A few Egypt Pictures and People

Hi Everyone,

Thanks again for following us!! We are enjoying this experience and taking lots of pictures to bring them back to you. We are meeting new people, and getting closer with other colleges. I can truly say that most if not everyone, feels right at home when we are here. We see COUSINS, BROTHERS, SISTERS, UNCLES, AUNTS, everyday. Today (Aug 9th) we went to a village in Aswan and spent time with the children (little cousins) and adults (family). Aswan has been 1 of the best highlights so far, we honestly look just like the people who live here.

Until nextime

Hotep

Access and Ease

Rinsing your toothbrush before you put it up-- you never know how much of a habit this is until you are FORBIDDEN to do it!

While in Egypt, I have learned to not take things for granted. We have so much in the United States and we don’t even think about the ease at which it comes. Like my first sentence says, we alludes, we cannot drink the water. Everyday we have to brush our teeth with bottled water. There have been some close calls, but everyday we have to remind ourselves to not drink the water or to stay away from certain foods.

Another thing that I have learned to appreciate is internet. In the states, basically everywhere I go, I have access to wi-fi. Here, that was not the case—at least not for the first few days. I was almost embarrassed by how much I longed to “tweet” or get on Facebook. I felt so disconnected! Along with being away from the World Wide Web, I was and still am, without a cell phone. Besides the few $0.50 texts that I send, I cannot talk to any of my loved ones. I know this entry sounds like I’m a spoiled kid, but I’m just keeping it real! Lol.

But although I have been without some amenities that I have at home, I have had the chance to meet some very cool people. Those that I already knew, I have been able to see a different side of. I am very excited to start out the new school year with these people!!! Love y’all!

Attempt to Limit Me.-I AM AFRICAN. I WILL RESIST.

Temple visits today!!!! Today we had a 2:15 wake up call due to the fact that we had to make a 4 hour drive down to Abu Simbel which is close to Sudan. We also visited the Nubian Museum. It is official, I am sick. I have a little cold, but I refuse to miss anything. As Dr. Carr says, “You can’t come this far, and not take the last two steps.” I will take these last two steps, even if I have to crawl them.

Abu Simbel: the Temple of Ramses II is dedicated to ReHurakhte, Amon, & Ramses II himself. He built it as a warning to tribes further south, of his absolute power and a glorification of himself and his great deeds. He chose the location with such precision so that twice a year the first rays of the sun rising illuminated the Holy of Holies located in the temple. The days which this occurred were February 22 (his birthday) and Oct 22. After the temple was moved due to the building of the High Dam, the days are now February 21 and October 22. The two most notable features of the temple are the world's firs peace treaty which Ramses made with the Hittites located close to the bottom left hand corner of the front of the temple and the very first grafitti located on one of the massive statue's knee also in the front of the temple.

The temple of Nefertarti is located next to Abu Simbel. It was built for Ramses II’s first and favorite wife, Nefertari. The temple is dedicated to Hathor and is smaller than the great temple Ramses built for himself. Ramases' temple was extravagant and fueled the argument of the height of his arrogance. In my opinion, I do not think it was arrogance. His conceitedness was well deserved. He ruled for 67 years and was an essential and vital part of the development of ancient Egypt.

The worst part of the day was the fact that we were not allowed to take pictures and talking was also prohibited, i.e. tour guides. There was an incident where Dr. Carr was explaining some glyphs to us and someone came in, reprimanded him with a firm “No talking” and made an attempt to kick him out of the area. Furthermore, there are unnecessary areas designated for no pictures in the temples and there are people with no authority to enforce it. There are many times I have found myself restraining my thoughts from being spoken in not so many words to let them know that they have no right to impose limitations on how I choose to document the work of my ancestors. Then have even less of a right to take them from me if I do, such as they did to one of my peers. I need them to start showing respect and stop using tourism as a means for their own economic enhancement.

The environment of the Nubian Museum was less strict than that of the temples. They gave us full access to take pictures and even allowed us to touch some of the pieces. The museum highlighted Nubian culture and civilization in comparison to that of the Egyptian. In my opinion, there should be more museums like the Nubian Museum.

Endurance

For the past 3 days, we have been in Aswan, Egypt. The difference between here and Cairo are night and day. Although we did not really get a chance to roam the streets of Cairo, there is a difference that one can sense in the people. We had all been told that Aswan was much more laid back and had a “southern feel”. After being here for 3 days, and called “cousin” by countless Nubians, I have come to love this place.

