To Be an African Teacher

Nana Baffour Amankwatia II, Asa G. Hilliard breaks down what an Afrikan centered teacher is. A life changing, transformative article.

A Profile of an African centered Teacher

This article Mwalimu Kmt a professor of Education at Howard University follows an Afrikan centered teacher for a year and reports on what he saw.


Why We Do the Things We Do

Nana Amos Wilson wrote and spoke on the socialization and enculturation of Afrikan people from pre-birth to death. All his works should be thoroughly read and implemented by all Black people in all areas of human activity. This is a good introductory article.

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*Please click arrows on the right to read through testimonies.*

Testimonials

“It’s imperative that our children learn from people who resemble their aesthetic, and know our history and culture. T’Shango Mbilishaka has spent over a decade studying and implementing African centered pedagogy. A brilliant educator, dedicated to uplifting our community through history and engaging lessons, I had the pleasure of working with T’Shango on several educational programs. I have been in awe many years by his integrity, empathy, tenacity, passion, and thoughtfulness. These traits in conjunction with his ability of curating education programs to engage the family unit to shape nuanced solutions place him in a class of his own. A natural leader, social activist and artist, T’Shango believes that the best way to quickly foment change is by working at the grassroots level to impact the lives of those most in need of assistance through African centered education.”

-Falani Afrika

“Mwalimu T’Shango Mbilishaka is a rare breed among African Centered scholars and educators. His thoughts and actions are extensions of his love for our people and his strategies incorporate the wisdom of many ancestors and living giants including Barbara Sizemore, Amos Wilson, Asa Hilliard, Hannibal Afrik, Agyei Akoto and Marimba Ani to name a few. His work for the past decades has been focused on the total upliftment of the African family through his work at various educational institutions. He continues to be on a tireless search to focus our families’ attention on all of the elements of liberation of the mind, body and the spirit of our people. The fruits of his work have been made manifest through an enlightened variety of strategies to educate, to motivate and to inform our parents and our children simultaneously. Through the observation of the youth that he has touched and through testimonials of the parents of his students, it has been verified that his strategies and techniques continue to be fabulously transformative. His ongoing research interests are inclusive of Afrikan and oppressed people’s freedom struggles, family physical wellness and preparations in anticipation of difficult times.”

-Baba Jawara Hunter, Community Elder and Organizer

“Baba T’Shango Mbilishaka is a master teacher whose enthusiasm and commitment to the education and development of African children is total and complete. Baba T’Shango has learned at the feet of some of the greats- Hilliard, Akoto, Ani and Kambon, just to name a few. Now he is offering what he’s learned from our esteemed scholars and what he has learned from almost two decades as a classroom teacher, as his personal offering to the preparation of the next generations of African educators and scholars.”

Seba Sékou Oláyínká -Jegna of Ẹgbé̩ Ijọba


“T’SHANGO IS THE EDUCATOR THAT THE PAN AFRICAN WORLD DESERVES AND NEEDS!

With the spread of misinformation, political pandering and vapid symbolism, how and where can we show our children a clear path of understanding to their true relationship to culture and the global politic? Our children, our families and our people need clarity, integrity and a focused commitment to improving our condition. With the correct political education and an understanding in the value of our culture and history, we can take the right action to serve our interests rather than work against our interests. That is the selfish love I have seen in the courageous work from educator, writer, speaker and master teacher, T’Shango Mbilishaka. The forward, visionary thinking that the sons and daughters of Africa need is what I’ve witnessed in his classroom, in is office during his office hours, in his output and results of his students. As a colleague, I have seen T’Shango sit with students at his feet yearning for political education to empower themselves. I have seen him share African proverbs, anecdotes from his journey and quote the teachings of Malcolm X, Fanny Lou Hamer, Marcus Garvey, and Ella Baker. I do not know a more well-read scholar on Black (African Diasporan) culture, history, and politics. As a leading scholar and general in the journey of independence for the African Diaspora, I see T’Shango’s work on par with the great Asa Hilliard, Runoko Rashidi, Booker T. Coleman, and the legendary historian John Henrik Clarke. He is carrying the torch of these scholars and doing the work to connect the children of the diaspora with the continent of Africa. Decolonizing one’s mind is a process that needs the guidance of an informed and compassionate leader. Educator T’Shango Mbilishaka is that guide that the African world needs and deserves.”

-Edward Hegerman, Teacher