Episode #91:The Role of Black Students and Intellectuals in the African Revolution

Black Power Talks

On this episode of Black Power Talks, we discussed the role of the African Intellectual in the world. African students and teachers everywhere are entering into their spring semesters. Spring semesters are often filled with academic conferences and graduations. On campuses, African students are organizing summits where they tackle some of the pressing issues in the world such as the mass imprisonment of African people, reparations, and the university investments into the colonial settler state of Israel. On the flip side, many African students will increasingly feel the pressure to decide their postgraduate career plans.

In his fundamental essay, "The Role of African Intellectuals in the World," Secretary General Luwezi Kinshasa identifies the colonial contradictions of higher education and lays out a blueprint for African students and intellectuals to join the revolution. Students cannot be apolitical because the colleges they attend are not apolitical. The role of intellectuals is to solve the solution of a given society. Colonialism uses African genius to solve colonial problems. Luwezi calls on African students to become African Working Class intellectuals and solve the problems of the African Nation.

In this episode, we hear from a presentation that SG Luwezi gave on the role of African Intellectuals. Luwezi the Secretary General of the African Socialist International. Under the leadership of Chairman Omali Yeshitela, Luwezi oversees the work of the African People’s Socialist Party around the world, including but not limited to Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. SG Luwezi was born in the Congo and is currently based in London. He is affectionately known as Mwalimu, which means “teacher” for his extensive knowledge and engaged story-telling about the history of the world’s peoples.

Then we talk with Solyana Bekele. Solyana is the Managing Editor and a writer for The Burning Spear Newspaper. Solyana is also a junior at Hampton University, one of the oldest Black colleges in the US. Solyana studies Political Science and Journalism. Solyana was born in Ethiopia and raised in the Washington DC area.

Black Power Talks is produced by WBPU 96.3 FM "Black Power 96" in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is hosted by Dr. Matsemela Odom and Dexter Mlimwengu, bringing an African Internationalist perspective to the important issues of our world.