The weather here has been unbelievable. I have NEVER been anywhere that had a low temperature of 91 and a high of 113. Back in the US, we have nothing to complain about! Lol. I have never been so hot in my life. But through it all, I have to remember that we are here for a great reason, but I know that I wouldn’t miss this for anything.

Our hotel, The Movenpick, located on Elephantine Island is beautiful and has a very nice view of the town. One of my favorite memories here was going to the market. We did not know where exactly it was, but once we stumbled up it, we entered an entirely new world. One block off of the main street, we were immersed into Nubian life. Bargaining with vendors and walking among the people, we all agreed that this place was great! It is amazing to see how many people are out late at night. It seems like the city never sleeps.

Yesterday we visited Philae Island and the Temple of Isis. After a short boat ride, we came around a small bend and were all awe-struck by the immensity of the temple and the small complex surrounding it. Walking between the columns, and noticing that EVERY column had a different design, attested to the creativity and skill of the Egyptians. At every site, I am amazed by the craftsmanship and longevity of the monuments. The conviction in the beliefs that Egyptians possessed definitely serves as an inspiration and aspiration for me.

Today, we drove out to Abu Simbil. It was amazing to see the temples of Ramses II and Nefertari hidden in the mountains. I applaud those who helped move the temples and the incredible care that was taken in doing so. The buildings are massive and the walls are very heavily adorned. It seems that nothing has really been changed after all of these years. We were not allowed to take any pictures inside, which was a huge disappointment. I wish that I could share with you the brilliance of the walls and the stories that they told. Every day here, the sites that I see amaze me. This has truly been an amazing trip thus far and I think that everyone should visit here at least once in their lives to witness the great history of our people.

The Spirit of Resistance

There were rules set before we could enter the temple. No photos inside, no tour guides allowed to talk inside either. As we walked through Abu Simbel, the beauty and grace of the structure was riveting. We were ready and eager to learn. As Dr. Carr was describing the scene to us, one of the guards stopped him, and pulled him to the side letting him know that he couldn't explain anything to us. He quickly obliged the guard, and after the guard walked away, he resumed his explanation. This was a common occurrence throughout the temple. What is the point of looking at pretty pictures if you don't know what they mean? It takes away from the whole experience. Eventually, I wondered off and ended up near Dr. Beatty. He was describing a magnificent scene in a hushed voice, and again, he too was silenced. Although they were silenced, it did not stop them from trying to teach us. They are the true definitions of teachers.

As I continued wandering, I became upset. I couldn't understand why we couldn't learn, why we couldn't photograph our history. My friend asked me was I ok, and I told her what happened. I ended up calming down, and I began to realize that getting mad wouldn't solve anything, and that I should appreciate the few moments that I actually had to hear their words.

An Intellectual Meeting of the Minds

I started writing this blog at 5:51 am on the bus headed to Abu Simbel. I took a brief nap, and now I’m up reflecting on the trip thus far. I think back to the classes and the individual discussions I've had. I'm surrounded by eloquent, passionate speakers who share similar feelings that I have, and when they speak it riles up emotions from deep inside. The first night we were here, we had to separate into groups, and share what we wanted to gain from this trip. "A sense of self", "A better understanding of the history we were stripped of", " The chance to experience life outside of the US, and the chance to immerse myself deep into another culture", were just a few of the answers. As everyone stated his or her reasons, I was filled with a sense of camaraderie, and knew that this trip would be life changing. As our discussion went on, people shared that they were learning how to speak Arabic, or learning how to read Hieroglyphics, and countless others were working on research projects. The brainpower in our group is tremendous. I'm taking in all that I can because it is a blessing to be here. Never in a million years did I ever think that I would be able to climb into a pyramid, or see the treasures of King Tut. I've been on a boat floating down the Nile, and have learned a lot about myself during this trip. Dr. Carr or Dr. Beatty quickly answer any questions that are asked, and if they don't know the answer, they find out for us.

We are taking on the jobs of scribes, writing down our experiences, snapping pictures, blogging to share our journey through our past with those who are unable to be here with us physically, but are here in spirit. This trip has taught me that one shouldn't take things at face value, and if you look closely there is normally a deeper meaning to everything, and this is the charge of intellectual integrity. Others may come here and look at the Hieroglyphics, and think: oh what pretty pictures, and not know what those pretty pictures mean. People with our group can decipher those pretty pictures, and give you a complete break down of their meaning.

Please excuse my random ramblings, there are so many thoughts in my head, and I'm trying to get them all out before I forget.

Beauty is in the Small Stuff

Ok. It is only day 5 and I think I am a little sickish. It is ok though because no matter what I have to keep moving. I did not come all this way to be held back by a few sniffles and a little tickle in my throat.

