CONGRESS OF AFRICAN PEOPLE: POLICIES, PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

CONGRESS OF AFRICAN PEOPLE: MISSION, PRINCIPLES AND PROGRAMS

MOTTO: "TOWARDS OUR RADIANT FUTURE" - former President of Burkina Faso, Hon. Thomas Sankara

GOALS:

The immediate goal and objective of the Congress of African People as an online social network is to engage various sectors of our Pan African Community in the process of "Capacity Building". In this context, capacity building includes several key elements:

1. Identifying and Harnessing material, financial and people Resources which can be used in furtherance of our common goals, objectives, aspirations and mission, and sharing these resources in an organizational structure and format, i.e. United Front, Congress, Commonwealth. As an example, when the Seed Lady of Watts asked for African farmers to grow food for her International Food Brokerage, CAP was able to provide her with at least 50 people in the CAP network who had or knew of farming interests on the continent. As a result many of those interests have or in the process of signing 5 yr. contracts to provide a variety of Food Stuffs to the Seed Lady's Global Food Brockerage.

2. Building Relationships - Because as People of African Descent, due to the Maafa and colonial experience, we do not have a history of working cooperatively together over the last 500 yrs. The Congress of African People seeks to reverse this behavior, and allow for knowledge and trust to be build in our working relationships with each other.

3. Developing Policy, Programs and Projects in a collective manner, based on common value perspectives which house the common interests of African Descendants on local, regional, national, and on global platforms.

4. Once funding is secured, CAP will host regional conferences yearly, National Conferences bi-yearly, and a Global Convention every 3 yrs. to address Global Pan African Agenda Issues from a Grass Roots Perspective.

MISSION STATEMENT:

The Congress of African People (CAP) is dedicated to the reclaiming and restoration of the sovereignty of Africa and people of African descent. CAP will work collaboratively within the Pan African community of persons and organizations to harness, direct, develop and sustain our resources to support, restore and/or create African centered industries of Creative Production, Agriculture, Cultural Tourism, Education, Environment, Finadannce, Governance, Health and Welfare, Tri-angular Development (Africa, the Americas, and Caribbean Reigions) Trade and Commerce, utilizing African centered paradigms. Through these endeavors we will realize our full potential as African people, in honor of our ancestors and their life and sacrifice.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO OUR PEOPLE AND STRUGGLE:

Our unity in sisterhood, brotherhood, and struggle is profound, principled and forever. Our Struggle is constantly and continuously against our oppressors and against all is us which is in contradiction to our values and the choice we've made. We choose the liberation of our people as our life's goal, and struggle as a method to achieve it. Our choice is conscious, full and free and we accept all risks and welcome all rewards it brings. We have nothing better, more revolutionary or rewarding to do with our lives than to struggle to bring into being a new world, a world in which we, our children and our people can live, love and create freely and stand and walk in a warmer sun.
NOTE: Us Organization Pledge of Allegiance to our People and Struggle

Statement of Purpose:
The Congress of African People is an organization dedicated to the cultural and material transformation of Africa and its Diaspora, and people of African descent globally. Because of the unique history of African people, unique institutions are required to remedy historical circumstances which deny African people their inalienable right to Self-Determination, i.e. the right to determine their daily lives destiny, as a free, proud and productive peoples. This body is not a political organization, but a cultural organization, which seeks to research, organize, agitate, advocate and harness the collective resources of African People, worldwide, in order to engage in sustainable development, and to assert our unique vision of a world free of want, toil, exploitation and domination. African culture and civilization have given much to the world, and has yet, much more to contribute to human transformation and progress.The Holocost of Enslavement divided these resources, thus weakening them, but today African Peoples everywhere, are prepared to step back on the stage of Human History, ready to speak our special truth to the world. These are the goals and objectives of the Congress of African People. We introduce ourselves, proudly!!!

METHODOLOGY AND POLICIES:

1. Policy Formulation - The Congress will be organized areas of interest which will provide Forums to establish formats, procedures and protocols for arriving at the best policy options on given issues affecting Pan African Communities with consideration for national, regional and local peculiarities. Policy and Position Statements will be disseminated through various Pan African communications channels, unless for security reasons the Congress shall make other designations.

