Buried Treasure: Discovering the REAL Egypt

Breathtaking, speechless, unequivocally amazed are all understated words to describe the moment I walked into the Cairo Museum; unfortunately in retrospect, there are no words that will justifyingly express my experience. From the massive statues of Akhaten, Rameses II, Nefertiti, & Imhotep, King Amnehotep & Queen T, the head of Queen Hatshepsut & Nefertiti, Rameses’ Sphinxes, & the Norma Palate (depiction of the unison of upper and lower Kemet), to the tangible evidence such as the wigs of the pharaohs that these people-these Egyptians were our ancestors. They were Africans. This was clearer than ever when I saw the mummies of Rameses II, Sety I, and Tutmoses I, II, & III themselves.

The most influential exhibit for me was the exhibit of Tutankhamon. OMG! I find it so unfathomable that a tomb so ornate exists. Although I have yet to see his mummy, the coffin alone amazed me. His mummy was placed in a pure gold coffin, which was placed in an even bigger coffin made of pure gold with blue and red gold used to elaborate the intricate details. This was placed in a pure gold sarcophagus which was placed in a bigger pure gold sarcophagus, which was placed in an even bigger pure gold sarcophagus, which was placed in an even bigger pure gold sarcophagus, and placed in the biggest sarcophagus about the size of my room at home in height, width, and depth. In addition to this, his vital organs were placed in small coffins that depicted the same coffin his body alone lays in with the exact same specific details, which were placed in a box in which 4 symbolic females surround for safety. Furthermore, he had 2 chariots, his throne, and 3 couches buried with him including all his jewelry-ALL MADE OF PURE GOLD. The thoughts that went through my mind about all of this? 1. How big is this tomb?! 2. I cannot comprehend how anyone would ever attempt to steal anything from his tomb because if it were I, I would be too amazed at the artistry to want to disturb anything. 3. If all of these structures in this museum are the originals and they look like this, WHAT EXACTLY DID THE ORIGINAL EGYPT LOOK LIKE?! I wish I could have experienced that long ago.

Mosque of Salah Al Din

Bro. James Arrival in Aswan Video (Day 3)

Egypt: A Dream Come True

As our plane took off from New York's JFK International Airport I could feel my heart racing, I could not believe that I was going to Egypt! The flight was full of deep thoughts and a nice discussion with Dr. Mario Beaty on our plans for this endeavor. The 9 hour flight went by rather quickly as I was surrounded by not only friends from Howard University but also from Miles College. There were many Muslim men and women traveling to their country of origin to handle business, personal and religious affairs. In a new way the flight alone made me realize how small I am in the world but upon gazing at the pyramids of Giza for the first time with my own eyes I also realized how great of an impact one person with vision can have. Even now from my hotel the pyramids appear to be so close even though they are not. In fact as one of my professors, Dr. Carr noted "It is not that they are close, but because they are so big that you think they are closer than they are."

One can feel the influence of Islam and Arab culture permeating through the parts of Egyptian society that are not centered around Ancient Kemetic Tourism and culture. Some of the subtle differences one will notice is that announcements in English are done after the Arabic version, the car traffic seems to be chaotic as there are no visible speed limits or traffic signals. I was amazed when our tour guide Farouk told us "Crossing the street is a matter of luck and timing." We witnessed how Egypts wealthy communities can be side by side with Egypts poverty stricken masses. One way to tell the wealthy from the poor areas are seeing air conditioning units in the windows, amazing that such a regular part of Western life is a luxury in this land known for its scorching desserts. The nile river is nothing less than breath taking. It is no wonder that it has been the inspiration of poets and Pharaohs for all of these years.

I was shocked to run into scholar Anthony Browder and some of his staff, namely a Brother i know named J.P.. I didn't know they were going to be here so this is an added treat. I am looking forward to this next week and a half.
My arrival in Egypt or rather Kemet is truly a dream come true

So far, So GREAT!

