—on your own terms.
Led by Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé Kambon, this session will introduce powerful strategies to help you monetize your knowledge, creativity, and influence within the Abibitumi ecosystem.
Date & Time:
📅 April 5th , 2025
⏰ 7 PM GMT | 3 PM EST
⏳ Duration: 2 hours
What You’ll Gain:
🔥 Strategies to turn your expertise into income
💰 Ways to monetize digital content and products
📥 Opportunities for financial growth within Abibitumi
Black people worldwide are reclaiming financial power—are you ready to do the same? Secure your spot now!
Presenter: Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé Kambon
📍 Exclusive to Abibitumi

⁣Senegal: A Documentary