At the African Movies

African Movie of the Month

▶ LION KING  - Nigerian Nollywood Movie

Part 1: http://ow.ly/nOQ9J

Part 2: http://ow.ly/nOQaM 

Part 3: http://ow.ly/nOQc2

Join our Facebook Group and Enjoy "At the African Movies".  

Introduction to the Temne People by Foday Kunda

Introduction to the Temne People

By Brother Foday Kunda

DNA Tested African Descendants Facebook Group

Brother Foday learned via DNA testing that he is Temne of Sierra Leone.  He has provided the following overview.

1. The name of the ethnic group is Temne.

2. Some alternate names are Temne Banta and Themne.

3. The name “Temne” comes from the root word “otem” which means, “old man”.  Loosely translated, it means that the Temne nation shall grow old and live forever.

4. The Language spoken is Temne.

5. They are mainly in North and Western Sierra Leone also found in Guinea.

6.  By oral Tradition the Temne claim to originate in Futa Jalon.

7.  The only writings found about Temnes are from Colonialists and Missionaries.

8.  Most Temnes are Muslim but day to day life is brought about in secret societies.  The Poro for the men and the Bundu and Digba for the women..

9.  The traditional clothing is a wrapper, Boubou, head wear and some wear additional regalia that is seen when they do there rituals in there secret societies.

10. A few Temne phrases are Seke Tope ah - hello how are you...
MoeMoe- Thank You .

11. Traditionally they eat rice with sauce, cassava leaf, sweat potato leaves, etc.

12.  Sierra Leoneans in Indiana www.oslin.com .

More Temne Phrases

1. Topeh sekeh. ..........Hello/how are you?

2. N'deerai sekeh.........Good morning

3. M'peari sekeh. ..........Good afternoon

4. Panemoe. Hi (when passing by after an earlier contact)

5. Orwaw. .....................Goodbye

6. Mandeerao. .................Good night

7. Mam-pearao. ................Have a nice day

8. S'nkaneh. ......................See you. 

Example:

1. Kothor topeh sekeh..... Hello brother, how are you?

2. Ya n'deerai sekeh! ........ Good morning mother.

3. Sokor m'peari sekeh! ..... Good afternoon uncle.

4. Thara mandeerao! ......... Good night sister.

5. Mam-Pearao n'theneh! ..... Have a nice day aunt.

From  https://www.facebook.com/LetsLearnOurLanguages/posts/525685350820510?notif_t=notify_me

To learn more about Temne and join fellow DNA Tested Descendants of Sierra Leone, please join us on facebook  http://ow.ly/nZVIP .

Love Under the Kola Nut Tree By Esther Lamnyam of Cameroon

Book of the Month

A modern day near tragedy in the USA caused some MAJOR ancient African teachings from Maya Sophia, a Queen and Priestess of Malah (Africa). She taught about healing from pain, relationships and reconnecting. She even taught about the power of sensual energy and how it brings life back into a man. Her method is through the HEALING CIRCLE. You do NOT want to miss out on this book! Get an autographed copy from the author directly! Here is the link ...just scroll down to the book.  http://estherlamnyam.com/products/coaching-products/

About the Author

Esther Lamnyam was born in Cameroon. She has a Graduate degree in Management of Information Systems from The University of Akron, Ohio and a B.Sc. in Computer Science from Spelman College, Atlanta GA. She is certified as: an IBM Certified Lotus Domino System Administrator, Novell Administrator; Iridologist, Herbal Counselor, and Usui Reiki healer First Degree. She works as an IT Systems Engineer. She has written more than a hundred poems and a collection of fables and folktales from her tribe (some featured in her novel). She enjoys writing and her earliest recollection of writing is in fourth grade. Her goal is to make a difference in people’s lives through books, motivational speaking, coaching and workshops. Interests and hobbies include reading, writing, alternative therapies, traveling, mentoring, coaching, and playing soccer. She lives in Bowie, MD.

Like the Facebook page:  Love Under The Kola Nut Tree - by Esther Lamnyam

We Need to Remember Our Elders

ACRO believes that the leadership and guidance of our Elders is crucially needed. In order for ACRO to be instrumental in helping to meet this need the input of our members is greatly needed.

As Elder Esther Lamnyam, the amazing author of Love Under the Kola Nut Tree, has said "We all need community.. [it] brings out our gifts! ...for the [empowerment of the] community."

 Please ACRO Community Share Your Thoughts On the subject of Elders! A few questions to kick-start the process. Some questions came from the "BC Elders Communications Society" http://www.bcelders.com/ .

