Every year, August 17 marks the Marcus Garvey Day, which is one of the national days of the State of the African Diaspora (SOAD). This year, for this special occasion, Dr Julius Garvey, who is Marcus Garvey’s son, and Dr Louis-Georges Tin, Prime Minister of SOAD, have just signed a cooperation agreement the aim of which is « to create a maritime company called The New Black Star Line, to revive the Black Star Line, the company once created by Marcus Garvey », as stated in article 1 of the text.

Last year, on december 31, 2021, both parties had already signed a cooperation agreement. Now, this new article is added to reinforce this important cooperation. As explained in article 2, « the company will work on repatriation, to support the African Diaspora in their effort to reconnect with the continent, and it will also encourage Africans from the continent to visit the Diaspora ». But it will also work with cargo « in an effort to promote South-South commercial relationships » (article 3). Though it is very recent, this initiative has already raised a lot of interest. Different partners on the international scale have expressed their desire to be part of the story.

The Prime Minister declared : « The New Black Star Line is an effort to continue and reinforce the example set up by Marcus Garvey. While our ancestors were deported from Africa, the New Black Star Line will help us to reverse this bad energy and go back to Africa. To sign this cooperation agreement with Dr Julius Garvey is a privilege. This initiative is not only commercial, it is also political, I would even say spiritual ».

Upon signing the document, Dr Julius Garvey concluded : « It is time to carry forward my Father’s Legacy.

Benin-Presidential-Palace

The Prime Minister of the State of the African Diaspora has been invited to Benin by President Patrice Talon for the inauguration of an exhibition linking the treasures of the past with the works of art of the present.

For more than a hundred years, these cultural goods that had been stolen and looted in the colonial context had been illegally detained by France. It was the treasure of Abomey, and in particular the throne of King Ghézo, the throne of King Glèlè, the recades, the royal statues and the sacred doors of the palace.

As you may recall, a few years ago, Dr. Louis-Georges Tin launched the campaign for the return of these treasures. He had pressured France, threatening the government with a resounding legal action, and under pressure, Mr. Macron had finally accepted this request. That is why the Prime Minister of the State of the African Diaspora was invited to Benin on November 10, 2021, when the treasures arrived in Cotonou. But they were still in boxes.

Her Excellency Olasubomi Iginla Aina MBE and His Excellency Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan GCFR, GCON

Recently appointed as a Minister of Youth of the State of the African Diaspora (SOAD), Her Excellency Olasubomi Iginla Aina MBE, has just initiated discussions with two former presidents of Nigeria: His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo and His Excellency Goodluck Jonathan . The topic of these briefings was the situation of the African students who were in Ukraine and had to evacuate the country. Currently, the Minister of Youth is discussing with former president Obasanjo about the need of scholarships for these African students.

Ambassador Olasubomi, a Director of Lightup Foundation, who was then a SOAD ambassador, organised a tour of European nations that share a border with Ukraine. This initiative was to ensure that African refugees would receive the necessary support they required for evacuation, to help identify needs and see how such needs could be urgently met.

The Ambassador went to Poland, Slovakia, Hungary Germany and Romania. In two of these countries, she helped the communities to call the media and to organise the fundraising activities that were so necessary. She also engaged with universities such as Cyprus International University CIU which has provided scholarship support for students fleeing the
war in Ukraine.

Also, in Germany, the Ambassador helped the refugees to manage the situation in a context where they could not understand what they were asked to sign, because of the langage barrier, and some of them had their travel documents seized.  She advocated for the release of all seized documents, after several advocacies, the German government acknowledged they were wrong and returned all seized documents. As at today many of the refugees in Germany have been registered and they are currently receiving €350/month from the German government.

The Prime Minister of the State of the African Diaspora (SOAD) is pleased to announce the nomination of two new Ministers of Government.

The new Minister of Finance was already an Ambassador of SOAD. Coming from Morocco and the United States, he is an international expert in finance, global assets management, and currencies. He served as special advisor to the former UN Secretary General, Dr Boutros Boutros-Ghali, also as special advisor to the former President of the EU Parliament, Dr Enrique Baron Crespo, and he is currently CEO and Chairman of Titanium Capital Mining Corporation.

The new Minister of Youth was also an Ambassador of SOAD, she has been very active in supporting African students evacuated from Ukraine and relocated in Eastern Europe. She has travelled to Ukraine in April, visiting 11 Orphanages. She has successfully established a support network for several families there. She has worked for many years supporting and empowering young people and the disadvantaged in Nigeria and in UK. In 2019, Ambassador Ola was appointed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth of United Kingdom as a Member of the Excellent Order of the British Empire MBE. She was also appointed by the Nigerian government as the First Diaspora Ambassador to Nigeria.

 -Source: SOAD News as SOAD ERS
  Caribnewsroom.com           

What is the African Diaspora ?

It is a group of more than 350 millions inhabitants in the world. Some of them left Africa a few years ago as migrants, others left the continent as slaves as they were deported several centuries ago. All are people of African descent, living in Brazil, Jamaica, United States, France, India, etc. It is the third population in the world, after China and India, before United States and Indonesia.

What is the State of the African Diaspora ?

The State of the African Diaspora is an entity that has one goal : to reinforce Africa through the Diaspora, and the Diaspora through Africa.

Benin Bronze Images

On October 7 and 9, the Prime Minister of the State of the African Diaspora will be invited to the Africa-France Summit to deliver a speech on Restitution.

In this area, Dr Louis-Georges Tin and his parties have already accomplished many things: the law passed in France for the benefit of Benin and Senegal, the law passed in Belgium for the benefit of the DRC, and the resolution passed in respect of was the case. European Parliament for restitution and reparation. It is a historic movement, but it is certainly not enough.

ALL African countries should receive ALL their artifacts. This is why the Prime Minister wants the subject to be on the table during the French presidency of the European Union, from January 2022. This is now what he is discussing with the French authorities.

In the meantime, SOAD is launching a major campaign to give more impetus to the Prime Minister. On October 1 and 2, the government organized an international conference on restitution. Specific guests included Chief Fortune Charumbira, Speaker of the African Union Parliament, Co-chair of the Royal Chamber of DICO; the special representative of the President of the African Union, President Félix Tshisekedi; Daagbo Hounon, Supreme Leader of the Vodou Cult; Saliou Mamadou, grandson of the former President of Guinea, Sekou Touré.

Welcome to the inauguration of our University. It was here that on July 1, International Day of the African Diaspora, we announced the upcoming opening of University of the State of African Diaspora (USOAD).

The theme this year is “Heritage for All”. For everyone in Europe, but also for the whole planet. Heritage is the heritage of everyone around the world. Especially to Africans who have created and endowed the planet with incredible treasures. African heritage must stop being despoiled and must be shared with Africans. Laws must decree as quickly as possible the return of all African heritage to Africa. Human remains, as an extension of what has been decreed for the return, for example of the Venus Hottentot, must be returned without delay.

We should think about a Pan-African heritage day which would allow us, following a careful inventory and identification of the goods of the past, to put in place actions for the future. A program that would determine: the conservation of its goods, the schedule of returns, the exhibitions to be made, the places, the circulation of works of art in a physical or digital way. Everyone should be able to enjoy it. We call for greater inclusion and recognition of diversity; review existing stories for better transmission to future generations.

Within the Faculty of Heritage, we will work on tangible and intangible heritage. On the origins of heritage. Make an inventory to better soak up each object of art.