2. Project Design - Project design shall reflect the needs and aspirations of respective communities , and where at all possible, shall utilize African modalities and paradigms. Projects designs shall be a natural progression and practical expression of policy formulations. Where possible, communities should be involved in this process, and protocols established for how this takes place.

3. Program Implementation This module will address the most sustainable, energy efficient, and practical ways and means of realizing policy and project goals and objectives. African centered modalities and paradigms shall be sought when possible.

4. Infra-structure Development This is a separate category because it remains a need in every Black Community, be it organizational, governance and/or capacity enhancing (transportation, communications, railways, airports, hotels, stadiums, waste management, energy efficiency).

PRINCIPLES OF UNITY

NGUZO SABA
1. UNITY - UMOJA
2. SELF DETERMINATION - KUJICHAGULIA
3. UJIMA - COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBIILTY
4. UJAMAA - COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS
5. NIA - PURPOSE
6. CREATIVITY - KUUMBA
7. IMANI -FAITH

SEVEN CARDINAL VIRTUES OF MAAT (from ANCIENT KEMET)
1. TRUTH
2. JUSTICE
3. BALANCE
4. HARMONY
5. ORDER
6. PROPRIETY
7. RECIPROCITY

SEVEN FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF THE COOPERATION

1. Operational Unity - i.e. Unity in Diversity
2. Recognition and Exercise of our Sovereign Rights as African People
We have the right to define our identity, interests, and destiny without interference from others, and only we can chart our path, policies and programs which will determine our future as a free, proud and productive people.
3. Self Determination to define, defend and develop our own Path of Industrialization and/or Modernation in Africa which cannot be modeled after Europe's model. It is mandatory that Africa chart it's own course to modernization using African models and paradigms. Also, it is important that Africa's social, cultural, and spiritual institutions keep pace with any development. As railroads, other forms of transportation grow, it creates mobility which can have a devastating effect on village and cultural life. It is important that basic value structures are preserved, as villages and communities expand.social space and ensure African peoples' future.

4. Harnessing and Direction of our Collective Resources toward African Liberation Globally
5. Taking a Comprehensive Approach and Strategy towards Pro-actively resolving the myriad of Issues we need to address as a People (History, Spirituality/Religion, Political Organization, Economic Organization, Social Organization, Creative Production {Art, Literature, Technology,Music, Poetry, etc.}) and Ethos.
6. That our Tactical Modalities be Multi-dimensional in Scope and Content (Science, Governance, Trade and Commerce, Engineering, Health, Transportation, Education, African Spirituality, etc.)
7. While we respect and appreciate varied belief systems existing in different sectors our Community, the foundational and over-arching value systems upon which CAP will operate on, are from Ma'at and the Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles). This is what was envisioned for CAP at it's founding, that we not subscribe to any one ideology, but that we engage and commune with all relevant ideologies, and choose the best from all to pursue our selected goals, objectives and aspirations. CAP does not seek to duplicate current organizations, but seeks to appeal to as wide a variety and sectors of our Pan African Community and to promote and advocate for their respective interests as they contribute to the building of a Pan African Village/Community. In this regard, CAP hopes to serve as and provide models and paradigms for other Pan African organizational efforts. 

Policy Formulation, Project Design , Program Implementation and Infra -Structure Development will take place in Forums, Workshops and Committee/Task Force Structures, in the following areas:

1. Economic Affairs
A. Monetary System - currency, banking, finance and Pan African Stock Exchange.
B. Trade, Commerce and Cultural Tourism
C. Industry - Manufacturing, film, music, Technology, Autos D. Agriculture E. Infra-Structure Development – Transportation, Railways, Airports, Energy (solar, bio., geo-thermal, wind, water), Waste Management, Housing F. Marketplaces – Marketing and distribution of goods and services

2. Social Affairs A. Health - Allio-pathic, Wholistic. Herbs, Traditional African, Native American, Oriental and Indian Medicine. Coops, Clinics and other delivery systems B. Education – Developing African paradigms of pedagogy and learning modalities. Book Clubs, Study Groups. C. Family and Youth Development - Rites of Passage; Family forms; Youth Activities.

