To the first part of this journey.
A place of interaction, contribution and education on the experiences across the diaspora.
A melting pot of political, social and religious thought, showing the diversity that so enriches the community.
If you have suggestions, would like to contribute as a writer (voluntary) or just wish to pass the word along. Please do so.
Thankyou for joining on this journey.
David,
I think this is a wonderful idea, and very, very ambitious. If you’re up to the challenge, I think this site could provide an invaluable service. And by the weay I really like dyour post about the Australain aborigines. I have a book to recommend to you that I thik will shed some tremendous light on that subject for you, but I’ll have to get back to you after I get home. I’m at work now, and the title is rattling around in my head just out of reach.
Anyway, the more you can solicit contributions from writers around the world, and then focus those contributions to specific areas, I think that would work best. Just my suggestion. Like I said, this could turn out to be a huge undertaking, and the quicker you tighten the focus, the more focused your final result will be.
I’m looking forward to seeing how this develops.
Yes it is extremely ambitious but am so excited by the fact that so many of us can develop and contribute to something so powerful.
Getting people to contribute, a bit like how they do on http://www.globalvoicesonline.org would be amazing. As the word spreads and the team comes together. Well………
If I can help, just let me know. Like I said earlier, I’m really looking forward to this.
By the way, the book I wanted to recommend to you is “The Fatal Shore” by Robert Hughes. It’s really an eye-opening book about the “founding” of Australia, and a lot of how this impacted the Australian Aborigines is in this book. Really worth the read.
David,
Hi, first off let me start with the photo header-I love it…
I think the concept is really profound also and one that could lessen the gaps that exist between the various continents. How did you come up with this idea, because it is really inspiring.
Thanks Benin. I am thinking of changing the header though to represent the images of the four corners of our Diaspora.
The first concept came from me doing some presentations for Black History month last year. I realised that often many of the students who were reading up on this month were limited to US dominated or Afrocentric (read Egypt) references to black history. For me I wanted to share with them the wider Afroid/Australoid experiences and history, to give them a sense of identity, history and belonging. Our histories in Brazil and Mexico, Australia, the Caribbean, Dravidians of India, etc. Not to just copy and paste from Wikipedia or rare books on Amazon, but to here firsthand from those who went through these experiences.
Secondly I wanted others outside of the Diaspora to see a different view of history and empowerment outside of the dominant media. A non whitewashed, honest and open journal of rich cultures, unashamedly undemocratic and disassociated from accepted colonial/post colonial ideals.
Whilst I dont disrespect many of the other communities which focus on similar themes, I just wanted to be part of one which focused more on education, enterprise and community than just shall we say…entertainment.
David,
Great idea. I can’t wait to see what other posts you’ll have for us. I’d like to participate on the podcast side of it.
Theo
Hotep! I enjoy efforts that serve to uplift and unite us. I look forward to seeing how this blog takes off in the coming weeks and months. I’ll need to keep looking … but, what is the genesis of the “simphani” word in your title? Is it a play on “symphony” (like at a concert?
peace, Villager
Hey Villager, Yes SIMPHANI is a play on the word SYMPHONY. And whereas a the latter is made up of four movements so this represents the four corners of the earth which I intend (With the help of many contributors) to cover.