Today we are visiting the unfinished obelisk, the Aswan High Dam, and the Temple of Auset ( (Isis). The obelisk represents the penis of Osiris, the husband of Auset, who was tricked to his death by his brother Set who wanted his throne. Set tore Osiris’s body into multiple pieces and scattered it around Egypt. When Auset discovered what Set had done, she journeyed around with her sister to find the pieces of his body & found all but one. The unfinished obelisk was supposed to be a monument that was supposed to last for eternity in honor of Auset. It is unfinished due to the fact that while building it a crack developed in the middle of it. The fact that the Egyptians left this great monument unfinished due to this little imperfection proves their great desire and need for perfection. Their constant need to better themselves is proven by this unfinished monument because due to the crack in the structure they felt that it was not good enough to leave as one of their everlasting marks in this world. I feel that the Egyptians strive to be better than the best is something we can all take heed to and attempt to duplicate into our daily lives.

After obelisk climbing, we visited the Aswan High Dam, which was built to help control the yearly flooding of the Nile. In my opinion, there is nothing more beautiful than the vast, blue, serene movement of the Nile.

My favorite part of the day was the temple of Auset. Auset, a very prominent figure in Egyptian history, meaning the wife, was incredible to say the least. The beauty of each inch of the temple is unique. For example, when I observed the columns no one was like another. Every single one had its own different design and every single piece of the temple told a piece of Auset’s story. The carvings are breathtaking and they really make a person appreciate the beauty behind art and architecture. In fact, seeing this and the previous Egyptian pieces makes me want to study more Egyptian art history. It makes you see the beauty in all the small things.

The Jewel Within

The flight had been long and tiresome. I spent the majority of the 9 hours resting in preparation for what was to come. Only a moment before landing, I had awaken to behold a sight so beautiful, so grand. As I peered out of the small window of the airplane all I could see where the desert sands. I had arrived in Cairo, the Land of the Pharaohs, the land of my ancestors. It was difficult to contain my excitement. We settled into our hotel, across from the Pyramids of Giza. Yes! There were Pyramids in my front yard!!

The following day we journeyed south of Cairo to Memphis, "Place of the ka of Ptah", also known as Mennefer. Memphis was the early capital of the first nome of Lower Kemet. From this point, we visited the Sakkara step pyramids. The first standing stone structure designed by Imhotep, and the Step Pyramid of Djoser, were a sight to behold. We then made our way to one of the Seven Wonders of the the Ancient World, the Khufu, Khafre, and Men-ka-ra pyramids. They were indeed ruins, but still quite beautiful. To imagine that the surface of these structures where once had a smooth and shiny limestone casing like glass is beyond belief. As I climbed the Great Pyramid, I couldn't help but marvel at the intellect, artistic vision, spirit, and drive of our people. I was elated to have the opportunity to enter the Second Pyramid. The thought of being able to enter such an extraordinary and breathtaking monument never entered my mind before now. Next stop: the Sphinx!! There are no words to describe this statue as momentous as its beauty. To gaze upon its face, is to affirm that the ancient Egyptians where indeed black!


We had seen what many only see in books and on television in one day. I need time to process and reflect on it all. It was a great way to end a long day of exploration.

On our third day, we visited the Citadel of Sala El-Din, the mosque which served as the burial site for Muhammad Ali. Afterward, we made our way to the Egyptian Museum. Before entering Dr. Carr led us libations and we were able to pay homage to our ancestors, whose belongs we were about to view. I thought about my family at home, and all of those who had gone home to meet their Creator. I wished they had an opportunity to experience what I was, walk through the sands of time, and feel their spirit move from the sheer glory of our people, kings and queens, our ancestors, and realize the magnificent of themselves and aspire to greatness. The museum held only what could be considered a fingernail of our history, much of it was still lost within the sands, scattered around the world, and destroyed long ago. still it was too much to take in in one day. Perhaps the best part of the museum was the Royal Mummies Hall!! I looked directly in the face of my ancestors. Amazing!!! Never before had i felt such a powerful sense of purpose, and empowerment. I come from a long line of kings and queens, pharaohs, a "great house"!!! Awesome is my heritage.

We arrived in Aswan. Although I was exhausted from the intense sun and heat (which was well into the 100's), suffered from a minor stomach sickness (which put a damper on my adventurous spirit with food!) and had only been here for a short time, it has been an experience like no other. As I laid in my bed, I imagined what Kemet was like in ancient times, the smells, the sounds, the life. I could not wait until the next day.

