Iya Mudiwa, Baba Baffour (Asa Hilliard), Mama Marimba Ani and Sister Sybil Williams- Clarke unveil bust during Abakosem Sunsum 2004
In January of 2002, Mr. Fred Ajanogha, then artist-in-residence at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia, was commissioned by an informal group of members of the Pan-Afrikan Community to create a bust of Dr. John Henrik Clarke. The initiative came from Dr. Marimba Ani and Dr. Wade Nobles in 1998 with the intent to place the bust on a shrine which they had helped to establish in Kumasi, Ghana. The call went out for contributions to create the bust. Twenty four people responded immediately (See list: www.ayaed.com/jhc) so that Brother Ajanogha could go to work. Baba Obadele Williams, Mama Marimba Ani and Sister Sybil Williams-Clarke worked with the artist to get the image just right. Last year, we tasted the sweet fruit of their commitment and labor. Baba Clarke’s sister, Lillie Hobbs, joined Pan Afrikanists from all over the country who came to witness the unveiling, to commune with his spirit and to commit ourselves to getting his bust installed on his shrine in Kumasi, Ghana.
Mama Marimba and Dr. Tawede Grills make initial offerings at Baba Clarke’s Shrine in 1998.
Naim Akbar
Breaking ground for Baba Clarke’s
Shrine in Kumasi,
Ghana, W. Afrika in 1998.
Nana Abass and other supporters look on.
Mission
Accomplished!
With bust safely delivered, Mama Marimba prepares to place our prayers tied to the sacred staff on Baba’s shrine.
Abakosem Sunsum photos by
Kwadwo Gyase
Kqyase@yahoo.com
(Music by Mausiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective)
