KINGSTON, Jamaica – Join the delegation of African veteran leaders, intellectuals, activists, faith leaders, entrepreneurs, dignitaries and students in the 2007 Pan Afrikan Movement (PAM) Summit at the University of the West Indies, Kingston Jamaica on July 11-18, 2007.
The theme of the 2007 Summit is Political Determination – for Cultural and Economic Rebirth. Some of the key goals are to (1) Build a political structure for an African Diaspora Union (ADU) as part of establishing a (6th) sixth region of a unified African continent; (2) organize cultural campaigns and institutions for African people to promote African values, heritage, history and spirituality; and (3) promote economic initiatives for businesses, trade and commerce amongst Africans in the Diaspora and Africa.
The 2007 PAM Summit is a continuation of the 2006 Summit at Clarke Atlanta University (CAU) in Atlanta.
At the 2006 Summit, Dr. Leonard Jeffries proclaimed that we are “participating in the building…of an African World Community” and Elombe Brath added that the 2006 Summit was a “historic Pan African gathering to establish a principled and revolutionary position to help prevent the re-colonization of Africa.” Mr. Wilbert Gwashavanhu of the Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe/African Union pointed to the Diaspora “to redouble your interests and commitment to African liberation.” Other key leaders and participants were Prof. James Small, OAAU; Dr. Shelby Lewis, Africa Advisor & Consultant; Dr. Asa Hilliard, ASCAC; Charles Barron, NY City Council/former Black Panther Party; Joe Beasley, RainbowPush Coalition/Africa Ascension; Minister Akbar Muhammad, Nation of Islam; Traditional High Priest Wande Abimbola, Nigeria, Cardinal Mbuyi Chui, Shrine of the Black Madonna; Njeri Algahnee, NCOBRA/Rastafari, Dr. Jewel Crawford, Global African Congress; Joe Kumasi, WHADN/PAOC; Prince Rahm, African Hebrew Israelites and Atty. Mzee Tate, Concern Black Clergy.
The Summit in Jamaica is also the celebration of the 107th anniversary of the first Pan African Conference and Congress in July 1900 in England.
The 1900 Conference was the first bold attempt by Pan Africanists to build a blueprint for a global coordinated movement for the liberation and reunification of Africans. The 1900 Conference was also a response to the 1885 Berlin Conference, whereby, European imperialist powers formed an alliance to coordinate their military, economic and cultural campaign to counter Arab interests in Africa for Europe‘s complete political control of African people and Africa’s resources.
The primary goal stated at the 1900 Pan African Conference was to “protect Africa from the depredations of empire builders.” Initiated by Atty. Sylvester Williams of Trinidad, it was supported by those like Benito Sylvain, Haiti; Emperor Menelik, Ethiopia; WEB Dubois, USA; Henry Cargill, Jamaica; Tengo Javabu, South Africa; Bishop McNeil Turner, USA; Majola Agbebi, Nigeria; and Booker T. Washington, USA.
The Conference was instrumental in influencing the building of such organizations and movements such as the NAACP, the UNIA, the Pan African Congresses, the Ethiopian World Federation, the Rastafari Movement, the Nation of Islam, the All African Conferences, independence movements, the AACC, the OAU, CARICOM, the OAAU and now the African Union (AU). This July 2007, the AU is attempting to revisit the original call by Marcus Garvey and later Kwame Nkrumah for a United States of Africa.
Finally, the Pan Afrikan Movement Summit in Jamaica is a continuation of the recent work of Dr. John Henrik Clarke whose prophetic warning calls for Africans to unite around the vision of “Pan Africanism or Perish” and the late Del ‘Kuntu’ Jones, who urged the 2006 Summit organizers “not to compromise our struggle for unity in the midst of white terror.” We are also encouraged by the words of His Excellency Apha Oumar Konare, Chair of the African Union Commission that the African leaders at the 2006 AU Summit should “act as real Pan Africanists driven by the true Pan African nationalism” and the overall initiatives of the African Union to re-integrate the Diaspora as part of a Continental wide system.
Some of the key conveners and participants of the 2007 Summit in Jamaica will be: His Excellency Dr. Dudley Thompson, former Ambassador, Attorney for President Jomo Kenyatta and participant of the 5th Pan African Congress; Nana Norma Yaa Farika, former official Diaspora delegate to the 6th Pan African Congress (PAC) & 7th PAC organizer; Dr. Tony Martin, UNIA & Scholar/Veteran Pan Africanist of Trinidad; Elombe Brath of PLC/D-12th Movement; Dr. Leonard Jeffries, ASCAC; Prof. James Small, OAAU; Mama Sybil Clarke, wife of late Dr. John Henrik Clarke; and other leaders representing the African Union; the Caribbean nations (CARICOM) and Afrikan communities from across the Diaspora.
The Summit in Jamaica begins on July 11, 2007 and will include African pilgrimages, rallies, excursions and ‘groundings’ throughout Jamaica to promote the integration of the African Diaspora with Africa. The conference and plenary sessions will begin on July 16-18 to shape and make decisions on the future of African people.