3. Governance
– Block Clubs, Town Halls, Interest groups
A. Council of Elders, Diplomatic Corps
B. Simba Wachanga, Panthers, New African Scouts
C. Pan African News Serivce - Propoganda/Communications Networks become and Shield and Spear weapon and tool of effective governance.
D. National Formations – NAACP, NAAC, Urban League, CBC, NBUF, Fraternities, Professional Assoc.
E. Pan African formations – CAP, PADU, WADU, UNIA, AU
F. UN – Bringing Self-determination, Tribal, Reparations and Human Rights violation issues before this body.
G.

4. Spiritual Development
A. Using Ma’at and Nguzo Saba as fundamental basis for Ethical and Ecumenical Approaches which recognize and respect Yoruba, Christian, Black Hebrew, Islam, Dogon, Zulu, etc.

5. History A. Historiography – Corrective History, Managing Images

6. Cultural Production and Enrichment -
Poetry, Art, Music, Theater, Film, Dance, Fashion Design, Sport, Technology Entertainment (Cultural Theme Parks, Festivals) and their role, relevance and function in community building.

7. Ethos A. Psychological healing from effects of enslavement and colonialism. B. Building positive self images, modeling C. Re-enforcing gestures and rituals, which create allegiene to our task of building a New African indentity and activities for rebuilding positive African self-concept. a. Oath of Allegeince; Taamuli for Newborn Children; Nubian Daily Exercise Ritual; Pan African National Song, and Poem (Poem would be year to year); Motto, etc.

8. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Forum
This is a key forum which provides not only for exchange of ideas and projects in these respective areas, but also inspires multi-disciplenary and comprehensive planning and strategies which aid and assist the African Community builidng processes.

Proposed Strategy for Building the Congress of African Peoples’ Focus/Action Sites

1. Sites will be built reflecting the comprehensive and multi-disciplinary character of the varied sectors of our community which will/can contribute in significant ways to Nation Building efforts, e.g. Governance, Education, Cultural Development and Production (Art, Music, Performing Arts, Spoken Word, Griots, Architecture, Technology, Language, Fashion, Literature), Economic Development and Strategies, Finance, Trade and Commerce, Cultural Tourism, Agriculture and Food Security, Energy, Infra-Structure Development, Communications, Collective Concern (alternative to welfare), Health, Spiritual Development, Family Life and Communal Living Strategies, Security and Intelligence, Defense and Youth Development, African designed Industrial Growth.

2. Those who choose to be involved in the above sites should come with an attitude and approach that these various sectors will be/become Component parts of a Wholistic Approach to Nation Building, Unification, and Sustainable Development strategies which are African-centered by Design and Pan African in Scope. This is based on the notion that Sustainable Development in the Pan African Community must, of necessity, be Triangular (Africa, African American, Caribbean/incl. Brazil) in nature and character. No one sector is more deserving of attention than another, thus, the emphasis must be on the Comprehensiveness and Multi-Disciplinary character of this Pan African Approach.

3. The goal and objective of the above approach is to create a Synergy in our thinking and, by extension, our policy formulations, programming and project outlays. Policies and Programming in one sector, should seek to be/become, complimentary and inter-active, to those in other sectors in accord with African principles, values and ethics as they are defined by African Spirituality.

4. Our programmatic emphasis is not based on a “Get Whitey Campaign”, as this would be considered to be a distraction, disruptive and counter to our goals and aspirations as a people and community. Rather we seek to take a pro-active and progressive approach to building a consensus on African and African-centered growth and development within a Pan African Framework.

5. Pan African Unity means little or nothing, without policy and programmatic designs which allow us to realize it. Therefore, the process which is proposed, in this context, is to; 1. Invite position papers in the above areas, and hold discussion and debate on the merits and value of their content. 2. Policy options will then be considered based on the above presentations, and official policy proclaimed for all sectors. 3. Based on the policy options which are chosen, Programs and Projects will be developed which reflect these choices and the aspirations of our people and community to grow and develop as a Pan African Village. This humble strategic and tactical approach hopes to be a step in such a direction.