1.  What makes an Elder? 

2.  What are the qualifications to be an Elder?

3.  What role(s) should Elders play in the home, community, etc.?

4.  Do you have to be a certain age to be an elder?

5.  Can both men and women be elders?

6.  Is the role of an Elder the same everywhere you go across the country?

7.  Has the role of Elders changed over time?

8.  How can ACRO get the Elders more involved?

9.  How can ACRO develop and strengthen connections between Elders and youth?

10.  How can ACRO assist in celebrating our Elders?"

ACRO, looks forward to publishing your responses in future newsletters as we continue this dialogue and begin establishing our own community Elder Councils.

Hetepu (peace and blessings)

Arnna Williams and Yvette Toko

African Kingdoms

African Kingdoms

▶ Kingdom of Asante

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Watch documentary here ---> http://ow.ly/nYpJK ◄◄

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Kingdoms of Great Zimbabwe

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Watch documentary here ---> http://ow.ly/nYo6G ◄◄

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▶ Kingdom Morocco - Berbers

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Watch documentary here ---> http://ow.ly/nYuKT ◄◄

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▶ The Kingdom of Kush (Ancient Nubia) 

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Watch documentary here ---> http://ow.ly/nY7H0 ◄◄ 

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Family Care and Contingency Planning

Create a binder and keep this information in it.  Please the documents in document protectors as well as scan them and keep a disk or thumb drive of it in the binder and an alternate location. 
1.  What is the vision statement for your family?
      a)  What are the goals for the family?

2.  What are some values?
     a)  Being financially responsible.  Be able to manage money
           1.  Teach them how to balance an account
           2.  Teach them how to pay bills on time
           3.  Teach them how to maintain GOOD credit
     b) Education.  College, trade school, vocational school.  Discuss these things and assist them with a plan of action to reach THEIR goal.  Let it be THEIR goals in life, not yours.
      c)  Morals.  Lead by example.  Teach them that making mistakes is a part of life.  Learning from them is key.

3.  Family Care Plan
     a) Establish a Will and let the family know where it is kept.  Make sure it is completed correctly and properly notarized or it will not be legal.  Have a law office look it over.
     b)  Have life insurance policies.  keep them up to date, paid and have the beneficiaries properly noted.  Let the family know where these documents re kept.
     c)  Let your family know if you have a medical power of attorney.
     d)  Have a CURRENT printed copy of family member names, phone numbers and their relation to you.
     e)  Have birth certificates, SS cards, marriage licenses, name changes, divorce decrees, baptismals, etc.... all in your binder.

4.  Agemate and Buddy System

     a) Establish an agemate and buddy system for your children.  Never allow them to be alone in their travels. 

    b)  Teach the community methods of emergency communications.

5.  Create a Separate Binder containing copies of your DNA test results, your ancestry results, geneology documents and family trees.

Teach your family how to do this.  This helps a LOT when you are unable to get to this information.  Be sure to store it in a safe dry place. Only provide trusted people with the location. 

Encourage Your African Friends to DNA Test ~~ Locating Family

Something AMAZING is happening.  Many people are learning their ancestry at an alarrming rate.  The DNA tests are simple.  You order them online and they come in the mail.  With some you simply follow th einstructions and swab inside the cheek of your mouth while with others, you simply provide saliva in a tube.  You mail the test back in the package they provide for you and somewhere around 6 to 8 weeks, you have some results.

Many have used the following companies to do so.

1.  www.africanancestry.com to learn their possible African ethnic group
2.  www.familytreedna.com to find relatives and learn their haplogroups
3.  www.ancestry.com to find relatives and learn their haplogroups
4.  www.23andme.com to find relatives, health info, and learn their haplogroups

Those of us that have tested with multiple companies would like to appeal to you. If you are African, please consider testing.  If you know of any Africans that KNOW their ethnic groups and locations of origins in Africa, encourage them to test with www.23andme.com for $99.  It is VERY much possible that they will match with others in the 23 and Me database.  This helps African Americans to leran more about who we are and where we came from.

Several African Americans have tested with multiple companies and have found genetic matches around the world.   Some have matches with over 1,000 relatives around the world.  These are their REAL genetic relatives.  The most fortunate ones are those that match with Africans that KNOW their origins!!!  23 and me is the better option to do just that.  The potential is so compelling that the $99 cost is well worth it.

The First Meeting with Your Ethnic Group

There is a lot of excitement and anxiety about your initial encounter with your ethnic group.  So many questions come to mind.  Here are a few helpful tips to facilitate your first meeting.

Try to organize your thoughts and write the questions down before you meet them. Here are few questions you may consider asking.

1.  What is the name of the town, village or kingdom where the ethnic group originates from?

2.  What is some of the history of the people and their migrations?  Ask for resources, links or books.

3.  What are some surnames of ethnic group?

4. What are some given names, their meaning and the clan they are associated with?

5.  Do they conduct naming ceremonies?

6.  What are some traditions for men?  For Women? For Children?

7.  What languages do they speak?  Is there a source to learn these languaes?

8.  Are there any historical records in their town or village of the ancestors that were taken away into the middle passage?

