Saturday, January 30, 2010

Update on our Efforts: YES WE LEFT

After some struggle we were finally able to get people in Haiti. Our group spent one night in Cap Haitian and are now Port au Prince. More updates are to come and stories about the experience.

We would like to thank everyone who allowed this trip to occur through their contributions.This is only the beginning of the work we have to do as a united force.


Below we have a list of contributions that have been made through our various point people as well as changeiscomingcampaign.com. As more data is given the list will be updated.


L'union Fait La Force,

Nzingah Oniwosan
Sankofa's Child, Inc



Total Contributions Thus Far: $4995

Atlanta, Georgia Area: $300
(Point Person: Kwadwo Gyasi Nkita-Mayala-kinenga@gmail.com)


Akua Abotare
Ayinde Madzimoyo
Mawunyo Gletsu
Kwadwo Gyasi Nkita-Mayala
Akhu Yaw Kamau
Manu Amun



Tallahasse, Florida Area: $550
(Point Person:Yao Onipa-destingdimes@gmail.com)

TBA


Philadelphia, Delaware, New Jersey Area: $100
(Point Person: Afua Ymani-afuaymani@yahoo.com)

Tekeytha Fullwood
Efunyale Family
Akinseye & Adetoro Brown



South Florida: Miami Dade, Broward, Palm Beach: $1045
(Point Person: Nzingah Oniwosan sankofaschild@gmail.com)

Valcena Family
Lucy Dorlus
Lowel "Asr" Gelin
Dawn & Louis Davis
Ingrid Boyd & Michael Wilson
Dre



Keidi Obi Awadu & Obadele Kambon $1000


Changeiscomingcampaign.org $2000
TBA

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Wi, mwen la: The pain of Ayiti 12 days and counting (THE TRUTH)



Simone a relative that died.
This is her after my grandmother's funeral in '03



It has been twelve days and I can say with confidence that the people on the island of Ayiti were not the only ones shaken by this earthquake. Ayisyen living in the diaspora and people all over the world have been taken by the disaster in Ayiti. These past two weeks have been the longest and shortest days of my life. I've hurt a hurt that I never known; my heart broken by all of this. It is so hard to answer the question, "How are you?" There are so many words to describe how I feel-sad, angry, powerless, helpless, fearful, scared, hopeful, happy, worried, tired, exhausted, overwhelmed. The list endless and because I am feeling so many things at one time the word that sums it all up is NUMB.

On the 12th I get a call from a close friend telling me there was an earthquake in Ayiti. The call drops and I see had two text restating the same fact but it includes the value on the rector scale....7.3. I immediately called my family: "Did you hear?" "Have you been able to speak to anyone back home?" "Is Aunt Lydia and Gran Papa still in Haiti?" "What...they were suppose to come back today?" Worry began to settle in with the uncertainty of how bad this thing really was. I try to take the advice that I should not worry until there is something to worry about, but the reality is the situation has already infected my spirit. What's worse we can not get a single call back in back to our family. I am relieved when my cousin confirms that my aunt and grandfather made it in earlier in the afternoon from Ayiti. However, its short lived when I think about how many relatives I have that are actually there and to hear my grandfather has had a stroke because of the stress of it the next day. To say my family is big is an understatement between my mother and father I have 25 aunts & uncles,  about 80 great aunts and uncles which leads to an unmentionable number of cousins most of which are still living there. Not to mention, I have a stepmother and three younger siblings (2 brothers and a sister) in Ayiti.

I don't know even know what was worse the waiting or finally making contact. Although you hear a voice which brings you comfort, you slowly realize that goods news has a Siamese sister...bad news. On the other line you hear, "Wi, mwen la, " yes I'm here but it is followed with the grim reality post earthquake. I am homeless...I am hurt...I have not found her/him yet...She/he is died...WE NEED HELP. Three days had passed before we had a third party find my stepmother and younger siblings; confirmation given that evening by my stepmother personally. I hear they are alive and breathe a sigh of relief, only to have my breath taken away with your brothers are hurt badly. A wall collapsed on Gabriel and Loic was hurt trying to help. Tainted from CNN broadcasting the news of my brothers' injuries totally rips me apart. I am hearing head cracked, leg broken, need for amputation...programed at this point by Anderson and Gupta that these types of injuries are life threatening due to high rate of infection. My brothers finally received medical attention on Monday and are being treated.

These past two weeks can be summed up to this: I don't eat...I snack. I don't sleep...I nap. I have cried more tears in one week then the sum total of my life.I am hoping this a just one big nightmare and I'm going to wake up...but the truth is this REAL and hard one to carry.  I have channeled my feelings by collaborating with people and organizations nationally and internationally so that we can tangibly help the people of Ayiti. Our progress and potential have brought joy to these dark days and rejuvenates my spirit. I only wish this new found unity could have come out of  light and not darkness. What I do know is this is bigger than my personal experience. This is bigger than my family. This is about the people of Ayiti and Ayiti herself. More importantly the conditions of Africa and the African diaspora itself.  There is much work to be done.
When this story fades from the headlines please don't  forget.

I leave you with two proverbs from Ayiti:

"Sonje lapli ki leve mayi ou."
Remember the rain that made your corn grow.


"Anpil men chai pa lou"
With many hands the load is not heavy.


Suggested Reading


 The Men of the Lost Mountains: And Other Haitian Folk Tales and Proverbs




Nzingah Oniwosan
2010




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Friday, January 22, 2010

Today- 2days

Our soul is burdened with chagrin
L’union fait la force
Eyes pained from tears
L’union fait la force
Sleepless nights..
Heavy days…
L’union fait la force
We cry…mezumi
L’union fait la force
We hurt a hurt that’s grown to familiar
L’union fait la force
We call in hopes of hearing a voice
L’union fait la force
The news our source but emotional enemy
L’union fait la force
How can we eat when we know our family grows hungry?
L’union fait la force
Feeble attempts to stay strong
L’union fait la force
Each second slowly breaks us more
L’union fait la force
We pray
We hope
We pray
We hope
L’union fait la force
We want what happen to be the worse but we know…
L’union fait la force
Powerless as a singular force
L’union fait la force
In the midst of dark times Dessalines whispers
L’union fait la force
Our unified cries cannot go unheard
L’union fait la force
Our unified prayers will be answered
L’union fait la force
Our unified effort will bring us through because....
L’union fait la force
There is always strength through unity



Jean Jacques Dessalines


Nzingah Oniwosan
©2010
www.sankofaschild.com

Saturday, January 16, 2010

For Haiti-Waiting






Waiting





We cry for Haiti but our tears don’t create change
They are simply a testimony to our pain
Our history rich
Our people strong
Yet we feel condemned to constantly mourn
We cry
AYIBOBO!!!!!!!!
Because it’s too much
Where is our God
Where are our spirits
Where are our ancestors
Where is our faith
Helpless is an understatement to how we feel
Constantly questioning, “Is this real”
POVERTY
AIDS
RIOTS
HURRICANES
FLOODS
EARTHQUAKES
CHAOS
DEVASTATION

Have become synonymous with being Haitian
We have cried until we can’t cry anymore
Our souls are sore
There is so much pain a people can take before they break
We pray…
We hope…
We wait…


Umwaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy…




Nzingah Oniwosan


© 2010

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