It’s been a long 3 days. Yesterday, Memphis, Saqqara, and Giza.
http://www.coas.howard.edu/studyabroad/kemet/site_visits.html#m

Today (by now night), like yesterday, started with a 6am wake-up call and ended with the evening lecture from 8-10. Somewhere in between, there’s been a trip to the Mosque/Citadel and the Egyptian Museum, a flight to Aswan, and a welcoming water taxi to the Movenpick Hotel on Elephantine Island (home of Farouk, one the guides; what a team he a Waleed make!).

The Egyptian Museum is home of one of the greatest exhibitions on classical Africa. No doubt, a powerfully moving libation was offered at the entrance of the museum to prepare the young and old minds alike to experience the fullness and vibrancy of African civilizations.

While New York was all a-buzz a few days ago about the arrival of one of Tutankhamen’s chariots, now on display at the “King Tut” exhibit in NYC, the Kemet Krew 2010 saw a far more stunning and representative collection of his belongings. As the New York Times article notes (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/03/arts/design/03chariot.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=tut&st=cse), the exhibitioners of the NYC collection shamelessly admit that the exhibit is driven by commercialism and greed (the carriage was delivered and reassembled at night after the museum closed to ensure that not a single day of profit from the exhibit was lost; so what if rushing puts history at risk?!). With Waleed, Farouk, and Profs Carr and Beatty’s guidance (the latter doing so defiantly since only licensed guides are permitted to provide information during group tours), the commercial exploits have been circumvented, and all within earshot will be the wiser for it.

The serenity of Aswan never fails to make me think that this is how life should be lived. Wish I were there… Since there are only 24 hours in the day, and site visits (and travel time to and fro) and lectures comprise no less than 16 of them, it’s tough to find time and technology to upload to the blog regularly. But hang with us; great entries are being written and are coming to a blog post near year sooner than later. The slower pace of Aswan (compared to the rat-race of Cairo) assures it.

Until then, hotep…

To the Pyramids!!

Today we toured Memphis and Sakkara where we visited the Mit Rahina Museum. The most impressive structure here in my opinion was the statue of Ramses II. This statue is so astounding that it has its own building. In this building King Ramses II lays on the ground in all his glory at 14 m long and that is with him missing his legs because they were never found. So the question is: How tall would he stand if he were not missing his legs? Furthermore, where are they? We then visited the first step mustaba, created by Imhotep. We also visited the tomb of Teti, which was extraordinary. The art on the walls were amazing in itself. The fact that the Egyptians were able to create things so remarkable with the tools nowhere near as advanced as what we have today just puts me at a loss for words.

The day did not end there. Next up we visited the El Sultan Carpet School where we watched little children create beautiful works of art we usually take for granted. Followed by camel rides!! We also visited the Khufu Boat Museum where we saw the 140 ft long ship of Pharaoh Khufu, the oldest surviving ship in the world. The last tour of the day was the pyramids. We climbed the Great Pyramid, entered the second pyramid: Khafre (gives the perceptive illusion of being larger than the Great Pyramid but only such due to the elevation of the land), and saw Menkara and the infamous Sphinx.

The worst part of the day was being harassed by the various merchants located pretty much everywhere, especially around the pyramids. One of them tried to buy me for some camels!! Luckily, Dr. Carr came to my rescue on that incident as well as multiple similar ones that occurred throughout the day. What a day!

Egypt: Embracing the Unknown

Pyramids, hieroglyphics, desert, unbearable heat, pharaohs. These are the first things that enter my mind when I think of Egypt. As the days dwindled down to our departure day, for some reason so did my anxiousness about the trip. At certain times I just did not feel like going through all the preparations to get there. If I had my way I would simply snap my fingers in order to avoid a 9.5 hour plane ride. On the other hand, all of this changed when I physically started the trip. The excitement of entering this beautiful, historical place with the purpose of enhancing my knowledge not only about the place itself, but also about its history and my ancestors’ history brought about a feeling synonymous to that of a child’s first day of school-curious about your surroundings, possibly frightened by the unknown, but at the same time, invigorated by the fact that you are discovering things-answers to questions you may have been subconsciously been wondering and secrets people seem to know but intentionally leave you out of. By the time I got off the plane, it was established: This is going to be the best trip of my life.

