LUTON SANKOFA UK
We are a non-profit, African-Caribbean group in Luton, formed in 2016 to organise the annual commemoration of those who endured the Transatlantic African Enslavement which coincides with the United Nations (UN) date of 25th March, to 'Remember Slavery' and 'Honour our Ancestors'.
2020 was a year overshadowed by Coronavirus and due to the lockdowns and many restrictions imposed locally and globally, we were unable to host our annual event.
However, in 2021, as the world found itself adjusting to working more and more remotely via online streaming platforms, Luton Sankofa Committee were fortunate to have formed a partnership with the United States of Africa’s founder Mr Daniel Mwambonu, who kindly invited us to host our event via his multiple media platforms on Facebook as well as African History Month youtube, United States of Africa and 2NacheckiTV, which gave our event a global outreach which took our Commemoration Ceremony far and wide. It was then, that we decided that our name should be Luton Sankofa UK, to ensure that our international audiences could place Luton Sankofa on the map!
Our service of remembrance reflected on not only those that passed through the Maafa, but recognised those who resisted and fought for their freedom from enslavement. Their efforts were the overall theme of our programme this year as there was much resistance from our ancestors to be free. Their fight for freedom played a major part in the eventual abolition of their enslavement which mainstream historical narratives fail to indicate, preferring to focus on the European efforts to abolish the very evil they were responsible for, when it no longer served their economical purpose, but which laid the crucial foundations for the wealth and prosperity of Europe, North and South Americas.
2021 was a special year as it was also the year that Mr Anthony Browder, Founder and Director of IKG Cultural Resources, and Mr Paul Obinna, Creator of the Lineage Timeline, were joint special guests on our programme. Both Mr Anthony Browder and Mr Paul Obinna made outstanding and eye-opening presentations about our history. Paul Obinna’s timeline has been a feature of our Civic event since it’s inception in 2016 and Mr Browder’s education about our past has been a continual inspiration in our endeavours to enlighten our communities about the historical lies we have been taught, and our attempts to put that history in its rightful perspective. The significance of Sankofa was expertly illuminated by Mr Browder. Needless to say, to have them both at this historic event was indeed a privilege and a confirmation that Luton Sankofa UK are doing the right thing, at the right time.
We were privileged to also have Councillor Maria Lovell MBE, first Mayor of Luton of African Descent to speak about honouring our Ancestors. Her tenure as Mayor coincided with our annual event and the timing was perfect.
Mr Martin Hanson of Osagyefo Theatre company who from Luton Sankofa’s inception has performed the libation ritual at the opening of our events, also thrilled us with his Djembe drumming performance at the beginning and the end of the programme. Had it not been for the nature of the online event, we would have also been graced with a cultural dance performance from members of his Theatre group which in past events has led to joyful audience participation, bringing a real sense of unity among our guests.
Our 2021 Civic Commemoration Ceremony as part of the celebration of African History month was a huge success and a significant milestone in our efforts as Luton Sankofa UK as we achieved a global reach.
Councillor Maria Lovell is the first Luton mayor to be invested online. Councillor Lovell was the standing Deputy Mayor but stepped up to the role of Mayor following the resignation of Tahir Malik.
Maria founded the Ghana Society in 2006 to promote and showcase Ghana’s cultural heritage. The society became the first group to demonstrate traditional African costumes in Luton International Carnival. She has supported various charities such as Mercy Ships, Breast Cancer, Prostrate Cancer and World Child Cancer to raise funds for their cause.
Anthony T. Browder is an author, publisher, cultural historian, artist, and an educational consultant. He is a graduate of Howard University’s College of Fine Arts and has lectured extensively throughout the United States, Africa, Caribbean, Mexico, Japan and Europe, on issues related to African and African American History and Culture.
Mr. Browder is the founder and director of IKG Cultural Resources and has devoted 30 years researching ancient Egyptian history, science, philosophy and culture.
Paul Obinna was born in April 1959 of Igbo (Nigerian) and English (British) parentage in Preston, U.K.and is a Child of Ogun.
To better understand the historical relationship between these African & European worlds he designed the LINEAGE TIMELINE displaying a 9,000-year continuum. It is designed to give clarity of both HISTORY; past the contentious periods of Arab & European Colonization & Slavery and HYSTORY, the Golden Thread of Lineage through the Mother Principle.
Martin Hanson is the Director of Osagyefo Theatre. It is an African arts in education company that runs workshops in African music, drumming, dance, storytelling and visual art (tie / dye and mask making), for all schools (including Special Needs’) from Nursery to High Schools, all over the country.
Established in 1997, the company has a track record in working with young people and helping them unearth their hidden creative skills.
Their educational programme supports the teaching and learning of multicultural activities and enables schools to use the company as its resource, as they cut across all the subjects under the curriculum.
