Story: Mohammed A. Abu
Within the context of the Black History Month(BHM) Commemoration event, the maiden international conference of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Afrikan Reparations (APPGAR) designed for in-person and virtual participation, is scheduled to take place at the weekend in the Westminster Houses of the British Parliament, London, UK, according to APPGAR’s official sources.
The inauguration of APPGAR constitutes one of the major highlights of the BHM event alongside the Indigenous Peoples Day of Resistance Commemoration, Preparatory Action learning for all Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry for truth, Reparatory Justice(APPCITARJ), Peoples hearing on the maangamizi crimes against Indigenous Peoples,
APPGAR Event Chairpersons
Being held within the context of the annual Black History Month(BHM) month commemorative event, the APPGAR is going to have as its Co-Chairpersons Bell Ribeiro-Addy, the Chair of the APPGAR, assisted by Diane Abbot, MP, and Dr. Julius Garvey.
Opening Ceremony
Two major African royals among the non-UK resident dignitaries of special mention who would be attending the APPGAR opening ceremony are, Osie Adza Tekpor VII, the Paramount Chief of Avatime, in Ghana’s Volta Region who is a Co-Chair of the MAATUBUNTUMITAWO Global Afrikan Family Reunion International Council (MAATUBUNTUMITAWO-GAFRIC); and Professor Mutjinde Katjiua, the Ombara Otjitambi (Paramount Chief) of the indigenous Ovaherero nation in and beyond Namibia in Southern Africa.
Plenary & Breakout Sessions
In addition to three Plenary sessions, the APPGAR International Conference will also have topical Breakout Sessions with Panel Lead Discussants to kick-start conversations on the Meaning,
Key Thematic Areas
Purposes and Politics of Afrikan Reparations, Faith and Spirituality, Pan-Afrikanism, Restitution, Education, Law and Reparatory Justice, Political Economy and Social Enterprising, Women, Community Regeneration, Geopolitics and International Relations, Environmental Justice for Planet Repairs, Local and National Governance, Heirs and Allies, and some others to be confirmed.
Confirmed Participants
Among the confirmed leading participants are also Professor Kimani Nehusi, now at Temple University in the USA, who is a Co-Founder of the erstwhile Afrikan Reparations Movement in the United Kingdom (ARM-UK), led by Ancestor Bernie Grant, MP.
Other leading confirmed participants are Professor Maulana Karenga, the Founder of Kwanzaa, Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, the Founder of Black History Month in the United Kingdom, Dr. Jared Ball of the Black Power Media in the USA, Eugene Puryear of Break Through News, Besa Awletor Ashiagbor of the Afrikan Traditional Freedom Movement (ATFEM) in Ghana, Akin Bongani of the Benkos Bioho-founded Palenque San Basilio in Cartagena, Colombia, in Abya Yala, among several others.
Other ARM-UK Co-Founders like Kwame Adofo Sampong, Explo Nani-Kofi of the Pro-Nkrumah Unity Movement (PRO-NUM) in Ghana and Kofi Mawuli Klu of PARCOE and the Stop the Maangamizi Campaign are expected to participate.
Expected Participants
Expected as leading participants are Esther Stanford-Xosei of the Maangamizi Educational Trust (MET), Onyekachi Wambu of AFFORD and Kobina Amokwando of the Pan-Afrikan Reparations Youth Forum (PARYF) who, together with Kofi Mawuli Klu, are all members of the APPGAR Secretariat, with responsibility for working together with a wide range of organizations and networks in co-designing and facilitating the Conference among several others.
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