6. No strategy and/or tactics mean anything without taking into consideration the needs of our people to heal and overturn the negative effects of colonialism and slavery. Therefore, Cultural Revolution is primary and at the center of all our theories, ideological formulations and praxis. Cultural Revolution is defined here, as the process and practice of completely overturning those views, values practices which inhibit our growth and development as a people and community, and strategically restoring and reconstructing African centered institutions and modalities which re-enforce and affirm our aspiration, as a Pan African Community, to become a free, proud and productive people.

7. We must be ever mindful in all our thoughts and actions, that our ancestors have established a firm foundation upon which we can create and build our future, and that whenever we find that our efforts fail or falter, we have only to refer back along the Sankofa trail, to the paths our ancestors have laid before. The task of building a Pan African Nation is an awesome and daunting one and we must gather all the collective resources at our disposal. This we owe to our ancestors and children, and those yet to be born. Most of all, we owe it to history and ourselves, for we are a Beautiful People, with a beautiful past, and even more beautiful and productive future.
Copyright@Simbamaat Consultants -2011

CAP SEVEN POINT PROGRAM

1. To organize and prepare cadre for participation in conferences and other collaborative efforts, as a Pan African Caucus, which promotes and advocates for an Agenda of Self Determination and Exercise of Sovereign Rights to Protect the Interests of Pan African People.
2. To organize a Touring Cultural Expo, which will be provide cultural propoganda, enrichment, and sustainability. This program is designed to showcase our conscious cultural workers, and provide the context to create and re-create our culture in our own image and interests.
3. To develop capacity for a Pan African Communications System which will be inclusive of a Sankofa Press and Pan African News Service, both of which will also become sustainable. No movement for social change can be successful without an effective and expansive communications network which can receive information and deciminate it. This is a top and major priority.
4. To work with the Collective Black People's Movement (www.cbpm.org) to harness the resources in the Pan African Community such that we know where skills, talents and resources are and are able to form them into a Consortium for the many and varied projects we have throughout our Global Village. 5. To be/become a Resource and Reference Center for the Repatriation of those of our people wishing to return to the Motherland.
6. To become a home and refuge for our global community online, and to be a place where we not only share ideas and information, but also generate new ones which will advance our struggle for liberation and a higher level of life. Our goal is to create the conditions for all people of African Descent to become, free, proud and productive people and to step back on the stage of Human History, as New African Men and Women.
7. As this is the decade of African Renaissance (Rebirth), of primary importance is the re-introduction of positive and pro-active African values, views and ethics into our community/village fabric. Though the tradition and practices of each diverse community shall and will be respected, CAP promotes and advocates as Over-arching values and virtues, those of Ma'at, from our classical civilization, Kemet, and the Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles) of the current Era. This in pursuit of the Cultural Revolution began in the 1960's to win the heart, minds and spirit of our people from alien hands, and take the Sankofa Journey back to self.

Suggested Community Building Structure:

Diaspora Commonwealth - Each Peoples, Countries and/or Territories which are inhabited by African Descendants is eligible to be represented in the Commonwealth, and will form their own Congress which formulates and implements policy and programs on their behalf. The Commonwealth will represent the collective interests of the African Diaspora in AU, African and International Affairs. 

1. Council of Elders – See Maaskelah Thomas’ Book on organization, function and structure. Council must certify all Executive staff. One of committees out of Council will be responsible for the Shield and Spear Forces.
2. Secretariat – Made up of Committee Heads, 2 Representatives of each country and or region inhabited by People of African Descent
3. General Assembly – Each Organization has one vote, and a designated number of at-large votes to be permitted.
4. National Conferences – Anually, Bi-anually
5. Regional Conferences – Yearly
6. Municipal – Town Halls
7. Block Clubs – Should explore making participation mandatory at this level with a reward/punitive system.