Self-Determination
Self determination as a basic and fundamental
principle of human rights and relates to the ability
to control and sustain culturally empowering aspirations
and destinies. Self determination is also the positive
affirmation of freedom and equality within the sphere
of community.
We believe that the key to African
progression is African people creating and evolving
solutions for and by themselves. While we feel there
is a need for certain non-African institutions to acknowledge
their exploitation and degrading practices towards African
people with a view to rectifying their moral wrongs,
we believe it is even more essential that African people
construct their own destiny. This essentially means
that African people need to be enterprising and establish
their own businesses, organisations, educational institutions
and material, media, artistic outlets and ultimately
an African centered approach to working with and for
African people.
Identity reclamation and self
definition
Identifying and reclaiming our original
identity, culture and history is an integral part of
promoting the emotional, spiritual, economic and mental
progression of the African community in Western society
and the great Continent of Africa. We strongly believe
that each and every person has the right to self-define
themselves according to their principles, social values
and culture. As such, we assert and embrace our African
identity and heritage as something positive and essential
to our individual, communal and political progression.
We reject the label ‘black’ as a branded
and imposed concept originating from the minds of a
culture that historically and presently oppresses and
exploits African people and Africaness. ‘Black’
disconnects African people from Africa and forces them
to become a homogenous, nondescript mass.
In addition the term ‘black’
is not just used to refer to African people in the UK
but any individual who is not ‘white’. To
describe ourselves as something which another is not
is absurd, demeaning and counterproductive. Just as
other communities self-define as native American or
Chinese rather than ‘red’ or ‘yellow’
people, we reject ‘black’ (i.e. non-white)
as our poker branded label in favour a name that connects
us with our cultural, spiritual, physical and historical
place of origin; Africa.
Click here
to read our terminology guidelines
Community cohesion and unity
We believe that community cohesion
is an essential tool to success. To that end, we endeavour
to support other Africentric organisations and subsequently
encourage relations and cohesion between various organisations,
groups and individuals. It is also essential for all
African people to embrace our wide-ranging, rich and
important cultural diversities by working together and
supporting each other regardless of cultural differences.
Free access to information
The suppression of information in Western
democracy has played an integral role in maintaining
the deceit of elite groups of european cultural imperialists
including governments and media institutions. As such,
we aim to expose the contradictions and information
that is hidden from the public, particularly in regard
to that which has a detrimental effect on African people.
We also aim to publish the letters,
emails and documents that are sent to us in our every
day dealings with various organisations, companies,
public service bodies and government.
Freedom of speech and expression
with moral responsibility
We believe in the freedom of speech
for all people, regardless of their personal, political
or cultural bias. We encourage honest, thought provoking
and controversial expression. However, this freedom
of speech must be accompanied by a moral responsibility
that prevents the promotion of specifically contrived
misinformation and lies, personal attacks unless they
are related specifically to the issue at hand and with
due consideration for the opinions, culture and belief
of others.
Equality
Every individual must be treated equally
and afforded equal opportunity to self determination,
justice, expression, respect and dignity.
We do not believe that the empowerment
of African people is the limited and sole responsibility
of African men. Women are and always will be an integral
part of the Ligali organisation. The value of committed
individuals should not be undermined or marginalized
because of their gender. To this end, we have women
involved in the organisation beyond the tokenistic roles
of administrators and kitchen staff. They are in fact
involved at all levels of the organisation. Beyond the
organisation, we endeavour to promote the voice of the
African women at an equal level to that of African men.
Whilst we are aware that men and women are different,
both should be treated equally and afforded equal opportunity
to self determination, justice, expression, respect
and dignity.
The importance of equality also extends
beyond the conflict that can arise due to gender differences.
We believe in the equality of youth and elders and the
validity of their contribution to the progression of
African people. No African society can function without
its future - the youth - or the wisdom of experience
through our elders
We also believe in embodying the notion
of equality in our work and interactions with the community.
Transparency and accountability
It is important that any organisation
that deals with the African community operate under
a principle of transparency and accountability. To this
end, we aim to publish all relevant information into
the public domain via our website. We also endeavour
to be accountable to community by having a very visual
and prominent presence within the community. We will
also be held directly accountable for any acts by individual
members of staff and the organisation in its entirety
if it emerges that we have acted in contradiction with
our set ethos. When necessary, we will publicly acknowledge
any such act and make strides to rectify any negative
repercussions our actions may have had.
Africa by and for Africans
Often the story of Africa is told through
the eyes of non-African’s. This in itself is not
a problem. The real problem lies in the perspective
of these ‘storytellers’ and compilers of
our history, and current day realities. In the vast
majority of cases, whether we are dealing with historians
and so-called anthropologists or media networks and
voluntary organisations, the tainted perspective and
motivations of these groups have contributed to the
mass ignorance and corruption of the African experience.
As such, we promote and aim to embody
the notion of Africa by and for Africans. This essentially
means that we create our own means of telling our experiences
from our own perspective. To this end, we support those
who are also actively engaged with this means of self
determination such as African scholars, writers, grass
roots organisations and africentric media such as television
and radio networks.
History and Education
African history is the most suppressed
history in the world. Of the history that we do have
access to, much has been mutilated and manipulated to
fit in with a western perception of Africa that continues
to view Africa and African people as sub-human. Academics
have created a mythical Africa that has filtered through
the psyche of Africans and non-Africans alike, forcing
us to subscribe to a racist and imperialist view of
our own culture, history and people. To this end, history
and education are critical tools for the progression
of African children and the re-education of African
adults who have often been force fed a falsity that
contributes to the repression of our true self. As well
as educating and reeducating African and non-African
people about the richness, diversity and societal intellect
of Africa and her history, it is important that we learn
from our history about the ways in which we can aid
the positive development and progression of the great
Continent of Africa and her people throughout the world.
Education from an africentric perspective
is one of our most valuable currencies.
Last updated 9 May 2006 |
