True Education is not accumulation of knowledge but the awakening of consciousness
African Proverb
Dr Baba Bu-Ntu
Dissect with us as we enter the shores of uBaba Deep Knowledge , uDr Baba Buntu is a Pan African , a historian , traveller , a father , a husband , a mentor , a leader to the community and to his great House Ebukhosini Solutions located in Joburg where he teaches African history , spirituality , and an African way of life .
I must say Baba it’s an honour being given permission to shred a conversation with African Giant as you are Baba!
“God created land with lakes and rivers to live , and the desert so that he can find his soul ”
African Proverb
Greetings Baba
MYFI : What is African Spirituality Baba ?
Dr Baba Bu-Ntu : I see spirituality as a practice that enables us to tap into the fullness of our power, purpose and being; to develop our intuitive consciousness in order to navigate meaningfully between the physical and the ancestral worlds as an inter-linked experience. Since those who have come to oppress us have brainwashed us to forget and misinterpret our spiritual knowledge, it is important that we underline that our spiritual gateway is AFRIKAN; and that we make it a priority to re-learn our sacred powers – so that it can lead us to Black Liberation. In this sense, Afrikan Spirituality is a holistic practice, encompassing our knowledge, healing and warriorhood against all that oppresses Afrikan life.
Dr Baba Bu-Ntu
MYFI : Ngubani uQamata , Ngubani uNtu ?
Dr Baba Bu-Ntu : It is quite difficult to use English to describe deeply spiritual realities; “uQamata” is more than “God” and “uNtu” I more than “human being”. In short we can say that these realities speak to the manifestations of cosmic life-force, giving birth to and governing all sacred powers, ex. creativity, intelligence and transformation. These are also reminders about important aspects of our spiritual knowledge that have been corrupted; the illusion that “God is male” and “God is far away”. Afrika’s God represents the duality of femininity and masculinity, and is reflected within us – so we are (supposed to be) Gods as well.
MYFI : What was the purpose of life to the ancients who birth us ?
Dr Baba Bu-Ntu : To simplify the purpose passed on to us we could say that we are expected to protect, defend and make prosperous all aspects of life while we walk on this earth. But, due to brutal invasions and ongoing massacres of Afrikan life, most of us are ill-equipped and confused about our purpose. We have forgotten how to seek our Ancestor’s wisdom. And we will remain enslaved until we remember.
If you want to go quickly go alone , if you want to go far go together “
African Proverb
Dr Baba Bu-Ntu
MYFSI : ° What it is to be free Baba ? , How can one heal oneself ?
Dr Baba Bu-Ntu :“Freedom” and “healing” are concepts that seems so far removed from our daily realities that many of us have given up trying to seek them. Or, we seek them in all the wrong places. As Afrikans, our source of freedom lies in aligning one’s self with a spiritually given purpose, and our healing is supposed to be a daily discipline towards living in our highest potential - not something we only seek when things go wrong. Afrikan life is highly principled, communal and life-affirming. But, the Black experience today is quite the opposite: Destabilizing, lonely and dark. We have a long way to go to live in our freedom.
MYFSI : What’s your purpose Baba , what do you live for ?
Dr Baba Bu-Ntu : I live to serve our people; I have been called to open up spaces of familyhood, learning and protecting our practices. I have added my own interpretation to this; to prioritize our youth. They represent our most important “asset” and are our most marginalized.
MYFSI : ( Are you happy Baba ? , Are you free Baba ? )
Dr Baba Bu-Ntu : I don’t know what it means to be “happy”, as it seems to mean carefree, untroubled and at complete ease. I am enraged and concerned about what has been done to us as a people and the state we find ourselves in: We are not free and if we are not all free, then none of us are free. But, I also know that anger will not help us move forward, so I try my best – every single day – to convert my frustrations into constructive tools and interventions, and be part of practical solutions. I see and live for the hope of our future freedom, every day. I also have many blessings in my life, and I am very thankful for family, marriage, the many Daughters and Sons who have made me part of their lives, our powerful Ancestors, the many beautiful people I know and so much more. Perhaps, when the work we do leads to victories, I am the closest I can get to happy. For now.
Dr Baba Bu-Ntu
” A great man is hard on himself, a small man is hard on others”
Confucius / Chinese Philosopher
MYFSI: How did you discover your calling Baba ?
Dr Baba Bu-Ntu : I don’t have a simple answer for this. Its been a long journey of trial and error, being confused and then finding pieces that eventually started to connect into a clearer picture. Even way before I fully conscious about this, my Ancestors have always been there to guide, connect and push me. While some go to initiation for 3-6 months, my initiation journey lasted at least 10 years. My calling was revealed to me in different ways and became clearer as my inner consciousness and life experience evolved. Due to my ancestry and life journey, I locate my spiritual anchoring within the practice of Ifa (an ancient divination practice from West-Afrika), but I am called to live a Pan-Afrikan practice – seeking to inspire unity between us as a fragmented and broken people.
MYFSI : Who freed you from colonisation to the person you are today Baba ?
Dr Baba Bu-Ntu :I am very far from freedom. Very far. Like I said before: If we are not all free, then none of us are free. But I have been blessed by my Ancestors who have connected me with many incredible warriors, experiences, learning journeys and practical projects which have given me a decolonial EXPERIENCE. In my understanding, to decolonize is to wake up every day and seek trouble; to upset the setup. Our ability to overthrow the forces that are disempowering us begins with Self Emancipation. Most of us are stuck there…
MYFSI : ° What inspires you Baba to wake up in the morning to be motivated and be focus , discipline the way you are ?
" Dr Baba Bu-Ntu : My faith in – and love for – our people. This is a ground principle I committed myself to since being very young. Being conscious of – on one side – our history of Afrikan excellence and – on the other - the war of terror we now are dehumanized by, made me create some strict guidelines for how I must live my life. People who know me, know that I can be pushy and harsh in my expectations to them, but I am always most pushy and harsh towards myself. Being Afrikan is an honor we need to respond to – in how we live our lives, every day. "
” If the wise elders of village doesn’t teach the children , the village idiots will certainly do so”
African Proverb
Dr Baba Buntu
MYFSI : ° What message you give the modern African youth who has lost themselves to mental issues , e.g anxiety , depression , drugs and more unhealthy addictions ) because of identity crisis° What message you give the modern African youth who has lot
Dr Baba Buntu : My message is: “I see you”. And, where I can: “Come, let us work together”. It upsets me how so many of us see young people as lost, disrespectful and not interested. We have done very little for them to be validated and supported. They live with many challenges that they never chose. In fact, most of their problems are created by what we – the older generation – chose to NOT do, fix or change. My generation do not have a lot of great role models of Afrikan Warriorhood, and most of us chose to abandon young people and leave them in their outcast-experience, judging them while they drown…
MYFSI : Do you think Baba that why this youth has lost it’s way is it because of lack of mentorship or their doing ?
Dr Baba Buntu : - Absolutely. Generationally we have increasingly become a more and more powerless people. When we live by true Afrikan principles, young people are supposed to be guided through transitions of life, into understanding themselves, being given keys to self development and instructions for warriorhood – instead being a young Afrikan today often is an experience of not fitting in, not understanding your purpose and having few aspirations for the future. Because we have not seen them, when they needed to be seen.
MYFSI : ° Lastly , Baba if you had a chance to meet your younger self what advice would you give him?
Dr Baba Buntu : “Never make it an issue that people might not like or understand you – as long as you know you are anchored in your ancestral purpose”
” No matter how full the river is , it stills needs to grow “
AFRICANPROVERB
Thank you Baba for your time , May Qamata grant your wish in the world from beyond
my free spirit 