9.  Do they have any observances or remembrances for them?  If not, would they like to start?

10.  What is the family structure?  What is the role of the woman?  The man?  The child?

11. Do they have an age-mate system here in America that can help you learn about your ethnic group?

12.  Is there a specific hairstyle or fabric that the family is to wear?

13.  What are the elders, priests and notables called? How should they be addressed?  How should you greet them?

14.  When visiting elders, priests or notables, are you required by custom to bring anything?  If so, ask for ideas on what to bring.

15.  What can you do to learn more about your ethnic group.

16.  May I share the information that you provide with my family and friends.

First impressions are lasting ones.  Learn some basic African etiquette 

Here: https://goo.gl/vDjGX7

African Numbers From 1 to 10

There are MANY different African languages.  Here are a numbers from 1 to 10 in Over 5000 Languages 

http://www.zompist.com/numbers.shtml

Basic African Etiquette for DNA Tested African Descendants

By Naja  Chinyere Eri Njoku Ugezu

Basic African Etiquette for African Descendants that are new to the culture.

Although it differs in each ethnic group, there are a few common threads to African Etiquette.

1. Impressions ~ 1st impressions are lasting ones. Be respectful at all times.

2. Filial Piety ~ Show respect to the elders, ancestors, seniors (anyone older than you).

3. Words ~ Knowing when to speak and what words are allowed and what is offensive.  An example is,  to many African Ethic groups, the word "tribe" is offensive.  Find out if this is proper to use with your group.

4. Audience ~ Africa has many age mate systems. Know which one you belong to and remain in it until you are elevated by an elder. The boy scouts were founded on the African age mate system.

5. Being Humble ~ LEARN your place in the African society and take pride in it.

6. Fitting in ~ There are SOME allowances for those of us that are learning these things but it cannot be a permanent status. KNOW and GROW. Believe that an elder will make the appropriate corrections.

7. Ideologies ~ Humble yourself and do not force your ideology. It can cause the elders to ban you or chastise you in a way you have NEVER seen in your life. Allow the process to take its course and learn from the matured ones from our homeland and the ones that have literally sat at the feet of the African Elders.

8. Customs and Courtesies ~ Study the customs and courtesies for YOUR ethnic groups and abide by them. Learn if you should bow, make eye contact, hand shake or not. Someone will teach you well well O.

9. Questioning ~ Ask questions at the proper time and in the proper venue. LEARN the correct venues.

10. Remember ~ We were taken away from our homes, we cannot DEMAND anything from those that had nothing to do with it. Instead, we MUST COEXIST, find a common ground and work with the resources we have. Being hasty and disrespectful, even if it is unintentional can cause damage. Approach your reconciliation with a humbled heart and RESPECT for the traditions of your ethnic group. If you internally wish to change a negative tradition, remember, you cannot do it from the outside. 

11.  ALWAYS REQUEST PERMISSION TO SHARE THE DETAILS PROVIDED.

** WORDS OF WISDOM ~ THIS RECONNECTION IS YOURS BUT YOU ARE GOING INTO SOMEONE'S HOME AND HEARTS, DO NOT BE LIKE THE FEW THAT WE KNOW OF THAT TRIED TO FORCE THEMSELVES IN AFTER DNA TESTING AND WERE SHUNNED. IT WAS THE FAULT OF THOSE THAT DISRESPECTED THE ELDERS AND THE TRADITIONS***

Learn some useful tools for your first meeting with your ethnic group here: https://goo.gl/Trl3Gc

An African King Apologizes for the Role His Ancestors Played in the Slave Trade

“I want to apologize for the role my ancestors played in the slave trade,” Hakpon said through his translator. “I knew one day I wanted to come to this land and ask forgiveness of my black brothers and sisters. I wanted to cross the ocean to see the land where my ancestors suffered.”

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 Read More Here:  http://ow.ly/mLqhG   

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Ancestral Naming Ceremony at Panafest For DNA Tested

For DNA Tested African Descendants

A question was presented in reference to receiving an ancestral name but not learning the meaning or the ethnic group it belongs to.

A... "solution is for them to redo their names at our naming ceremony because it is pointless bearing an ancestral name that you cannot explain to family and friends the meaning and the exact community that has adopted you and is willing to walk this historic reconciliation journey with their new brother or sister."

DNA Tested Descendants please register for the FREE naming ceremony here: http://ow.ly/msDi5 

Expect to receive, at a MINIMUM, a name, its meaning, the ethnic group 

the name came from and a certificate.

Panafest Location: 

Silver Spring Civic Center

One Veterans Place, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

Come join us at Panafest!  There will be food, dancing, vendors, celebrations and healing taking place!!!

For more details about Panafest, visit our website:  http://panafestusa.net/

We encourage the sisters and brothers that received their names in the past few years, to come and greet the newest naming recipients.