African Origins and Identity

By Prof. Mathole Motshekga Executive Director: Kara Heritage Institute

Self knowledge shall set you free Paper delivered at the Kara Roundtable, Richards Bay, KwaZulu Natal Date: 18 19 April 2008 Place: Richards Bay

Kara Heritage Institute No. 70 Ga-Motlhe Building Cnr Potgieter & Church Streets Pretoria 0001 Tel: (012) 328 5028 Fax: (012) 328 5037 E-mail: admin@kara.co.za Website: www.kara.co.za P.O. Box 2442 Pretoria 0001

Table of Contents 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. INTRODUCTION THE NAVEL OF THE EARTH THE PEOPLE OF THE SUN THE CRADLE OF HUMANITY AFRICAN IDENTITY AND VALUE SYSTEM CONCLUSION

1.

INTRODUCTUION

The imported Holy Scriptures and thousands of books and research reports have tried to account for the origins and identity of indegeneous African peoples without success. This fruitless efforts led to the falsification of African history and fragmentation of African people into meaningless categories such as Kushites, Hamites, Afro-Asiatic, Negroes and Nilo-Hamitic. African languages are similarly categorised in order to excise Africans from the main human stream. In this paper we expound on the Origins of African people from the Navel (Aptu/Atpu) of the earth in Punt/Khantu (in the area of the Great Lakes). This is also the cradleland of all humanity. It is hoped that this exposition will kindle interest in fresh research and rewriting of African history. 2. THE NAVEL OF THE EARTH

Lake Nolubaale (Victoria)

= Hara (Horus)

Apta/ Aptu

Equator

Atpu the Navel of the Earth = Sethe (Set)

The land around the Navel (Apta/Aptu) of the earth is called: Khantu/Punt Tanut/Tantu (i.e. the world of the vital force) Tamara/kumara (the land of moon or queen of heaven and earth)

The Universal Mother (Mara) came out of the Navel (Apta/Aptu) of the earth. The source of the Nile is called Kumara or Tamera. There are Islands in Lake Victoria (Nolubaale i.e. place of the ancient ones) called Mara Islands. Mara gave birth to Kara (i.e. the Divine Light)

= In Lake Victoria (Nolubale) there is an Island called Ukara (i.e. Land of the Divine Light). On the Island of Ukara there is a stone which rotates when touched by people with special powers This stone is called Dombo la Kusane the rock of the First born child of Mara or Prince of Light. Next to this rotating rock is a flat stone with a human footprint on it. The footprint is said to have been made by the first human ancestor/ or creator god when the rocks were still soft.

Thus a footprint or barefoot is still a sign of holiness Bakara = there is still a community on Lake Ukara called Bakare There is an Island in Lake Victoria (Nolubaale) called kalangaland. Kalangaland means the Land of the Kalanga people (i.e. people or children of the sun). 3. THE PEOPLE OF THE SUN

The name Kalanga consists of Ka meaning land and, Langa meaning the Sun. The name Langa is a variant of: Ranga Kara (Krios) Gara (Grail) Hara (Horus) Laka Thus lake Ukara is also known as: Uranga Ulanga Lelaka Sahara Sakara Sagara

The inhabitants of Ukara and neighbouring Islands are called: Bakara Bakare Bakaranga Bakalanga Bakhalaka Velanga

These names mean the PEOPLE OF THE SUN or CHILDREN OF LIGHT. 4

The Island of kalangaland and surrounding areas is also known as: Vukaranga Vukalanga Bokhalaka Phalaka (Greek Philae) Sakara Sagara

These names mean the Land of the Sun which is also known as Annu (Hebrew On) and Saun (Hebrew Sion i.e. City of the Sun). The mother of the sun (mara) is also called Nut or Ntu. The waters of the Nile (Nahara) River are the tears of the mother (Mara/Ntu) principle. The children of Mara or Ntu are also called: Banu/Bannu/Vanhu Bennu Bantu Batho

The individual person is called M M M M M M M + + + + + + + U U U U U U O + + + + + + + NU NHU NDU NTU TU THU THO = = = = = = = Munu Munhu Mundu Muntu Mutu Muthu Motho

Many people are called Bantu or Batho meaning people. 4. THE CRADLE OF HUMANITY

The cradleland of the people (Batho/Bantu) is called: Buntu Bunntu Bnnt Puntu Punt Khantu Khent

Khent Amenta

Ancient Ethiopians and Egyptians also traced their origins to Punt. The name Amenta or Amenti consists of: Amen meaning the Ethiopian ram-headed God Ta meaning land

Amenta means the Land of the ram-headed god. Almost all religions of the world have adopted the African concept of God Amen/Amun and use it to end their prayers. The name Amen has the following variants: Amun Amoun Amani Amman These names are still used in African Religion. The name Amun refers to the energy of the First Cause (Ptah). Thus it is described as the Hidden God. The Land of Khent-Amenta is also known as Tanutra. This name has the following variants: Tantura Dandura Dendera Tanutra Tarantu Atarantu Atalantu Atlantu Atlantis Etelentys

The name Tantura (Greek Taneter) and its variants mean the Divine Land or the Land of the Gods. These names also refer to the celestial or heavenly kingdom of light. Therefore the Land of Punt, Taneter and Khent-Amenta referred to the birthplace of the Bantu people. The Land of Punt is also called Afura

The name Afura consists of: A meaning land Fura meaning King, the Sun and God

Thus Afura means: - the Land of God - the land of the Sun - the land of King.

The name Afura has the following variants: - Afar - Afaro - Zafar - Safar - Safala - Sofala - Faro - Pharo - Pharoah - Parihu

The name Afura (and its variants) are the roots of the name Afuraka (Greek Africa) The name Afuraka consists of: A meaning land Fura meaning God, King and the Sun Ka meaning of

The name Afuraka (Greek Africa) means: - the Land of the sun - the land of the king - the land of god 5. AFRICAN IDENTITY AND VALUE SYSTEM

Thus an African is a Royal child Divine child Child of light

Child of the sun

This means the word African, like Bantu, is not a racial or ethnic term. Thus all people, both black and white, can be Bantu or African. The Cradleland of humanity is Punt(u), Kantu or Tantura. The root word of these name is Ntu. The name Ntu has the following variants: Ndu Thu Tho Tu Tho Nhu

The words refers to the vital force or quintessential element of being. It is the essence of the humanity of all. This humanity is called: Ubuntu Ubundu Vuthu Utu Botho Vunhu

The concept of the humanity (Ubuntu/Botho) of all is, therefore, the foundational principle of the African value system. The aforegoing exposition leads us to the conclusion that humanity, in particular the African people, have a common origin and value system. In our efforts to combat racism, tribalism, intolerance, and Zenophobia we should embrace the common origins and humanity of all and make these the cornerstone of state policy and educational system. 6. CONCLUSION

It can, therefore be linguistically and spiritually argued that: The human family has a common origin in Africa The name Africa is not an ethnic or racial time. The assertion that we are all Africans both black and white, is valid The Ubuntu/Botho value system is common to all Africans Ubuntu/Botho is a profound value that can enhance social cohesion and nationbuilding

 The values of equality freedom and justice for all that are inherent in the philosophy of Ubuntu/Botho are the cornerstone of the human rights culture Government should construct a policy framework based on Ubuntu/Botho to address inhuman practices relating to food prices, health services, labour and housing practices especially in industrial compounds and farms. Government should promulgate Ubuntu/Botho philosophy as the basis of a caring society.