By A.A. Fenty
The 2008 Beijing Olympics is on. These Games properly styled the games of the twenty-ninth Olympiad, will end as Guyana’s hosting of the Region’s cultural mega-event, Carifesta Ten, begins in our own unkempt capital, Georgetown.
The Games of the 29th (XXIX) Olympiad, all very Greek, European and Western. All the world’s athletes aspire to just participate in these four-yearly Games of Excellence. All the media and your Internet will trace the history of both the Ancient and modern Olympics, from the usual sources and perspectives. So with impish style, but serious intent, I now borrow, heavily from a piece by an Oakland, California Attorney Gregory Hodge, who wondered whether Africa had no role in the origin of the Olympics. His research, opinion and conclusions follow.
Since the Greeks like to take credit for such things as Geometry, through Mr Pythagoras and certain engineering principles even though the Pyramid builders of Egypt utilized these principles centuries before, something made even the ancient Olympics not completely Greek. Forget that even Tae kwan do martial arts seem to be Asian in origin when, in fact and history, it had its roots in ancient Kemet (Egypt). Forget that sport, that discipline. And steep yourself in recorded, though largely-hidden history.
Amenophis II was the son of an Egyptian Ruler Tut-Moses III. Around 1452 B.C. the son Amenophis, a Prince soon to be King, had to be trained in various physical skills. So he and his peers trained in many Olympic-type sports – rowing, hunting, archery and horsemanship, culminating in a test of strength, a grand competition. The young prince, the historical record – a stele – shows, excelled in the events. He could bullseye copper targets while piloting his chariot!
Somewhat lazily now, I quote Mr Hodge.
Egypt and the Olympics
Drusilla Dunjee Houston, in her book, “The Wonderful Ethiopians,” reports that as early as 1000 B.C. Africans inhabited and ruled the area now known as Saudi Arabia. Our people there customarily had a 30-day-long festival just prior to an annual pilgrimage to the city called Mecca. This religious festival included not only trading and poetry, but also international athletic competitions!
Herodotus, a widely respected Greek historian living about 500 B.C., wrote a bit about the Olympics of his day. This can be read in his “The History of Herodotus,” page 138 of Book II. During the reign of King Psammis in 664 B.C., ambassadors from the Greek state of Elis, the organizing town for the Olympics, went to Kemet, boasting of their arrangements for the games by saying “Egyptians (Kemau people), who surpassed all nations in wisdom, could add nothing to their perfection.”
Now if one originates something, why go to someone else to check up on the correctness of the rules and regulations? In all probability, since the Kemau had a civilization at least 3,000 years before the rise of Greece, they probably indulged in sports and athletic competitions as well.
So in the same way the Greeks went to Kemet to learn geometry and higher mathematics, in the same way Greeks went to Kemet to learn architecture, in the same way Greeks went to Kemet to learn science, culture and theology, they went to Kemet and learned of the games and took the notion back home.
In ancient times, the Greek games were held every four years until they were discontinued by Roman Emperor Theodosius about 394 A.D. This emperor and another one called Justinian closed down all rituals, practices and institutions in which were preserved the ancient African Mystery School (Universities) teachings.
At this time the religion of the people was based on these teachings. For political reasons, the Roman government decided to stop persecuting Christians. Christianity became the approved state religion of the Roman empire, and the ancient “Sacred African Way” (Maat) was suppressed to make way for the Roman Catholic church. The ancient religion was banned throughout the empire of Rome: in Greece, Africa, India, etc.
And the games were also banned.
If the games were only athletic competitions, why would they be banned? But the ancient Olympic Games were not merely games. They were religious festivals and continued the transmission of the African religion – even in an altered state. These Olympic Games were a constant reminder of the religious doctrines which had provided the foundation for the greatness that had been Kemet.
They had to be suppressed and indeed were until 1896!
Jesse Owens, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Carl Lewis, Florence Griffith-Joyner and the many modern athletes of African descent are a continuation of the long line of superior athletes. Their achievements add another glorious chapter to the story of African excellence in the world’s biggest display of athletic endeavour, the modern Olympics – offspring of the Kemetic Games of the Nile Valley of Ancient Africa!
So, what do you make of all the above? Discuss!
My Carifesta Countdown Check-List
I’m assuming and rather resigned to certain givens: Georgetown’s alleys, gutters and drainage system will still be stagnant and stink come the grand Carifesta opening ceremony at the cleaner, better-smelling Providence. The bushy forest-like surroundings will still envelope the 1972 Festival City. Gross, uncouth behaviour will prevail at bus-parks. And the indisciplined pavement vendors will take over Regent and Water streets during the ten-day Festival.
Pavement dwellers, the insane, the junkies, the Mayor and his Councillors of the Capital should all be transported to southern-most part of the Rupununi, during Carifesta. But away from the clean Rupununi residents.
Still, patriotic Guyanese that I am, I offer the organizers, this Carifesta Countdown Checklist:
1) Construct a good, solid Tarmac outside the Providence Stadium. 2) Build some new bridges and pathways beside key streets leading to and from Sophia. 3) Create a true Hospitality Village at the Carifesta Sports Complex on Carifesta Avenue. The Culture Ministry must improve service, security and parking there. 4) Mobilise community Policing and additional security for vulnerable villages. 5) Inspect Public Restaurants and Chinese Eating-Places now. 6) Locate many generators now! 7) Identify and mobilize additional Traffic Cops and Wardens. Escorts will be needed for delegations. 8) Pray for sun, but expect rain. And plan for the weather. Good Luck!
LFSB – 23 years after
So the Comrades have not come up with any fair-minded, balanced Biographer to write the Burnham Story, twenty-three years after? Why is that?
Well the encomiums came – and will come – thick and fast. And guess what? PM Sam Hinds and General Secretary Donald Ramotar have (had) to say Good things about Forbes in Parliament! And Hammie Green will be beside himself praising his Comrade Leader this afternoon. What a decidedly wonderful world. Just don’t read Wikipedia, the free “internet encyclopedia” if you liked Mr Burnham.
Earlier this week, I had cause to read up lots on Mr Burnham. His brilliance shone through. Which all made me think again “What a Pity!”
I end on the trivial, the whimsical. Cheddi Jagan on an early Burnham quirk: “Having resolved the crisis, we were ready for the grand opening of the Legislature on May 30, 1953. We marched from Party headquarters in Regent Street along High Street to the Public Buildings, spick and span in our white sharkskin suits. The decision on attire was made by Burnham while I was still on the Corentyne after our election victory.
If it had been left to me, I would have selected a simpler and less conspicuous outfit.”
No Doc. Frankly Speaking the white sharkskin looked cool…
Until…
Postponed again: Guyana’s Real Trade Unions.
You cheat and break Olympic rules to place first for your country. But how should your country feel? And your more honest, fair competitors?
You realize that the period August 1-6 is an “Afro-time”?
In truth! Can’t we pave just certain sections of the Linden Lethem Path? For starters?
The Half-White Senator Obama, speaking to an Afro-audience spoke about “our kids.” I’ll forever hand it to Whites for engineering the “mixed mind” not to be anything but Black?
How can I establish an Allan Fenty Foundation? Nah, I suppose I should, instead, establish an Allan Fenty Benefit Fund!
’Til next week!
Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com