11:15 Kemet Time: First Post From Classical Africa

Hello Bison and World! Brittani, Asya, Maggie and I are in the lobby at Le Meridien Pyramids, putting together the first video clips of our first class. We hit the ground running, leaving JFK yesterday at 7 p.m., flying into Cairo, checking in, grabbing a quick dinner and straight to class: all in all, 29 hours straight of flight and contemplation. We had a spirited discussion of the major themes and concepts that will frame our study of the Nile Valley, the first that combines students, faculty and administrators from Howard, Chicago State, Northeastern Illinois, Miles College and several other schools. Each year the study has become more focused and refined, and this year's journey incorporates a wide range of pre-framed research projects. We tried to upload a clip showing our initial "talking circles," where students shared their research interest in preparation for our first full day of site visits. We'll try again tomorrow. Tomorrow morning: Memphis, Sakkara and the Giza Plateau!

AfriKa!

Those of us stateside are happy to hear that the Kemet Krew 2010 has arrived safely!

As my post yesterday suggests, arrival to Cairo is perfectly eventful. No doubt, the first excursion is in process; and we'll hear from them later once they've checked in to the hotel, had a delightful dinner, and headed to the conference room for the first evening lecture. Before they can begin to blog, they have to secure a wireless connection. No doubt Hatem has Tarek on the case. Glad to hear, too, that Farouk (a most able Nubian guide) made the trip to Cairo. Farouk doesn't travel to Cairo from Aswan often any more; that he did for this trip means more than the travelers can imagine.

Can't wait to hear from you...

The Journey to the Black Lands/The Land of the Blacks

Hotep!

Like Angie (who posts faithfully still!), I write with mixed emotions: excitement for all who will make this journey for the first time and disappointment that I'm not in line at JFK hoping that an exit row or window seat is still available. Opting not to return to Kemet this year, after making the trip the first two years, was a tough decision for me too. So, I'll have to settle for following along from the blog and adding my color commentary from home (where I've vowed to work 8 hours a day on the book project that stood between me and the continent for the first time in 3 years). It was, in fact, at a table in the cafe (where they served mutton regularly) in South Africa that a precocious group of HU Summer Study Abroad students (YEBO! (I see you) to the SA crew!) talked Dr. Carr and I into taking some 60 folks to Kemet 2 years ago. Who knew?

Take it all in, since you never really know when and if you'll get the chance again. And blog often to make those of us stuck here feel, see, breathe, and smell the land of the blacks. Show love to Tariq, Waleed, Faruk, Abdudam, Hatem and the whole HU-Kemet crew. They'll take good care of you....

No matter how much you try, you won't be able to imagine what it will feel like to see the pyramids with your own eyes, to watch the sun rise and set on the Nile, or to experience it all with Drs. Carr, Beatty, and Watkins--easily the sharpest profs from whom to learn about classical Africa.

I and my fellow blog followers await your first impressions and your false door inscriptions.

One love... Dr Williams

(Pixs - upper left: the first pyramids you'll see from the bus; lower left: the Mosque at Citadel en route to the hotel, i.e. your first stop (I bet you thought you'd get some rest after that long flight... NOT!; Rest when you get home); right: Le Meridan Hotel (your home away from home for the next 2 days)

It's time...

I'm sitting in front of the computer surfing the Internet before my ride comes to take me to the airport. I am in utter disbelief! I can't believe that in just a couple of hours, I will be taking off in a plane headed to Egypt. I can't believe that all the preparation has finally come to an end, and that I will be stepping foot in Mother Africa. I am filled with a range of emotions. I am excited about all I will see and eager to obtain all I will gain from Dr. Carr. At the same time, I feel like I'm going crazy. My stomach is full of butterflies, I am uneasy about this ten hour flight, and I am scared I am going to forget something important. As the time ticks down, I am nothing short of grateful and humbled by this precious gift I have received. I am expecting a life changing experience and cannot wait for the process to begin!

