I have learned through my journey in life that there are treasures waiting for us in the adventure of discovery. More importantly, many of those treasures are, by natural right, ours to seize and to enjoy. Some of these treasures is knowing your identity, in the context of nationality, spirituality, having a strong understanding of unity and loyalty to kith and kin, and striving to better one's self through knowledge, wisdom, and comprehension.SANKOFA is an excellent symbol encompassing the above, and it shows us that we are never wrong when we want to connect to our heritage, our highest self, and increase our ability to work with our family in developing individually and collectively. Because of the past power relationships that took place with the kidnapping of Indigenous Peoples from their homelands, we had lost our way. SANKOFA offers us the serenity, will, and motive, to get back what is ours! DEOZI! For Artwork Services, Contact deozi@deozi.com
TO BE INDIGENOUS is to be ones native to a landmass. More specifically, the Indigenous are the original inhabitants, as well as those most anciently connected to land and nation.
There is significant evidence of Africans reaching the Caribbean and the Americas before the time of European Imperialism. And also, when studying the early bones and structures of Paleo Americans, we see remnants of an ancient people kindred to the ones found in prehistorical era Africa. Some studies have even gone to say those Paleo Americans are on par, in terms of timeframe, with Ancient Africans. This is worthy of research and critical study.
Indigenous Peoples have a rich heritage in the worlds of the past, but also the FOUNDERS of what civilizations we see in what people consider to be 'modern era' today.
We, the Indigenous, are still here to build civilization. And we can do it once more. FOR ARTWORK SERVICES, EMAIL deozi@deozi.com
A family comes in all shapes, sizes, facial features, and contains many philosophies, identities, and/or perspectives on life or living. The common bond within a health family, however, is a certain aspect of love; and that love is based upon UNITY IN DIVERSITY. This bond simply means that each member respects each other for their difference or numerous differences. And despite any disparity, the commonality of togetherness, working together while trying to achieve the best results in all aspects of society and life, matters most.UNITY IN DIVERSITY is a paramount philosophy because Indigenous Peoples dwelling in the so-called First Worlds, and every other world, are not only physically but mentally scattered. Our people are prone to divisive thinking (peculiar thoughts which work against unifying) because of our weakened collective family structure. So we must confess, that regardless of what inspires us to do well, or aspirations of lofty goals, that family development, its maintenance, and continuance in generations to come, is our ultimate mandate. Absolutely nothing should come before this. Let us work for this end (and beginning) and also celebrate it! DEOZI! For Artwork services, contact: deozi@deozi.com
MOTHER'S DAY, has always been celebrated, in degrees and variations, by the ancients through their most venerated and ancient Ancestors (If you search through my past works on the side, you will see other depictions of mother veneration).The ancient Egyptians saw the power of a Mother via Mut, Ma'at, Neith, and Aset (Isis). The Akan via Asase Ya, the Yoruba via Oshun and Yemoja, the Taino via Atabey, are all expressions of Motherhood; and some thought it not wrong to make this analagous to the Source's relationship to all people and the entire universe.
What does this say to us? Our Mothers, are in fact, the Mother of mothers!
This tradition has always been with our people; but We most importantly, should remember the mother's of persecution and struggle. The list are too many to name: Yaa Asantewaa, Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells, Harriet Tubman, Queen Nanny (feel free to add on in comment), and of course, YOURS!
Julia Ward Howe , a humble abolitionist and poet, is given credit in proclaiming this specific day in the United States of America. Anne Jarvis succeeded in making it an actual holiday in the year 1914 C.E. To my knowledge, there is no record of them being knowledgeable of the veneration of mothers in ancient civilizations, but I think their move is something reflective of a universal truth, that all people should be agree upon and cherish: 1) we must give honor and respect to the ones we all come out of, and 2) honor the ones that impact you as a mother despite if they gave birth to you or not. A Happy and Joyous Mother's Day to you all! DEOZI! deozi@deozi.com
NAtion BABEE* is a new comic strip, created by DEOZI, that showcases the desires of a character named Jowin Mi. Jowin wants to unify his people despite differences. In his adventures, he runs into numerous different types of people: nationalists, culturalists, communists, atheists, religious, and a host of others. He both learns and also shows others the simplicity of working together for a common goals, but also gets into a lot of trouble along the way. Join him on his adventures!
