African who is Trini to the bone

THE EDITOR: It is very rare that I choose a public forum to respond to backward or divisive statements made by African persons locally. The last time was in response to Brother Marvin’s defence of his Jahaji Bhai composition. Normally, I would choose one of the many other available avenues to quietly enlighten or chastise. But today I read a report of statements made by Reggie Dumas at a recent “Indian” seminar at UWI. If the reporting is correct, then we (the African community) may have more of a task on our hands than we thought — after the work of the last 35 to 40 years. Perhaps it would suffice to state, in the simple, mono-syllabic words of those days, a few facts for my brother’s benefit. You see, Reggie, persons like myself do not confuse race and nationality when we refer to ourselves as Africans. We acknowledge our heritage (the richness of what we got from where we came from) by stating that we are African, by race. Also, we are fiercely nationalistic in our claim to be just as much “Trini to the bone.” We see them as being dual parts of our identity as human persons. In those early days, we sought to strengthen ourselves by immersing in the knowledge and then the practice of the culture of our ancestors — for which many often praise those of other racial origins.

Many, like myself, chose not to trace our lineage to any specific country or village on that continent. Instead, we acknowledge the wisdom of the quotation: “I am African not because I was born in Africa, but because Africa was born in me!” But permit me to share a little experience with you. In 1976 I first set foot on my ancestral land. I stood in a hotel lobby in North Africa and saw two brothers whispering and pointing at me. One was from the Gambia and the other from then Zaire. My queries revealed that they were debating my origin — not whether I was an African, but whether I was Fulani or Yoruba! In Egypt in 1984, they merely asked, “Are you Nubian?” My affirmative answer led to an invitation into their home and to tea. However, my brother, your comments do not annoy me — disappoint me a little, perhaps. More, they make me sad that, in some ways, we are still where we were three decades ago. They challenge me to continue to teach, by letter and my life, the value of my heritage and the inescapable facts of my being. But then, I am not “black people” who need repackage to not offend other people. I will define myself, I will be myself. Okay my brother? No attempts at heavy philosophy. No parading of history or grandstanding with big words. Just a few small truths — to help you grow? Pity, too, that you chose to lend yourself to giving credibility to underdeveloped minds that would compare our TT to Nazi Germany and label you one of their “oppressors.”  Fortunately, it seems that there were also some there whose heads were screwed on right.

APOESHO MUTOPE
TANA, Tunapuna