August 7th, was a rather short day in comparison. We saw the High Dam in Aswan, the Unfinished Tenkenu (Oblisk). It was unfinished due to its acquired natural fault, the crack running partially down the middle of its structure. There are 29 know ancient Egyptian oblisks that survived. Of course the Washington Monument could never stand against the eminence of these structures. Our ancestors where indeed "in the front" of such makings. We sailed to the Island of Pilak to visit the Temple of Isis or Auset. It was absolutely gorgeous!! Despite graffiti from numerous invaders who only wanted to desecrate and claim what did not rightful belong to them, After viewing the parameter of this ancient ruin, I was able to steal away to have but a brief moment to myself. At this moment time seem to pause. As I looked around the temple and reflected on the amazement of it all, I felt that there was nothing on this earth, nothing in my lifetime that I could not accomplish. I was promised to greatness from birth, it was in my blood, and I longed to fulfill that destiny, to continue what had already begun.

The day ends here, but the journey is far from over.

Instructions of The Good Society

Hotep people following around the world,
The Instructions of PtahHotep
PtahHotep left behind 37 maxims that he learned from his long life. PtahHotep literally means "peace of the Creator or God". For him to leave behind a list of things that he's learned to lead a peaceful and long life takes immediate precedence. There is a quote that immediately hits me and here are my reflections on it.
If you are a man who leads,
Whose authority reaches wide,
You should do outstanding things,
Remember the day comes after.
No strife will occur in the midst of honors,
But where the crocodile enters hatred arises.
Well there was one thought that kept coming into my mind throughout the whole piece and it was on the topic of the continuity of what Dr. Carr introduces as modalities of the African Diaspora.
In Black Marxism: The Making of the Black Radical Tradition Cedric Robinson writes that there is a raw metaphysical cultural unity of modern Black people. One of the major themes of our study is re-claiming the past starting with Classical African civilizations and moving forward. With those two thoughts in mind, I was thinking about our conflict to liberate ourselves from the powers that be. It entered my mind what if our leaders were aware of our own traditions to claim inner Africa as the real origin of what really informs their leadership.
PtahHotep is the wise, learned pacifist. He teaches that how to be silent in the face of conflict, he says that we need not be greedy and be content with God has in store for us. What if somebody taught Dr. King about PtahHotep at Morehouse College? What if he claimed an African tradition that was 4000 years old instead of saying he liked the ideas of Ghandi? It would be profound if Black leadership could be made aware of what Black people have been doing since the beginning of what we know as "time". It's on us to spread and apply what we learn.
These are the things that I don't have the wisdom to articulate. I appreciate what PtahHotep has to say and I wish to add to it.
Wake up Black people,







James Robinson
Howard University Student Association
Director of Student Advocacy for 2010 - 2011
(786)302.5496
jamesrobinson1010@hotmail.com
@kurtleelove

A Feeling of Connection

We have been here now for several days. I came into this experience somewhat mindful of the importance of going to Egypt (Kemet). However, I never realized that I would actually feel a strong connection to my ancestors. As we first landed off the airplane into Cairo, Egypt, I felt a sense of peace and purpose. In Cairo, I experienced many great things from seeing the beautiful pyramids of Giza, enjoying Egyptian food, being hustled by street vendors, going to the great Cairo Museum, the Muhammad Ali Mosque, and last but not least riding a camel for the first time! I had always seen pyramids in many books and on television, but to experience them first hand is something I will never forget. As I looked at the details of each pyramid I was amazed. We all had the opportunity to go into one of the pyramids. Even though the way down into the pyramids was hard, it was truly worth the experience. After the long climb down into the pyramid, looking up and seeing the hieroglyphics on the walls with 'brown' people was breathtaking. The pyramids made me think of my ancestors, and their struggles and successes to get my generation to where we are today. I thought about their process of being taken away from their homes where they were kings and queens. I was really touched. Even though I knew I was a descendant of kings and queens, it was really confirmed being in the midst of the tombs of former pharaohs. During the trip, Dr. Carr led us in a libation at the Cairo museum. We were able to pay homage to our ancestors. I truly felt again a sense of peace and purpose. It felt as if being in the land of my ancestors, made me stronger and more empowered to be a change agent in world. I wondered if they ever thought it would be possible for their future generations to return to the lands they were taken from without choice. My greatest moment thus far from this trip has been being able to feel a connection to my ancestors. For without them and my most recent immediate family I would be nothing. I am truly thankful to be experiencing a life-changing feeling of connection to my strong, determined, and beautiful ancestors.

