A presentation by Prof. Jemima Pierre from University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada on the topic: Haiti, Africa and the Unfinished Project of Black Sovereignty.

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.

This, by far, has been my favorite Youtube episode to date. Rest in peace to the late and forever great Dr.Neely Fuller Jr.

This ancestors' work has changed my entire trajectory on life and how I decide to conduct my decisions, emotions, and connections with others. Prior to finding his work, the only other person who challenged me to think constructively in regards to my lifestyle choices were my grandparents, some of my favorite teachers, and my ex-boyfriend Quez.

As you can see, I used to love to learn lessons the hard way. But no one has quite sparked my intellect to challenge myself on why I was making the ridiculous decisions I was making quite like Dr.Fuller. His mantra was always this :

“If you don’t understand white supremacy/racism ,everything that you do understand will only confuse you..”

He didn't say this quote to confuse individuals on their ability to control their outcomes in life due to the intrusion of white supremacy. But to instead challenge the viewer to think and evaluate whether a program produced by an injustice system of racism has gotten the best of our righteous minds, behaviors, and current reality.

Anywho, this episode is dedicated to his works and how he helped change my life for the better 🤍🕊️.

Find his on air show here ​⁠ @VictimOfRWS
Or illustrations of his work here @carlitoway44

⁣Dr. Hunter Adams & Dr. Wade Nobles: African Centered Power - The Ability To Defend Reality

In the last part of my chat with the historian and Lawyer Frimpong Anokye, he attempts to answer the vexed question of who founded Ghana. He provides various historical happenings that play a critical role in the foundation of Ghana.

⁣n February 2020 a shocking video began to circulate on Chinese social media. A group of African children are being instructed, by a voice off-camera, to chant phrases in Chinese. The kids repeat the words with smiles and enthusiasm — but they don't understand that what they're being told to say is " I am a black monster and my IQ is low."
The clip ignited outrage in China and beyond. But no-one ever answered some crucial questions: why was this filmed? Where was it shot? Who made it?
These questions send BBC Africa Eye reporters Runako Celina and Henry Mhango on a journey into a Chinese video-making industry that exploits vulnerable children across the continent.

⁣And here. It. IS. ✨📚 Our official Grammar companion for ⁣Ọmọ́wálé Speaks Fall semester! Who else is counting down to Fall?
Apply today kotoko.info/malcolmx

After taking this course, I can speak, write, read, and hear Twi. This is to me advantage here on the continent. I encourage others that are serious about repatriating back to Afrika to check out all the language courses offered by Abibitumi Kasa.

⁣Orin Egúngún w/ Norley
⁣Orin Egúngún w/ Norley

⁣Orin Egúngún w/ Norley