how might you respond?

[Sankofa]

I got this e-mail after someone hit my website and asked where and how I chose my name:


7/31/06

Dear "Sankofa:"

Thank you kindly for the response. You say you are a rapper?

I'm sure before deciding to take it, you noticed that SANKOFA is an African concept, from the Adinkra script in the Twi language, from the Akan of Ghana (in West Africa). It is represented by 2 symbols. Since you do not indicate how you "came across" it, I don't know if you saw them both or have gotten a deep sense of what the concept and the symbols are meant to convey.

One of the symbols used for SANKOFA is a bird reaching back (e.g., the "past") into her tail feathers to fetch an egg. The egg represents not the past, but the future and the potential of the culture. It is also symbolic of the essence, or that which is essential to who you are--specifically as a member of a GROUP (read: cultural). Am I mistaken, or are you a person of European ancestry?

What is in the essence of YOUR group that is: a) represented in your work as a rapper(?), and b) worth bringing into the future?

"Sankofa means, Go back and fetch it. It is not taboo to go back and fetch what you lost in order to move forward." With that specifically in mind, what is your relationship with your own culture and ancestors such that you use African culture (which was so utterly degraded by your progenitors), in the name you call yourself and in the vehicle you choose to express yourself?

…The present state of restlessness that traps the modern individual has its roots in a dysfunctional relationship with the ancestors. In many non-western cultures, the ancestors have an intimate and absolutely vital connection with the world of the living. They are always able to guide to teach and to nurture. They represent one of the pathways between the knowledge of this world and the next. Most importantly and paradoxically, they embody the guidelines for successful living—all that is most valuable about life. Unless the relationship between the living and the dead is in balance, chaos results. When a person from my culture looks at the descendants of the westerners who invaded their culture, they see a people who are ashamed of their ancestors [or worse, proud of them] because they were killers and marauders masquerading as artisans of progress. The fact that these people have a sick culture comes as no surprise to them. The Dagara believe that, if such imbalance exists, it is the duty of the living to heal their ancestors. If these ancestors are not healed, their sick energy will haunt the souls and psyches of those who are responsible for helping them (pp. 9-10).

I came to realize that wherever the white man went, he brought trouble because he had no scruples. He brought a kind of meanness that no one could face because it made no sense to anyone, and eventually he took over because no one loved blood and killing more than he did. Sadly, our young minds were being formed by the vivid images of death and suffering in these [European school] books (p. 112).

Some, Malidoma P. (1994, 1995). Of water and the spirit: ritual, magic and the initiation in the life of an African shaman. New York, NY: Arkana.



Two things that seem to be essentially European (read: white) is first, that the real meanings of things (not created by or for Europeans) seems to elude you as a group. Second is a total lack of the proper respect for things you don’t really understand. Everything has a meaning and purpose in this world, whether or not you all understand it at a glance—another concept that seems to completely escape people of European origin. Everything is not interchangeable because things are not arbitrary. Of course, this is an allegedly free country and you have the "freedom" to do, say and call yourself whatever you want. But that does not mean that everyone is going to be down with it or keep their mouths shut in the name of keeping the peace, or some pseudo inclusionist, amorphous universalism.

So, before you decide what or if to respond, please bear in mind that the rest of us have a corresponding "right" and "freedom" to think, say and respond whatever we want to anything that you or anyone else makes public. I will be sending my like-minded friends to visit your site.

and yes, I know we are all "human beings." however, there has never been found a group of human beings that have not created a culture by virtue of their living and living together. There is no state of cultureless humanism where things like "rap" and symbols just appear with no creators or sine qua non (essence). The essence of rap is as African as the name you have also appropriated--inappropriately.

…However, stealing is their only form of originality. Culture Bandits will steal…but in the final analysis, it’s an innovationless music because its mother, Black Music, ignores it as a child of a raped parent (p. 18).


Jones, Del (1990). Culture bandits, volume 1: Cultural genocide in Amerikkka. Philadelphia, PA: Eye of the Storm communications, Inc.

[7WetCigarettes]

I don't think I would respond at all. It looks as if, either way, you aren't going to be making any friends with this one. WOW.

[matthewsturm]

wow is right. Who's up for some debate? How WOULD you respond?

[Al Quandt]

i am not sure if I am going to even try to comment on this one.

other than, ignore it. Freedom is freedom your name is your name.

[MrSpall]

I think I'd send them some standard form email like, "Thanks for showing your interest in Sankofa. You've now been added to our mailing list to recieve concert updates and band news." Showing utter indifference seems to be the best counter.

Barring that, tell them that choosing the African word for 'reaching back into the past' is a reference not to the distant past of your ancestors, but to your own past from which you draw inspiration for your lyrics. Explain to him that, while slavery was a blight on human civilization of which none of us are proud, you can't be held responsible for the actions of those who preceeded you by two centuries. Today, in modern America, you've chosen to pay homage to the African heritage of your music by choosing a name from its culture. He should be delighted, not cranky.

You aren't trying to be derisive, this guy just seems reflexively irate. He speaks of you as a culture bandit, and yet throughout his email he has simply copied and pasted from what appear to be African history texts. It's plagarism with footnotes. Until he's able to come up with an original thought, perhaps he and his like minded friends should be ignored.

[sevesd93]

I would just kill him, because I am a white man and love blood, killing and bringing trouble and meanness everywhere I go.

[Garr]

That's a tough one man. I, too, would be of the mind not to respond at all, but you (Sankofa) are far smarter than I, so I look forward to reading your eventual response, or news of a non-response.

[GxWxLx]

I've always wondered why you picked the name as well. I remember asking you one of the first times we ever talked years ago and you were very cryptic - as usual.

I'd respond with:

"Here is why I picked this name ..."

[Oliver's Army]

I think I'd send them some standard form email like, "Thanks for showing your interest in Sankofa. You've now been added to our mailing list to recieve concert updates and band news."

hehehehe

I like this idea.

[sharkmansix]

Explain to him that, while slavery was a blight on human civilization of which none of us are proud, you can't be held responsible for the actions of those who preceeded you by two centuries.

Yeah, and as an interesting side note inform him that while the white europeans were shipping the slaves; many were caught and sold by black africans who were in power.

[The_Dude]

Send him "HERBAL VIAGRA" e-mails.

[Al Quandt]

Send him "HERBAL VIAGRA" e-mails.

LMAO

[WBOB]

..inform him that you have a million dollars in assets that you want to
move out of the country and you need is bank acccount #
so that you may transfer to his account and that he will
receive 15% of it for doing so.

[Al Quandt]

You could send him one of those new fangled strange poetry spam letters.

[traumaqueen]

mmmmm.... i absoultely love grappling with situations like this.
so, help me out.
how did you "choose your name"?
...or do i need to refer to "introduce yourself" for some background?