Black Diamonds and Pearls

So far my favorite part of the trip has been the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. This museum houses some of the treasures of the Egyptian civilization and culture. We were in this museum for hours, and the collection was so massive we didn’t have time to see everything. I wish that we were allowed to take pictures in the museum, because the statues, paintings, jewelry, mummies, and anything you could think of were there in its entire splendor.

I entitled this blog “Black Diamonds and Pearls” because the whole time in the museum the Nas song “If I Ruled the World” was playing on repeat in my head. In “If I Ruled the World” Nas says “opening their eyes to the lies that history has told foul.” I wish that every African American could come to Cairo to see that the Kings and Queens were Black people, and not “Caucazoid North Africans.” It would give them a greater knowledge of their history and where we actually came from. The title of the song is also significant because there is a time where our people actually ruled the world. People came to Egypt to learn from the great scribes, and took the Egyptians style of building. Egyptian kings and queens, in my opinion, black diamonds and pearls, ruled for thousands of years, and under their leadership created monumental buildings and unstoppable empires.

As we ventured through the museum, Gavette and I found ourselves having different discussions. There were many statues of Kings and Queens, husbands and wives together. This lead to us compare the family structure of today verses the family structure in Ancient Egypt. We discussed how the single parent family rate of African Americans is so high now and how back then, the family dynamic was much different. Although the single parent family rate is high, there are still traditions that remain the same. We were talking about how the family structure in Ancient Egypt is matrilineal, and how our families are too. There were numerous other similarities as well. I find myself flabbergasted at times when I think of how long these traditions and cultures have stood the test of time. As we continued throughout the museum, I ended up standing in front of a statue they believed to be Nefertiti. As I stood in front of the statue, I called my friend over so that she could see how tremendously similar our body shapes were. It had me amazed, and this lead to a discussion about the “Power of the Sway.” The “Power of the Sway” is how we as women present ourselves. It’s our demeanor, our scent, our essence and beauty. It is what attracts men to us. We as women are powerful, and I think that from time to time we forget that. Being in the museum reminded me that. We alone have the ability to birth nations, and are protectors, nurtures, and extremely strong. The perfect example of this is Isis. She was told that her husband was murdered by his brother, and she gathered up her sister to help her find the pieces. For centuries, black women have done what they needed to do for the ones they love, and have always been there to protect them.

As our tour of the museum ended, I was on the bus and reflected on the Libation we had before we entered into the museum. As we poured water for the people in the past, present, and future generations, I looked around at the people from the 7 different schools, together as one, brothers and sisters, black diamonds and pearls.

“You Don’t Build a Pyramid With Out Dreaming”

“You don’t go around the world and not take the last two steps.” –Dr Carr. This quote resonated throughout my head the entire first day we actually ventured out and studied. Our day started out at 7:45, so that we could beat the heat. Our journey took us to Memphis where we visited the Mit Rahina museum. Here we saw numerous statues of Ramses II. My favorite statue and the most awe-inspiring one was kept inside for display. We had to walk up the stairs just to take in the full view of the statue. This statue is 100 tons, and 14 meters high, made out of a limestone block. The details on this statue were immaculate. Every outline, all of his facial features, even intricate details woven inside of the statue were simply amazing. It had me speechless. To think that this great piece of art was crafted with no technology and simple hand tools was astonishing.

After we left, we headed to Sakkara, where the step pyramids, and the first stone tomb are located. We had the opportunity to walk through the tombs, and had our first taste of dealing with a “crocodile alley” which is a place filled with people trying to sell us souvenirs. The weather started to turn toasty quickly. I was ready to leave, but I didn’t want to miss anything, so I stuck it out, and I am glad that I did because everything was worth seeing. To get into the tombs, we had to crouch down, and I was glad that I wasn’t claustrophobic. Everything around us was filled with such rich history and culture.

Our journey also took us to Giza where we had the chance to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramid, aka the Pyramid of Khufu Khafre. They are working on restoring it, so we didn’t get to walk through his pyramid. We walked through the Cheops boat museum, which houses the 140-foot boat of Pharaoh Khufu, which is also the oldest surviving ship in the world. Near the pyramids is where a lot of peddlers wait, and bombarded us with trinkets and souvenirs. After a while it got annoying because it was hot, and I hate being harassed. We had to rush after we left the second Pyramid so that we could make it to the Sphinx before it closed. We had to rapidly take a group picture in front of the Pyramids, and quickly sped to the Sphinx. We barely made it, but we got to see it and learn its history. We boarded the bus to head back to the hotel, and then it was dinner time. We were all drained, but we learned a plethora of information, and I think that we all felt as if everything was so surreal. After dinner we had to attend class. I wanted to skip it, but again, Dr. Carr’s words resounded through my head. “You don’t go……” In class we learned about the other places we were going to visit, and about honorific transposition. Dr. Carr and Dr. Beatty didn’t want to keep us since our day was long, and for those of us who wanted to stay, Dr. Beatty was offering a class on uniliterals, which includes the main hieroglyphics, and their transliterations. We even went over the pronunciations, and how to draw the characters. I was glad that I stayed, because this was an important lesson. We stayed for about an hour, and afterwards I raced back to my room to reflect on the wonderful day we had, and then I was off to sleep.

