Hmmmm. It's been a long time.... since I left you, but now its time to get back to,
expressing the thoughts in my mind...okay that's enough Erik B & Rakimming...I love them guys...that's when Hip Hop was Real. But true, it has been a while, I got locked out of my blog you know how that goes...I'm sure that I'm not the only victim to have suffered from that problem.
Too many passwords to remember and too paranoid to write them down...lol.
In the interim though, lots has been happening. This month October 2012 is Black History Month in the UK and October 18th is Anti-Slavery Day for more info check out /LIKE us on our facebook.com/sankofaians page. On the Sankofaians Radio Talk Program we interviewed Grace Akallo, former KONY Child Soldier and founder of United Africans for Women and Children Rights. Grace has been interviewed on the Oprah Winfrey Show to highlight the kidnapping of innocent children in Uganda, forced to kill and subjected to inhumane acts.
Surprisinly I had mixed messages about the subject in the community. The majority were grateful to be made aware of these issues whilst others had been infected with the poisonous rumor that Kony was either dead or that this evil stopped years ago in Uganda or that it never did happen at all, and or the 'Invisible Children' campaign was an attempt for the Founder Jason Russell to make millions from his founded charity. Yeah quiet possibly but if this is the case then every charity should be questioned. I personally don't think that was his interest...after all the poor man had a nervous breakdown and was reported walking naked on the beach. Which tells me that his heart was in the right place; to do anything he could to save the children that trusted him to get the word out about their plight. I cannot imagine what it would have been like for him and other advocates from different organisations to continuously visit and leave behind the innocent to search for help and resources to save their lives. Can you imagine that this man calls out the devil and then is accused of being the devil? Okay so the documentary needed to be updated on the facts like Kony had moved on from Uganda to operate in Congo. Despite these minor inaccurate details, the documentary was a very successful campaign to STOP KONY 2012 which made it to my 14 year old sons Facebook status before mine. This began my knowledge of the campaign, like any responsible parent monitoring their child's Facebook page, I Googled Kony and was horrified of what I learnt and summoned the whole family to watch the documentary on YouTube.
On air Grace shared details of torture, humiliation, suicide for the children who couldn't take it anymore, brainwashing and indoctrination by Kony, being abducted on Uganda's Independence Day by Kony's army, mutilation, the brave acts of Sister Rachel a Catholic nun who begged Kony to surrender the 139 girls he abducted from the High School and to kill her instead. He released 109 school girls to Sister Rachel... Grace was 1 of the 30 remaining... and so the atrocities continues.
Grace a Survivor who says "I am not a victim but a survivor who cheated death" lives to be a voice for her best friend from High School, whom is still in Kony's army. She fights to highlight that the soldiers are merely children who have been brainwashed to serve Kony by force that these children after being forced to kill their parents, guardians and neighbors are now mentally shattered and as sheep are following the orders of Kony who now becomes there guardian and god. Grace exclaims that these children are in need of our support, protection and compassion as opposed to criminal punishment.
Grace once escaped, was placed back into her former High School, finished her education and was blessed with an opportunity to travel to the USA and was even featured on the Oprah Show when at the time she knew not of Oprah's notoriety. Grace advocates for protection, health and education intervention for the Child Soldiers whom have escaped as they are not well received back into the community for fear that they would betray them back into Kony's hands and or merely because they are seen as Kony's evil replica.
After hearing Grace many people shared with me that though they watched the documentary 'Invisible Children', Grace's account was undeniably real, so real that it was hard for them to switch off and move onto the next thing but were compelled to want to help bring a change.
So these blinding rumors have spread into the African community which insult the intelligence of the public who search for truth and most importantly to the innocent fretful children who are fervently praying non-stop that someone will come to rescue them from killing their parents, from being raped and infected with HIV/AIDS, shot, forced to kill a child who was accused of thinking of escaping, from witnessing their friend commit suicide and committing suicide.
Why would some Africans want to deny what is happening under Kony's leadership in Northern Uganda, parts of Sudan Central African Republic and now Congo. Yes it is painful to expose our dirty laundry in public but its worse to keep it dirty and hidden. Yes it is not happening all over Africa nor all over Uganda or even Congo, parts are being affected but just because you or someone you know may be living in the country and not witnessing any abductions it does not mean that it is not happening. Kony is alive and still committing these atrocities in Congo currently.
Please Do not be quick to deny for fear of wanting to project a perfect Africa, perfection comes when we identify and smooth out the imperfections! If countries like America can expose its ills then why should we feel pressured to defend a perfect Africa? As Grace always states "The only thing that makes evil to prevail is when good people decide to be quiet". So my friend, let's join together to push for a Political, Social and Cultural Change to protect and stop the murdering of Africa's Hope and Future; Our Youth!
My question is this...
1. I ask a question to the Deniers, If it is true and if it was you, what would you want the public to believe?
2. Why is there not a strong representation in numbers of Black people at Human Rights conferences or events?
3. Do we not have a responsibility to address Human Rights issues in our communities?
4. Why should we leave it up to non-blacks to fight for Human Rights Issues in Africa?
MARCHING FORWARD!
Grace Akallo is contactable through her website: www.africanwomensrights.org. She is planning a documentary viewing in Worcester MA in early Dec 2012. Please inquire and attend as well as volunteer your services as it is greatly appreciated. At times we can feel like if we are not in position to give money then whats the use. I would like to plead with you that every effort towards pushing this cause is dependent on the nature of good Samaritans like yourself...therefore do not underestimate how instrumental your voice, signature on a petition, attendance to events, prayers, expertise, words of encouragement etc, can be in saving lives.
Efua Expresses is a blog for the Sankofaians Radio Talk Show, you can follow us on www.facebook.com/sankofaians for further updates and contact.
In the meantime we will be attending this event, please show your support...
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