African World Festival to honor African theologist and Pan Afrikanist Baba Medahochi
Baba Medahochi Kofi Omowale Zannu Sangodele Mogbarimu Ajinaku El
by Ason Gbehanzin Ajinaku
Baba Medahochi is and has always been an Afrikan nationalist. Years before he would eventually immerse himself into Afrikan religious systems, Baba had already internalized Pan Afrikanism as a way of life. It was from his intense passion for Afrikan People to have political, cultural and social sovereignty that his desire to resurrect Afrikan shrines began.
In the late 1950s in downtown Gary, Indiana while filled with frustration over the condition of Afrikan people, He decided to dedicate his life to search for Afrikan religion.
Baba, along with his wife Modupe would search everywhere for information on Afrikan theology. At this time, there were not many publications that dealt with Afrikan religion seriously. Whatever they could find. They would absorb and try to implement. They created many rituals this way.
Despite not having a formal teacher for a few years, Baba’s knowledge and power in Afrikan traditions grew tremendously.
He functioned as a priest where there had never been an Afrikan priest before. In the mid-sixties, he and his family also established the Omowale cultural center in Gary to facilitate the needs of Black people looking for their Afrikan identity.
During this time. Baba Medahochi also met Oba Oseijiman Adefunmi and became his student.
Also, he met and worked with Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu. Later on, Baba Medahochi would meet Saul Hernandez.
He was an Afrikan from Cuba who was a priest in the Kongo tradition.
In 1970, Baba Medahochi was fully initiated to Sango Kawo Kabiesi. Baba Medahochi was the second Afrikan born in America that was initiated by an Afrikan born in America.
On the night that he was initiated, there was one of the biggest thunderstorms in South Carolina history. Sango received him this way.
It is very important to note that before these rituals were done, Baba’s reputation as a leader and teacher was already well established. Baba Oseijiman gave him sanction years earlier. Baba Medahochi would continue to teach hundreds of Afrikans born in America the ways of our ancestors. He has been the father of many organizations dedicated to the promotion of Pan Afrikan spirituality.
Some of those were lle Omo Sango, the House of Mina, the Pan Afrikan Spiritual Temple, lle Rironti-Mimo, ljo Orunmila, Adulaw Ninu Amerika, the Akoda Institute and most recently the Nu Afrikan Vodun Spiritual Temple here in Milwaukee.
In the ’70s Baba was initiated into Afa, which is the Eve tradition of Ifa. The ancestors led Baba to uncover the shrines and secret knowledge of many other Afrikan traditions. Baba would learn the secrets of the Komo society and introduce the worship of Bafaaro and Muso Koroni in North America.
In 1996, he was inducted into the Ogboni IIedi Akesan. In 2001, he was formerly initiated into the worship of his Vodun Racine Grandbwa Sile/Togbui Nyibia by Hungan Paulin Marseille. A few years later, in North Carolina, Baba was pronounced the Da of the Dahomian Voudun rites of North America. He was called home in June in Atlanta.
It is impossible to measure the level of Baba Medahochi’s influence in Afrikan spirituality. The lives he touched have touched the lives of countless more. For this, we are eternally grateful to him.
Throughout his life’s work, his understanding has always been that religion is the deification of someone’s nationalism and religion is only relevant if it deifies your nationalism. Ajinaku Ayikungba Ahosu Lan le Bi.
A community salute to Baba Medahochi occurred at African World Festival, Sunday August 5 on the Potawatomi Stage. |
The global church is called to a "Week of Prayer for Sexual Trauma"
Orlando, Florida (BlackNews.com)--The National Victims Survey reports that every two and a half minutes, someone is sexually assaulted in America. From August 19-25, LIFE-Recovery Council, Inc., will launch the Emerald Ribbon Campaign (ERC) and hold a Week of Prayer for Sexual Trauma. The campaign seeks to rally the support of global churches in an effort to pray for the healing of sexual trauma and its effects, on behalf of both the victim and the abuser. The Emerald Ribbon Campaign also seeks to recognize the accomplishments of highly effective faith-based community programs nationally and internationally, and to host a "LIFE Recovery Institute" in 2008. The institute will offer workshops on how faith-based organizations can become more specialized in meeting the needs of individuals and families in diverse churches and communities. Abstracts are currently being accepted for the 2008 institute.
Campaign Activities Include:
o Distributing Emerald Ribbons to promote the cause
o Praying for the cause at regularly scheduled events
o Holding workshops/book club meetings for survivors
o Inviting safety experts to talk to children's groups, teens, singles and women's groups
o Visiting prisons, jails and transitional programs to teach recovery strategies
Participating programs are being encouraged to host activities year round and parents are being advised to take the time to tell their children which parts of their bodies are private and are not to be touched. Understandably, these may be difficult conversations for some parents to hold. Parents and the local church must begin to take a proactive stance against sexual trauma because, unfortunately, reports also indicate that an average serial child molester may have as many as 400 victims in his/her lifetime. Join the cause by taking a proactive stance--start planning an Emerald Ribbon Campaign activity in your city today.
For information go to www.healing-sexualtrauma.org, or contact Robin Josef at rjosef@healingsexualtrauma.org or 321-277-8807. |