- Rhushanda

Take two

*exhale*

Alright. It’s about time I confront this blog after days of shying away from even thinking about the trip to Kemet. Sadly, earlier this summer, I had to decide between two of my biggest priorities: Kemet and Law School. Neither of them is mutually exclusive, but our trip coincided with my mandatory week-long law school orientation. After a few persuasive attempts at having both, I realized I’d have to do what I have to do. I cancelled my trip and now I am sitting here typing as opposed to lugging my green suitcase around –which, by the way, still has a Consolidated Tours tag stuck to it.

The good thing is, I went to Kemet last year (along with repeat offenders Brittani Moncrease, and of course our instructor, Dr. Carr), so I have those experiences to draw from. And to those going on the trip this time, I think you will be finding out soon enough that the fever will set in, and you’ll be planning your next trip while you are there J So, this explains why I was planning on going two years in a row in the first place, and why I was so disappointed that it didn’t work out the way I had planned.

But enough about my little temporary setback! I’m blogging yet again for a few reasons: 1) I can’t stop writing about this stuff, what can I say! It’s too interesting. 2) Blogging will help me connect with my buddies going on the trip, not to mention my partner in crime, Brittani Moncrease (shoutout!) and 3) I want to teach Egyptology one day, and I think somehow, someway, this is good practice.

So, if those going on the trip will have me, I hope that I can be a guest blogger on this site and contribute to the unique conversation that this group will be having. The experience of going to modern-day Egypt and reflecting on Ancient Kemet is special by itself. However, when members our intellectual community to do this – along with their family and friends – a severely rare occurrence takes place. By nature, it is an experience that is intensely unselfish and fraught with duty to share and educate others.

With no phones ringing, no text-message alerts, not enough interesting (or English-language) things on TV, and no time to sit around interacting with your devices anyway, you will rediscover a side of yourself that our generation hasn’t regularly seen since early childhood. You will be able to think, theorize, reflect, imagine, and connect with everything around you. You’ll be on the same wavelength as those scholars of yesterday we revere. Seriously.

To end, I’ll say that Brittani (also my senior-year roommate) and I longed to return to Egypt this year because, for one, we would be able to think again. Think about our purpose, think about our history, think about our pride, and think about the people we’d bring back with us next time. As soon as we started learning, we could only think, ‘Man, we have so much work to do.’

So, yall, have a safe and enjoyable flight, and get even more excited about the clarity and peace that you’ll have on the other side of the water.

Catch you when you get there J

-Ang

An Experience of A Lifetime

Later on today I will be on a plane headed to Egypt, and it will also be my first time leaving the country. Everything seems so surreal right now. I"m nervous, and excited. One of my closest friends will be joining me on this adventure, and that means the world to me. I've always had dreams of being able to travel and see the world, broadening and expanding my horizon. From this trip I expect to get a better understanding of the world outside of the US. I want to have an experience that I will never forget, and a story to share with anyone who will listen. I love to learn, and this is a once in a lifetime trip.

The beginning

It's so amazing to even have this opportunity, to see a civilization that has dominated others with its splendor and magnificence. It is even more amazing that although I have thought about this day for so many years, I am finally heading to Africa, the home of my ancestors. I want to touch the things that people thousands of years ago have touched and remember that a mighty people have and continue to walk this land.

Right now, I'm getting the last minute items together and will soon be leaving to NY. Even as I sit here writing this, I realize that reality has not yet sunk in, and I still do not fully understand that within one day I will be in Egypt. I pray for safe travels for all of my fellow companions and peace for all of those that we are leaving behind.

Blessings,

Glo

Voyage to Kemet

Hotep! We have been blessed with the fortunate opportunity to travel to modern day Egypt to see and witness the unique culture and civilization of our ancestors of Ancient Kemet. The opportunity has arrived and we are prepared! Remain open-minded while experiencing the magnificent beauty of the various structures our ancestors laid in the fields of architect, science, math, reading, and literature.

Safe travels to the airport!!

-Sister Stephanie

Philadelphia Education Fund

A few more hours before we take off...

