An Orphan's Geography

During the month of February and March of 2007 Ntozake Shange’s work was presented in New York City for four weeks. The event was the brainchild of Woody King of the New Federal Theatre. These were momentous events for me during the whole four weeks, and what a gift in thought, action and organization by the many who worked laboriously to make it all happen. I found a lot of Ntozake’s books online and was able to read many of them and see them being performed. I am still reading and thinking about her work weeks later. Dr. Shange is an amazing African Woman and I must give her the whole title African and Doctor. She has even been referred to as an oracle. She is very connected to nature and seems to always be reaching for nature as the source. She seems to embody nature. She is like the wind, a rainbow or even a volcano.

Ntozake Shange is a great teacher of our time, and she knows what is happening to us, and how we can find and express ourselves through drama, poetry and dance. And, if we cannot do anything about our painful realities, we can at least make some art out of it. And we must create, create, and create. Also, she makes it quite clear in her writings how important it is to connect to the beautifulness of the earth, the trees, rainbows and the horizon. We must know that God is everywhere and sharing. The more I read the more I become aware of how communal her outlook on life is. But she is more than just communal – she takes being communal to another realm, to many realms, moving, breathing and showing us the endless possibilities that present and exist, and where beauty lies. She has tapped into the universe and into our pain, joy and has seen our vast potential.

Shange’s book of poems, A Daughter’s Geography was very reflective for me and made me think, “what would be an orphan’s geography”? What are their stories and in particular Africa’s orphans. There are orphans in Brazzaville, the DRC, and orphans in S. Africa, etc., etc., etc. Africa is a continent that is full of orphans according to the latest statistics released by the United Nations Children's Fund and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), stating that there are estimates of 48.3 million orphans south of the Sahara desert.

While riding on the 4 train from the Bronx over the past few weeks on my way to work my thoughts are on orphans and street kids in Brazzaville. They are in my thoughts every day as I think about ways to help Pastor Francis Gadenga and his mission in Brazzaville. I’m thinking that the children must learn Africa’s geography and the geography of the Diaspora, which is also a part of their history. They must know about Soweto and the history of the Day of the African Child, as we prepare for The Day of the African Child in June of 2007. Brother Runoko Rashidi’s work also comes to my mind. He has already done the geography and continues to do the geography of the Global African Presence. Also, Professor Yaa Lenghi M. Ngemi’s work comes to mind and his translation of Civilization or Barbarism: An Authentic Anthropology by Cheikh Anta Diop. This is the geography that the orphans and street kids must know. They must know about the African genius and genesis, and Nkrumah’s vision for Africa, and all the other great minds that envisioned a United Africa and Africans in the Diaspora.

Details as to how we will organize for the Day of the African Child’s activities are coming into my thoughts also, and I take notes regarding what will be needed as far as equipment, DVDs and a DVD player, VHS player and television sets and videos. But I think the theme will be Our Global Geography. The beauty of it all will be that the children will take an active role as the event’s presenters, and they will learn the full extent of their African presence. My thoughts then wonder as to whether Pastor Gadenga needs more seeds for the children gardens, and should I send small garden tools, and work gloves for the children. Also, will their gardens be ready for the Day of the African Child as the children of Brazzaville present from their corner of the world with the rest of the World on the Day of the African Child on June 16, 2007.

Africa’s children are our children, our geography, and our future whether we live in Africa or the Diaspora and this is our 21^st Century.

As we the CCB in Brazzaville and Pastor Gadenga continue to organize for the Day of the African Child, I want to thank those that have given us books or have sent books to Brazzaville, Brother Runoko Rashidi, Sister Iman Uqdah Hameen in the Bronx and Sister Adwoa in Washington D.C.