Coming Home to the Motherland

Initiative to Unite Peoples of African Descent

By Gail Paine

In a previous article in the June/July newsletter titled "Bridges of Understanding", a profound reconciliation pilgrimage to Benin, sponsored by Jamii Africa, was described.  Ayo Handy Kendi and her proudly 80 year old mother, Doris Thomas, participated in this historic pilgrimage.  Here is their story.

Ms. Doris Thomas

The reconciliation trip to Benin far surpassed anyone’s imagined expectations. Not only was it a personal reconnection to their ancestral roots, it was also a history lesson. So much history has been lost because those who write and teach history do so from their particular perspective which is often incomplete. Ayo wrote:

“I have gained a thorough understanding on how the slave trade was initiated by Europeans, but was later advanced by several African Kings in duplicity with the Europeans, over a decade or more. But that having been said, the trip to Benin reminded me that  reconciliation means that we must also cleanse and clear ourselves of the part that we play in our own demise. We must begin this deeper aspect of healing by admitting our wrongs, so that we will not continue to commit the same mistakes.”

The pilgrimage participants walked the Slave Route to the “Gate of No Return”, together with their West African hosts. They saw the mass grave where millions were dumped as they perished waiting for the next ship to be loaded as human cargo. They saw the “Tree of Forgetfulness, whereby the captives were forced to walk around many times to forget their African culture and identity. They saw the “Tree of Hope’, where they were told that although their body would be in captivity, their spirit could return to Africa.  Ayo’s mother, Doris, wrote:

            “I felt that I was in a trance from all of this so I just gave into my feeling by dancing with the youth. I danced and danced, and cried just thinking that my ancestors were somewhere that I didn’t know but yet I felt the connection to them.”

A profound yet simple reconciliation ceremony was held on this beach with an apology made to all African American brothers and sisters by a West African man who stood in front of the “Gate of No Return”, facing the Atlantic, while the African American receiving the apology, faced Africa.  Ayo wrote about her thoughts:

"I then stood in the Atlantic Ocean and as I felt the strong waves against my feet, I imagined what fears our ancestors must have felt seeing the ocean and their homeland for the last time. I collected the red dirt from the shores of this beach in Quidah, which will always remain in the history books for it’s involvement in such a crime against humanity. Quidah is now making a new historical effort of atonement by annually holding reconciliation ceremonies at some of these same memorial places.”

      Another highlight of this trip, was traveling to two villages which were located in a remote area. The ancestors of these villagers escaped enslavement by running away from the towns and main roads thus creating communities way back in the bush, still run by King chiefs practicing the traditional ways.

       Another community, called Ganvie, a floating village on a lake, was established to avoid capture, because the African stalkers were afraid of the water and navigating in it. Even today, 30,000 people still live there. Each family has three boats, one for the men to go fishing, one for the women to go to the floating market and each child has a boat for transport and play.

Ganvie: A village on stilts

     Although these communities managed to escape capture and enslavement, now they are underdeveloped and impoverished due to their distance from modern mainstream cities and townships. In the first village out in the bush, wells were dried out, and in the second, only one well existed for several villages which would have to be severely rationed out  after people walked great distances. The children looked thin, drawn and emaciated. The elders cried out to us to help them in finding ways to assist these villages with water, health care and educational materials.

            One determined boy in Ganvie rushed towards us in his boat, begging for a “pen”. It took a moment to realize what he was saying and he was so excited he tipped his boat over as I threw him a pen. He caught it in mid-air with such a joyous look on his face and managed to hold it out of the water. I was amazed to see what pleasure was created by  such a common object that we take for granted.”

Both participants remarked on the many myths that were broken down through their experience. The dignity, self-assuredness, and cleanliness of the African people were evident throughout the trip.

Doris remarked,

            "The people have such difficult situations to live with everyday, and yet they seem so peaceful, “doing for self” every single day. Taking care of what they have, sweeping their dirt areas (yards) of debris and burning it. The women are so proud with their basket of produce on their head and their babies on their back. These are the most industrious people that I have seen in a long time. We can learn a lot from these people who we seem to put down because we don’t know anything about them.

I congratulate Jamii Africa, Constantine, and all involved for making a beautiful tour where we could see with our own eyes who we really are through these wonderful people."

In conclusion, a few final words of Ayo:

           The diversity in Benin could be seen due to the various economic class levels where in one day of the trip we visited the poorest people without well water and children looking under-nourished to later visit a wealthy businessman, grown up from poverty to great wealth, who wined and dined us with a three course meal. Because of such tours, many of the stereotypes about Africa’s total under-development were dispelled. From the President’s conference center along with the affluence of the conference attendees to th4 Director of Tourism’s dinner. I am still amazed by the beauty and opulence of our culture, our architecture, and the physical infra-structure of Benin.

At the same time, I am motivated to get involved in assisting the part of Benin that is shown far too often on TV or written about in publications about Africa-the lack of education, health care and rural amenities. The entire trip was inspiring, reminding me, of our many blessings, and how much we take

the basics of life for granted.

Market Scene in Cotonou, Benin

           I also was reminded that our ancestors may have left our Motherland in pain and rags, but we came back as African Americans, strong because of our adversities and we have prospered beyond our conditions".

            Ayo Handy Kendi finally said: "More African Americans must consider going home. We have so much to offer the Motherland but more than that the African root of Spirituality, Traditions, Culture and Pride can help us connect many of the missing dots to help make us a whole people again. Thanks “Jamii Africa” for the part you played in helping make this trip the most memorable one of my life”

Jamii Africa has participated in the advancement of the Ambassadors for Peace network. For more information about Jamii Africa and the Benin trip, visit their website at www.jamii-africa.org.