I am counting down the hours before we take off to Egypt. I am beyond excited and grateful for this opportunity. I want to learn as much as I can (and being that Dr. Carr will be there, I know this WILL happen), and I want to experience as much as I can. I want to thank my dear friend Brittani Moncrease (she went last year and again this year) for convincing me and enlightening me about this opportunity of a lifetime. See you all in a few, and as for our friends and family back at home; stay tuned :)

Rhea Nicole

Anticipating a life-changing experience

I am truly excited to be embarking on what I believe to be a wonderful experience ahead. I am looking forward to learning about the different aspects of Egypt, from the ancient pyramids to the pharaohs. My knowledge of Egypt is limited but I hope after this experience to have much more knowledge of my ancestors. I am preparing myself for the day of travel ahead! : ) See you all soon.


Gavette Richardson

One Day Away

KEMET! Wow. It is shocking to believe that in slightly over 24 hours I will be in the land of the pyramids, the land where tyrants, conqurers and Pharaohs have seized and maintained legendary political power or lost it at the hands of even stronger and craftier opponents. Egypt is a place that has seen the birth of theology and architecture and now after 20 years of life I and the rest of the team going from Howard University will be gazing upon the same land that Ahkenaten began a religious revolution, the same land that Ramses II began a legendary building campaign still unmatched by any political figure since. Egypt has a place in the Holy Bible of the Jews and Christians as well as the Quran of the Muslims, it is mentioned in a great many conspiracy theories on the internet as well as in the scholarship of Dr. John Henrik Clarke, Dr. Ivan Van Sertima and Howard's own living legend Dr. Greg Carr. The clock is winding down and my excitement is gearing up, the only thing on my mind is that we have a 17 hour flight!

The Return, Beginning, and Revelation

As the day continues to draw near my anticipation and excitement continues to heighten. Never in my current state as an undergraduate have I ever imagined I would have the opportunity to travel outside of the country, let alone return to the motherland. Many have gone before in search of some truth, apart of themselves that had never been revealed to them. I had been left in the dark, and now my footsteps are being guided to a more brilliant light. Its one thing to learn of your history through textbooks and lackluster images, but to actually live that history, to journey to a place where the richness of your culture and heritage envelopes you, nourishing your spirit, and awakens you to a revelation, is beyond anything that could be described in words. Its my turn to gain my own truth. Eagerly I await to arrive upon the brim of wonder, majesty, and all that is reminiscent of the glory of my African beginnings.

Expectations

As I ponder the prospect of traveling to Egypt (Kemet), several thoughts flash through my mind. This is a journey that I have long sought to undertake. I had planned on making the trek last summer, but my health rendered this impossible. Since then, I have prayed for strength and healing. Praise God for allowing me to move forward.

The mere thought of visiting the cradle of civilization, which is nestled along the banks of the Nile River, invokes a myriad of emotions. My expectations are high as I anticipate viewing one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the majestic Great Pyramids of Giza or as I prepare to marvel at the grandeur of Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple at Deir el Bahri, which is near the Valley of the Kings. The Temples of Ramses II and his queen Nefertiti at Abu Simbel in Nubia have a special allure for me. These two massive rock temples are among the most magnificent monuments in the world. These are just a few examples of the many treasures that will soon be revealed.

At many of our stops, I seek to pour libations to pay homage to our ancient ancestors. Their contributions to humankind in the fields of mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, religion and the arts have long been ignored. They leave behind a legacy of greatness. So, this journey, in part, is undertaken to correct the blatant attempt by many so-called scholars to mis-educate me.

Many individuals that have traveled to Kemet describe the visit as a life altering experience. For people of African descent this is especially true. We must understand that, for the most part, education for African American for more than 400 years has been designed to dehumanize and disconnect us from our rich African culture and heritage. Therefore, it is important that we begin a process of re-education. This is critical to our liberation and achievement. It is never too late to learn and grow intellectually.

I invite all who follow this blog to ponder the images, thoughts and reflections posted by members of this study aboard experience. Not only will it be an unparalleled learning experience for each of the participants, but readers of this blog have an opportunity to share in this journey. I hope that this virtual experience will encourage many of you to plan a similar visit to Kemet.

Lastly, I look forward to meeting and sharing this experience with the others members of this study aboard journey.

Peace and Blessings,


Clarence Jones, CPA