Smh... (continues)

I was unable to add this in the comments from my previous blog, "Smh" because it was too large, so I'm setting it as a new post.

You know... It was hard for me to write that blog because I AM a Christian. I was afraid that people would look at it as though I was speaking down on Christianity. At the same time, I feel as though it is my obligation to give credit where credit is due. It's respect.

Angi, you know how deep our discussion was last year. When we witnessed all of the things we saw in Egypt, some people felt lost. We clearly saw the similarities between modern religions and the religion of Ancient Kmt which came first. We were truly LOST. "Well, what do I do now? I don't want to leave what I have been following all of my life? I can't leave my religion!"

That's the thing...you don't have to and I think that that's something people who learn about Ancient Kmt should know. I believe that this issue is a major problem in spreading the truth.

You can still believe in who or what you want to believe in. This is about respect; respect for others and their beliefs. We discussed in class that the people of Ancient Kmt met people from all over the world with beliefs in different religions. They didn't deny them or look down on them. They RESPECTED their religions, acknowledged them, and KEPT their own religion. That's why it has been able to last, consistently, throughout the many dynasties.

When we can understand that we all are different and have different beliefs, we'll eliminate many problems of the World. We'll begin to tell the truth. We'll begin to give credit to those who have set a foundation for us. There is nothing wrong in giving credit. That doesn't mean you have betrayed or left what you originally believe.

Simply put...do what works for you, but show respect.

Now, the fear of betraying/leaving our current beliefs is NOT the only reason why the truth continuously fails to be HEARD (not told). A second reason is due to the fact that people simply don't know. There are people that try to get the word out, but there are other people with more outlets that prevent the story from being told. Smh...

This leads to the third reason. Some people know the truth, but refuse to tell it because it wasn't their people... I'll stop at that

Return of the Whirlwind

Yesterday we had our first full class lecture day, where we did not visit any new sites but instead listened to Dr. Carr and Dr. Beatty's presentations on the places where we have gone and the places we are heading. An interesting discussion ensued in which we discussed the purpose and methods of scholarship on and by African people. We discussed the purpose of being scribes for our people and the times in which we live and having this discussion in the modern day Nubia made my experience at Howard all the more important in terms of academic genealogy. As we discussed aspects of the writings of Ptah-Hotep and the Memphite Creation Narrative I began to wonder what was the importance of having all these brilliant African minds figuratively locked in a room discussing our peoples history in Africa and how does this relate to Howard University?

At the end of the discussion one of the ladies who came with us mentioned a quote by Marcus Garvey in which he said "Look for me in the whirlwind" in which he meant that future generations would pick up where he had left off, and almost on Que. we witnessed a very mysterious whirlwind pick up around the hotel! Our guide, Walid told me that this was very unexpected and out of season but as silly as it may sound to some I had a feeling that this was a sign from Garvey and our other African ancestors that we were doing a powerful thing and more importantly that we were doing something right. Today we went to the Temple of Auset (aka Isis) on Phile Island. This place was the last hold our for the ancient Kemetic spiritual system and is a simply awe-inspiring place. The columns ranged in style, the outer and inner sanctums hummed with a spirit of a time long gone but still in motion.

As we made our pilgrimage into what some would turn the Holy of Holies in the temple I could only think about the ancient initiates who once walked the same halls. Even though this place was built during the Greek reign it still buzzed of Africa, our home. On an even more personal level our attention was constantly drawn to the graffiti left by Arab, Greek, French and other invaders from centuries past. Unexpectedly I found a name etched in one of the satellite buildings: "J. Morgan". Although odds are the person who wrote that was not named James or even of African descent I still felt that I was being sent a message by the Creator that I should recognize how I as a student am a part of a bigger tapestry and that the work that we do today can have a sweeping impact on those who come after me. Nobody knew that we would be walking through the ruins of their Temple when it was in operation, just like we don't know who could be walking through the ruins of our great institution thousands of years from now. The one thing that we do know is that the only thing that matters is that we do our best at our craft. What is our craft? Scholarship! When it is all said and done, we are all going to the same place, which is the grave however works can last an eternity so it is my solemn pledge to future generations, those of whom that I may never meet that I will dedicate my life to truth and justice and whenever falsehood and social ill should rear their ugly heads they will be able to look for me, better yet look for us in the whirlwind.

