President Mbeki Calls Brath “A General of the Pan African Movement”

Elombe Brath was a “foot soldier and a general of the Pan African Movement” declared former South African President Thako Mbeki in a letter of condolence read to the hundreds gathered in Harlem with foreign emissaries from afar as the African Union to Cuba.  The letter from President Mbeki was read by Malcolm Omowale X Shabazz’s daughter Ilyasah Shabazz. The letter also called for a new movement similar to Brath’s work for a “Titanic struggle… to pursue the renaissance of Africa.” Elombe Brath played a key role in the liberation of South Africa and was the host for President Nelson Mandela in Harlem during his first visit to the United States.
 
In the opening celebration of the life of Elombe Brath at the packed historic Abyssinian Baptist Church, Reverend Calvin Butts quoted the 68 Psalm proclaiming “Ethiopia shall soon stretch out its hands unto God”. This Psalm is one of the premier scriptural verses of the early African Diaspora Church tradition and is especially most promoted by African nationalist and early Pan African leaders starting in the 18th century to remind Africans in the Diaspora of their profound spiritual and enduring bond with their Motherland, Africa. This Psalm was a beacon of hope for the longing of returning to Africa and the search of African dignity, humanity and redemption, during the worse of chattel slavery. The African liberation theologian and activist Reverend Dr. Herbert Daughtry followed with the opening remarks stressing that no one “can talk about African freedom without thinking of Elombe Brath.”
 
Ambassador Tete Antonio, United Nations Representative from Angola spoke on behalf of the African Union Chair Dr. Madame N.D. Zuma stating that Elombe Brath was a consistent key advisor on the Organization of African Unity and then to the African Union affairs. In announcing the African Diaspora as the 6th region of Africa, Tete urged that the significant contributions of Elombe Brath to the liberation of Africa must be now translated in the “making of the vision of the African Diaspora 6th region a reality, for the future, and the renaissance of the African Continent.” Tete is also a representative of the African Union to the African Diaspora.
 
President Hifikepunye Pohamba and former President His Excellency Sam Nujoma of Namibia sent a special delegation with His Excellency H. P. Asheke to participate in the funeral service of Brath. The condolence letter from the former SWAPO leaders announced that the “Namibian nation honors an unwavering freedom fighter and tireless Pan African”. It further declared that Brath was a great “Pan Africanist who was shaped by Marcus Garvey to fight for the freedom, independence and nation-building… is deserving recognition for his contribution, and steadfast work for the dignity of African people.” Brath was the primary advisor for SWAPO representatives and other freedom fighters at the United Nations during the height of African liberation struggles f rom the 1960’s through the 1990s.
 
Former Councilman Charles Barron pointed that Elombe Brath legacy and work must not falter and that all Africans must continue struggling to “stop imperialism and neo-colonialism in Africa.” Also former Black Panther Party leader and student of Brath, Bin Wahad Dhoruba brought condolences from the political prisoners for whom Brath fought with and for. Dhoruba called for actions to stop the recolonization of Africa and urged the community to establish an Elombe Brath institute to continue his legacy.
 
Dr. Leonard Jeffries, President of WADU reminded those in attendance that they are part of the 6th Diaspora region of which Baba Elombe Brath worked to create when he helped to establish WADU in Jamaica in 2007 as his final mission for African people. He emphasized that Brath creation of WADU was due to his relentless pursuit of victory by all means. Concluding the historic rites of passage ceremony, Elombe’s dear wife Nomsa said she was happy that she married her husband and that “he struggled all his life to uplift Africa.” Brath is also survived by his seven children, grandchildren, brothers and other relatives.
 
WADU and other organizations from across the world will continue to hold tributes and services in remembrance of his great legacy and contributions to African life. WADU is also planning to hold a special tribute in his honor at the United Nations’ African Union center in New York City. Finally, WADU will hold its next Summit in Jamaica in July 2015 to strengthen the African Diaspora as the 6th region of Africa as part of Baba Elombe Brath’s Marcus Garvey vision and work for Pan African Government representing all Africans. For more information, please contact 718-523-3313, 404-822-2049 or http://www.wadupam.org/.