We have heard of great prophetswho preached about theinvincibility and immortality ofGod.Today we elaborate and boastabout Jehovah's power: cutting ahighway through the Red Sea,placing an invisible air-conditionunit in the fiery furnace andthrowing down the walls of Jerichousing the vibrations of marchingfeet.As youth,we heard about theprophet: Moses who stretchedforth his rod, Isaiah and Jeremiah,Peter and Paul.We studied theBible and read about Caleb andJoshua-two visionaries whobelieved that Canaan could beconquered, in spite of the presenceof towering giants.But let us examine Africa-theland of the Nile, the land of theWatusi giants, the land of oil, theland of waterfalls, the land of megamineral wealth. The land that wasexploited but refused to surrender.What about the prophets ofAfrica? Is this a part of Africa'shistory that we are afraid toexplore? Would it change our perspective?Were there patriarchs inAfrica who were sent to prisonbecause of their belief in God andthe conviction that his laws mustbe obeyed? What about thegeniuses of Africa?In Samuel Yeboah's Ideology ofRacism,we read about an intellectualgiant, Imhotep.
Those whohave engaged in a profound studyof history must have discoveredthe pyramid of Saqqara.Yeboahhas claimed that he was the realfather of medicine and notHippocrates. It was Homer whostated in the Odyssey: "In medicalknowledge, Egypt leaves the rest ofthe world behind."There is the following revelationin Yeboah's book: "The Eberspapyrus dated 1500 BC containschapters on intestinal disease,helminthiasis, ophthalmology,gynaecology, obstetrics, pregnancydiagnosis, contraception, dentistry,and surgical treatment ofabscesses, tumours, fractures, andburns."To many people culture is notabout genius, discoveries, a comprehensiveevolution of music anddrama, original instruments,architecture, religious practices,governance etc.We tend to concentrateon dress, a splash here andthere about family customs, placeour spin on religion etc. But thereis a legacy that when discoveredmust be promoted and there is nobetter time than now.Culture must be more than theconquests and the conquerors, itmust be about values and how theculture can be utilised to transmitthose values to the youth so thattrue development could be experienced.When we see gangs emerging,and the reluctance of leadershipto tackle the real issues-akind of corporate cowardice that isstrangling us-we have to followthe Biblical mandate to arise andshine.Mothers are being burnt, shotand killed by past lovers whobecome present haters.Young womenwho hold on to their gangsterboyfriends become target practice for rival gangs. They are suckedinto the mafiatic web from whichthere is little chance of escape.
Space must be created in anygroup to engage in the discussionon spiritual transformation.Debate on a return to spiritual valueswithout a return to a deeprelationship with God is nothingmore than pleasant but emptyrhetoric.Think about Congolese SimonKimbangu, Ethiopian EmperorSusenyos and Sheikh Zakaryas. InChristianity we discuss the issue ofa replay of Pentecost, as a significantpart of our prophecy.Weshould thank Prof Charles EBradford who wrote the extraordinarybook, Sabbath Roots-TheAfrican Connection.In the 1890s, the sheikh began tohave a series of visions. This is astory that should provoke somepositive responses from the African
diaspora.Bradford provides the followinginformation:"In one of SheikhZakaryas's dreams, three elderlymen appeared. They told him topurchase a Bible and read it and tokeep the Sabbath day. After a periodof intensive study of the Bibleand the Koran, he answered that hewas now a follower of Jesus. In1910 Zakaryas was baptised alongwith 3,000 of his followers."As interesting as the sheikh'sencounter and conversion is thatof Simon Kimbangu.He was bornin the lower Congo in 1889.Hemarried Mivilu Marie, with whomhe sustained a monogamous relationshipfor the rest of his life.They were baptised in 1915.
The Bible states that "all wholive godly in Christ Jesus will sufferpersecution." Some of theseprophets suffered, just as the millionswho Rome persecuted duringthe Dark Ages.According toBradford,Kimbangu launched "anamazing preaching and healingministry that shook Zaire." Thereligious status quo demonstratedtheir paranoia and entered into anunholy alliance with the politiciansto destroy this prophet.They hounded this man until hegave himself up to the authorities.He was sentenced to death,whichwas changed to life imprisonmentHe spent more than 30 yearsbehind bars.He was advertised asa curse, but was in fact the greatestasset to the development of thecommunity. But let us examinesome of the beliefs of the
Kimbanguist Church:The foundation stone is thelaw and the prophets.Worship God the Creator andpractise no discrimination.Abstain from alcohol, smoking,fetishism and pork. Be guided by the Holy Spirit.Kimbangu and a number of thechurch leaders were jailed, butthey were prepared to die ratherthan surrender their convictions.
We have to bombard our youthwith positive role models.We have to remind them about the courageof real heroes, involving the dramaticnarratives of men likeGeorge Washington Carver and DrLloyd Quarterman.George Washington was preparedto sacrifice to preserve hisideals. Our youth will be psychologically,emotionally and spiritually richer when they study the lifeof this moral and scientific genius.His life proves that character cantriumph over damaging and dangerouscircumstances.
He conquered racism andrefused to be distracted by nakedprejudice. When King Cotton collapsed,he turned to the peanut,and there his genius emerged.Helaboured in the laboratory, andfrom the peanut he produced milk,ink, dyes, shoe polish, shavingcream and peanut butter.By the time he died,Yeboahindicated that "there were morethan 300 byproducts includingmayonnaise, shampoo, bleach,axle grease, metal polish,woodstains, adhesives and plastics."Hedied in 1943, age 82. On his tombstoneare the following words:"He could have added fortune tofame, but caring for neither, hefound happiness and honour inbeing helpful to the world."He fought the tyranny of KingCotton and the relentless capitalists.He was a classical pianist andphilanthropist.Many individualsdo not know that Carver was kidnappedas a baby by vicious slaveraiders and left to die in a bitingand horrific blizzard. Providencehad crafted his destiny.Culture must be an elevator, notjust a mirror. Let us bombard theyouth with positive models andmessages. Our artists must climbthis mountain.Too many of ourentertainers are poor role models.Let us change direction.