The Eloquence of the Scribes

Today was our first full day of class in Aswan. Aswan in comparison to Cairo is a lot less fast paced and calmer. The environment gives us a chance to relax and take it all in. Today in class we discussed memory, translation, and how to become scribes.

Memory is the link between the past and the present, between space and time, and it is the base of our dreams. Without a reconnection with African memory, there is no wholeness. This connectedness is essential to linking African intellectual work and memory because it is through this preservation of memory that traditions are spread from generation to generation, increasing the decrease in the beliefs of the forced European based society present day generations are raised in. According to Ngugi wa Thiong’o, in his book, Something Torn and New: An African Renaissance, “Language is a communication system and carrier of culture by virtue of being simultaneously the means and carrier of memory…To starve or kill a language is to starve and kill a people’s memory bank.” This is how the Europeans imposed their ideologies on African people-they tried to erase every strength of the African, socially, mentally, physically and replace it with that of their own. “Translation is the language of languages, a language through which all languages can speak to one another.” It is through the translation of works directly written in African languages that a shared modernized heritage will emerge.

For one of the first times since we started this journey, I think everyone was has having their own individual epiphany and coming to their own understanding of exactly what we came here for: to not only learn our history that the Europeans have tried to erase but to know it, embrace it, and share it. We must become scribes taking back the knowledge-the truth they tried to make us forget, and share it in order to preserve and affirm our ways of knowing. Protecting their memory and maintaining their ways of knowing is a prime example of how our ancestors preserve and affirm their way of life. They did this by learning to survive and passing along this memory as we must do for the next generation. I think our ancestors agreed wholeheartedly because with this discussion we created an undeniable energy that definitely affected them in some kind of way. This was seen by the unexpected sand storm that occurred during class. I believe that this was due to the connectedness we established in the room to not only each other but also to our ancestors.

At the end of the day after dinner, we continued embracing this connectedness by coordinating a trip to the market in which the majority of us participated. The merchants were not nearly as annoying and did not harass us as much as those who followed us around when we visited the pyramids. We were still referred to as “cousin” though and this time were not asked if we had husbands but rather to give kisses. A few of them thought I was Nubian or Egyptian surprisingly. However, on a good note, my friends and I mastered the art of bargaining & hustled the hustlers. I cannot wait to show everyone what I got!

AT LAST....Egypt!!!!

This trip has been a dream come true for me. Since I was in the second grade, I have been fascinated with Egypt and have wanted to visit. When I first came to Howard, I was so excited to hear that an Egypt study abroad trip existed. Now, in the summer before my junior year, I am writing a blog entry in a beautiful hotel on Elephantine Island in Aswan, Egypt. Words cannot describe the feeling of knowing that I have finally done it. I have made it to Kemet.

Since the time we arrived in Cairo on Tuesday, we have been running. The first full day here, we visited the iconic Pyramids of Giza. Their peaceful majesty in the midst of a chaotic city is remarkable. From the time we saw them in the horizon on our way from the airport, we all knew that we had arrived. Seeing them from a distance is one thing. Walking on them, and touching the same stones that Egyptians, our people, shaped and assembled over 4500 years ago is a whole other. Everywhere I go, I am sure to touch as much as I can. Just to be in the EXACT same places as such great people is a wonderful feeling. Not only did we get to visit the pyramids, but we were also able to enter into the Second Pyramid, the pyramid of Khafre. As Dr. Carr says, “You don’t go half way around the world and not take the last two steps.” I was never scared, but just extremely excited, as some of my classmates can probably attest to.

Along with the Pyramids of Giza, we also visited the Step Pyramid in Saqqara and we also entered the pyramid of Titi there. Going inside two pyramids in one day was so exciting. I have so many great pictures and memories from that day. One of the best, and iconic pictures of my trip is the Sphinx profile picture. I will definitely admire this picture forever and it will always remind me…I WAS IN EGYPT!!!!!

I am so excited to see the rest of the sights during this trip. Egypt holds so many great treasures. I knew that prior to coming here, but you can’t even imagine the amount of artifacts, monuments, and sculptures that exist from Ancient Egypt. The Egyptians were truly an AMAZING people.

