Ago, Ago, Ago From your family in the Struggle for Elombe Brath Our Elder, Brother and Teacher Elombe Brath has passed on to the ancestors on Monday May 19, 2014. Elombe was dearly loved by those who knew him and his work. He found away to remind us of the significance of our African roots in many ways. He and his brother Kwame founded AJASS (African Jazz-Arts Society and Studios) in 1956 and the Grandassa Models in 1962. He was highly recognized and respected by Jazz legends such as the likes of Miles Davis and Max Roach for his inclusion of African-centered culture and politics surrounding the music and social events. The Grandassa models were showcased at the Naturally shows organized by him and his brother Kwame during that era. The shows were the direct impact of his mentor and teacher Mr. Carlos A. Cooks during their days as members of the African Nationalist Pioneer Movement (ANPM). These efforts helped shape the “Black is Beautiful” movement of the late 50s, 60s and 70s. They also, had great impact on fashion and the natural hair styles such as the Afro which can still be seen to this day. With all that has been mentioned being enough to already herald Elombe as a true hero of the people, it only scratches the surface of this GIANT Pan-African. Elombe was often called the walking encyclopedia of African Liberation. He had direct ties and influences by many of our greatest Revolutionaries. In 1972, Elombe met Sekou Toure and Amilcar Cabral in Guinea at the funeral of Kwame Nkrumah and the MPLA freedom fighters of Angola while in Zaire for the infamous Ali vs. Forman “Rumble in the Jungle” fight of 1974. He had made numerous trips to Afrika to understand first hand which organizations were truly the progressive ones. This was and continues to be unheard of when attempting to support and rally behind so-called Afrikan Liberation organizations and was at a time when virtually no organizations in the US would even touch these complex issues. He was a founding member of the Patrice Lumumba Coalition based Harlem, NY in (1975) which he continued working until his illness and ultimate passing. Elombe selflessly fought for over 50 years, for the liberation of our people and worked tirelessly, on “campaigns to mobilize support in the African community for many global Black Liberation Struggles. He was a true “African-Internationalist” (a term he would often use and define as a “radicalized Pan-Africanist world view”). Elombe’s “analytical and programmatic efforts to bring about a radical social transformation in the geopolitical/economic relations of the United States (within its own borders) has been well documented” by his efforts, organizing countless forums, demonstrations and mobilizations on many compelling issues of injustice affecting so many of us globally.He will truly be missed in many ways we can only imagine. The family would be deeply moved and honored if you could attend the Memorial Service as a testament to the tireless work of this great brother. The celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2014, 10 AM sharp at the: Abyssinian Baptist Church 132 Odell Clark Place (formerly 138th St.) between Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd. New York, NY 10030 The following is intended to be only a partial list of some of his amazing work: 1. Great work with Sam Nujoma and SWAPO in Namibia (1960), 2. the plight of the MPLA in Angola, met freedom fighters while in Zaire for the Ali vs. Forman the “Rumble in the Jungle”, (1974) 3. PAIGC in Guinea-Bissau, 4. Support for Robert Mugabe and ZANU in Zimbabwe, 5. Samora Machel and FRELIMO in Mozambique, 6. Thomas Sankara’s Burkina-Faso, 7. Kanyama Chiume of Malwai 8. the anti-slavery movement of the Sudan and Mauritania, 9. the fight against the atrocities of Shell oil and the Abacha regime in Nigeria, 10. the great work with General Aidid in Somalia, 11. the fight against the atrocities of the Mobutu regime in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 12. Educating the US community about the Genocide committed in Rwanda and Burundi when no other organization wanted to even touch it 13. the Anti-Apartheid movement led by the ANC in South Africa, (which he was very instrumental in the divestment efforts to free Nelson Mandella). 14. A long amazing work he accomplished in Benin, Tanzania, Ghana and many other African countries. 15. The “former Revolutionary Government of Grenada led by Maurice Bishop and the New Jewel Movement” 16. “Jamaica (during the early Manley administration)” 17. Endless efforts to Support the “Haitian Struggle For Freedom” 18. Support for the Garifuna in Belize and Honduras 19. The Sandinistas struggle in Nicaragua 20. The Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front in El Salvador 21. Fretilin in Timor, 1976 22. Exposing the atrocious conditions and injustice imposed upon the Africans in Peru and Venezuela 23. Exposing the truths about the Panama Invasion 24. Tremendous efforts to educate us on the injustices of Central America by providing platforms for representatives of Guatemala, Belize and Costa Rica 25. Exposing a History of the Bombing of Move and Tulsa 26. Organizing Campaigns to Free Political Prisoners a Prisoners of War including Tremendous work for Mumia Abu Jamal, Geronimo Jaga Pratt, Mutulu Shakur, Eddie Ellis, Dhoruba Bin Wahad, Herman Ferguson , Gary Graham and countless others 27. Countless lessons of and tributes to the heroes of the past such as Marcus Garvey, Carlos Cooks, Malcolm X, Martin Delaney, Edward Wilmot Blyden, Bishop Henry McNeal Turner, Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba, Ahmed Sekou Toure, Jomo Kenyatta and many others 28. Exposing the truths and corruption of the case against Adam Abdul-Hakeem aka Larry Davis, 29. Fighting for the establishment of an Historical District of the African Burial Ground in the City Hall area of Manhattan, New York 30. Exposure to the true facts, impact and history of our slain leadership by hands of US Covert Action and COINTELPRO 31. Organized and mobilized for the Central Park 5 case 32. Invaluable and priceless access to some of our most brilliant minds through forums and panels with likes of Dr. John Henrik Clarke, Dr. Tony Martin, Gil Noble and Dr. Yosef Ben Jochannan 33. Work with freedom fighters of China, Vietnam, and other Asia nations 34. Host of the WBAI show AfriKalidescope and contributor to many articles radio and TV shows such as his amazing contributions to Gil Noble’s “Like It Is” on ABC. Let us all salute our Brother, Elder, Warrior, and true hero as he transitions to the Ancestors! Please dont hesitate to contact us at (212) 340-1173 or via email at ElombeMS@gmail if you have any questions and extend the news and our worm wishes and prayers to you, your family and our brothers and sisters in the struggle. Here are a few links from our local press which cover his passing and his life: amsterdamnews/news/2014/may/22/beloved-revolutionary-elombe-brath-joins-ancestors/ caribbeanlifenews/stories/2014/5/2014_05_20_vkp_inside_life.html nydailynews/new-york/uptown/harlem-mourns-death-activist-elombe-brath-article-1.1800926 Harambe Elombe! Peace, Blessings and UHURU, The Brath family and The Patrice Lumumba Coalition
Posted on: Tue, 27 May 2014 20:58:44 +0000
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