THE MARCUS GARVEY CENTER will be having a beautiful event showcasing the talent of people who have a sincere desire and appreciation for the Knowledge of Self. Many artists will come out and express through song, poetry, organic instrument, and other art forms, their love for our collective elevation. This will be taking place on March 30, 2012, at 5105 Church Avenue, in Brooklyn! For more info, please call Sister Aya Akofena at 347 754 3360 or the center's number: 718 363 8043, and speak to Brother Venge. For Artwork Services, Contact deozi@deozi.com
INDIGENOUS stems from being born of the land or being produced from the same. Indigenous Peoples means the original inhabitants of the land. When we study Our Story via Anthropology, Genetics, Meteorology, Geology, Metallurgy, and a host of other sciences, we can see that on every inch of this planet, the most ancient peoples are those that migrated out of Africa, millions and millions of years ago.
Indigenous Peoples are those that laid foundation for the Indus/Harrapan, Sumerian, Egyptian, Shang/Xia, Olmec, Aztec, Mayan, Mauritania, Rome, Igbo, Greece, Timbuktu, Habeshat/Ethiopia, Yoruba, Akan, Zulu, Nippon, Kalifia, Berber, Garamantes, and a host of others (feel free to add more in a comment), which still have a presence (in name) in today's world.
The term was originally coined to define people that were marginalized because of foreign forces that occupy land that was not originally theirs. This was done in relation to labor laws and eventually developed for Ancient/Aboriginal Peoples to fight for personal rights and sovereignty upon their own lands. The fight is still ongoing.
I take the term Indigenous Peoples as not only the above but more importantly as: people most anciently connected to land and nation. The original inhabitants are the ones that produced both the conqueror and the conquered. The land of the conqueror is also the property of Indigenous People. DEOZI! For artwork services, contact deozi@deozi.com
DEMINAN CARACARACOL is one of the original mythological founding fathers of the Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean. It is said that He, alongside His Brothers, were a product of a cesarean of a dying ancient Earth Mother. They were brought into existence by the aid of the Ancient Peoples of that day.
His body was also unusual and coarse in skin texture. He also had ability to influence others. Through several of His adventures, He was able to bring about abundant life accidentally, and also produce a child, by the power of the Zemi (god) called Bayamanaco (all of this took place because of Deminan's hunger and His wanting to prepare Cassava).
The abundant life was the endless fish life of the Caribbean Sea; a sea which He inadvertently let loose into the world and caused the islands of the Caribbean to form. His child, whose symbol was the turtle, became the Polyandrous Wife of Deminan and His Brothers and they peopled the Caribbean Islands.
The lessons we learn from Deminan is that great power has both costs and benefits. How we operate with nature will determine how we fare within the world with ourselves and other life forms. Responsibility and accountability is important in regards to Our Mother, the planet. DEOZI! For Artwork Services, Contact deozi@deozi.com!
NANA AKONNEDI ABENA is the mighty Abosom of Akan/Ashanti spirituality, that is the Mother of all the Abosom (Children of Nyame). Her Bosomfie (Shrine) is located in Larteh Kubease in Modern Day Ghana
Her power is to establish wise justice among the people; particularly in highly complex or sophisticated disagreements relating to government, real estate, family matters, personal property, and other serious concerns. She is the one to make sure the rewards of equity exist in the minds and consciousness of those that recognize Her.
When comparing Akonnedi to the Orisha of Yoruba, Oshosi is the High Being that is similar to Her, in meting out justice. It's my view, however, that Ma'at of the Neteru of Ancient Egypt is a closer similarity in that she is both a promoter of Justice and a feminine principle. Both of them promote balance.
We are looking for justice within ourselves and justice for Indigenous Peoples across the entire planet: autonomy, wealth, and interdependence! DEOZI! For Artwork Services, Contact deozi@deozi.com!
ORUNMILA, a High Being of the Indigenous Peoples called Yoruba, is what many people would consider the Word of the Creator (Oludamare). He is considered second in command to Oludamare, and helped at the beginning of the creation of all things upon the planet. He also incarnated on our Mother, the planet, on several occasions to teach the people. He is an expert at prophecy and determining destiny.As Kwaku Anansi of the Akan, and Tehuti of the Ancient Egyptians, were personifications of Supreme Wisdom, so is Orunmila. He is the carrier of Oludumare's knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and science, which is contained in Ifá a. This special information is carried to His priests called Babalawo (male) and Iyanlafa (female). In this day and time, we call upon a higher degree of consciousness and awareness to help Indigenous People across the planet. We call upon the Power of Orunmila to bless us with a new dimension of growth so that we may in fact control our destiny and become rulers-over-self once more! DEOZI! For Artwork Services, Contact deozi@deozi.com!
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