Pictures tell the best Stories....

Look at each photo for atleast 60 seconds....

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If followed the instructions, how did it feel? Also, Thank you for being here with us, on this Journey. It felt like you all were here with us.

At the Sphinx

Smh...

It's nearly 2:00 p.m. and I've already had many "a-ha" moments. Engaging in the discussions in class, I find myself in confusion. I'm not confused at the information provided in the lectures and discussions. I'm confused at how people can overlook or even better, IGNORE, the obvious. How can you seek the truth, find it, and then, pretend it doesn't exist?

We discussed that there are two orders of religion. The first order is what you experience on a personal level. It incorporates your culture or ways of living. The second order is a process which includes being born in one religion, learning another, taking specific elements of the other religion to apply to your own, then rejecting that other religion as if it never existed or is completely wrong.

In analyzing the different components of various religions, we see a lot similarities of the beliefs in Ancient Kmt (Egypt, Kemet). Many of the rituals, symbols, and stories told in modern religions are copied from that of Ancient Kmt. People have taken particular parts of the Kemetic religion and made it their own. When we visit the temples and tombs, we clearly see stories and rituals that are used in our own religions.

Dr. Beatty explained that there are different levels in being a Priest in Ancient Kmt. In order to complete these levels, people of Ancient Kmt had to go through various stages and processes. Based on what level a Priest accomplished, he was allowed to enter specific areas of a temple. One needed to be pure to enter the most divine places of the temple.

This same requirement is seen in the Bible. After Moses led the Jews out of Egypt, they later build a temple. Aaron was the only High Priest that could enter particular area in the temple, Holy of Holies, that connects with the divine, God. It is also described in the Bible that if a Priest entered the Holy of Holies in the temple and was not pure, they would die. As a result, a rope would be tied to the foot of the Priest, so if he were to die, he could be dragged out.

This is one of many similarities, yet, there are no acknowledgements of Ancient Kmt. These Kemetic beliefs were adopted. There is an injustice because the Egyptians accepted others' religions and allowed people to learn their religion. In return, others changed their religion, influenced others, and did not give credit to the Egyptians.

The second order of religion is something we commonly see. Think about the movie "Avatar." It shows how to overcome a nation. You learn the ways of life of the people, modify it to make it your own, then take over.

Lastly, for now, we discussed something so shocking in class. We reflected on all of the places we've visited, thus far, and there is no question that the Ancient Egyptians who inhabited Kmt, build the pyramids, temples, created language, math and science, and served as Pharoah were all BLACK. That is without a doubt, but when Zahi Hawass came up with a virtual image of King Tutankhamun, he lacked African features. He actually described the Egyptians as "Caucasoid North Africans." I have one question..."What the hell is a Caucasoid North African?" That's almost as bad as an article I read that described a abductor as a "dark-skinned white man." Smh...

I'm glad I've returned to Kmt for a second time because I'm gaining a better understanding, one that transcends my previous experience. The process of sharing these truths is very important. No one is going to tell these stories, but the true descendants of Ancient Egyptians...US, people of African descent.

Full lecture day

I’m currently sitting in a lecture from Dr. Mario Beatty & Dr. Greg Carr. I can’t begin to describe the vast transformative effect of African scholars on the immediate conceptualizations of Ancient Kemetic civilizations. Re-marrying the idea of Egyptian cosmology and archetypes to the continent of Africa is imperative to re-claiming, re-enforcing & revealing the cultural unity of the African diaspora.

This trip has meant more than a vacation in a different place. My colleagues and intellectual superiors have laid and are laying a path of scholastic excellence that can no longer be denied. Most people would write what we do off as non-seqitur banter that serves no purpose. Progress has, and is, being made. The first African-American person to receive a terminal degree in Egyptology, Andreas Woods, is a student of Dr. Beatty.

I am sitting in the room of the direct intellectual progeny of great African scholars such as Jacob Carruthers, Cheik Anta Diop, Ivan Van Sertima, Asa Hillard. These names are gaining recognition outside of our spaces. Their ideas are transforming how we look and what we know about the definition of "Black people". I always say that there needs to be more scholarship on how Black people see themselves when they are don’t use the misinformed paradigms of “race”. I just saw a title Égyptien ancien et Yoruba moderne : régularité phonétique which translates as Ancient Egyptian and Modern Yoruba : Phonetic Regularity. You can’t beat that!

James Robinson

Howard University Student Association

Director of Student Advocacy for 2010 - 2011

(786)302.5496

jamesrobinson1010@hotmail.com

@kurtleelove