The Africa Martyrs and USA experiences of them. A conversation by Tom Rogers Muyunga Mukasa

Africa Martyrs are devotional magnets for diaspora communities

By Tom Mukasa

African-led Animated Mass in America

Click thumbnail to view full-size

Source: African Community-led Mass in California

African Martyrs as a cultural fabric in USA

Source: St. Genevieve Parish,Ugandan Catholic Community Prayer program

Source: Emeritus Pope Benedict XXIII

Pan de Vida

Pan de vida cuerpo del Senor (Cup of blessing, Blood of Christ Lord)
Poder es servir (at this table)
Porque Dios es amor (the last shall be the first).

Martyrs of Africa

Africa as a continent features in Biblical and Koranic stories. The religions that share the Patriarchs (Abraham and Isaac) have had Africa as the center stage on a long reel of conversation and dialogue. From 5000 BCE to present day, Africa has been crucial in the organization, pilgrimage and experiences of inspired holiness. Cities cited in Holy Books such as Ophir and Faiyum are in Africa. Whole chapters in the Holy Books are dedicated to scenes depicting experiences of relations between humans and the Divine. But these stories have tended to depict events that are distant. Africa seemed to have played its roles in the far past periods. But, that is not the case. The 1800s saw a frenzied hunger for a Divine being. Converts were eager to die confessing the Word.

Many converts were existing in all of Africa, Uganda Martyrs are some of those converts. Where are the Uganda Martyrs found?

There along the River Nile in a land with many beautiful lakes was a great kingdom. The king in this kingdom was an accomplished leader whose kingdom had experienced a long period of tranquility. The kingdom was organized along social, cultural, economical, traditional and leadership structures. The king and subjects had roles to play to ensure this kingdom was stable and the pride of Africa. Little wonder that all who visited gave this kingdom the name "Pearl Of Africa."
The subjects were driven and served their king whole-heartedly. So, when the king ordered the converts to go against the dictates of Christianity they refused. A repeat of what transpired in the times of Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel ( see Daniel 1 & 2) happened in Uganda too. But, in Uganda's case the Christian converts were not spared. They were killed for disobeying a very powerful king. Their punishment was death by burning.
By 1960s witnesses had come forward claiming miracles after praying to the burnt converts in Uganda. Witnesses were from Africa and other parts of the world. Vatican officials went through all the necessary requisites of beatification and canonization. Thus, the Uganda Martyrs and therefore the 1st African Martyrs were presented to the entire world.

African Martyrs are modern day saints

The African Martyrs are saints in the same league as all the other saints in the world. They have interceded on behalf of many who have seek succor. Like all other saints they did something great in their life that was Godly. They devoted their lives to God and were recognized for that..

Praying to Saints

It is a Christian practice to ask our departed brothers and sisters in Christ—the saints—for their intercession. The practice dates to the earliest days of Christianity and is shared by Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, the other Eastern Christians, and even some Anglicans. It is shared by more than three quarters of the Christians on earth.

June 3rd

June 3rd is the day of African Martyrs. Uganda has the main Shrine with one of the oldest Basilicas in Africa. The pilgrimage is made to a venue called Namugongo. The Roman Catholic Church and Anglican Church share this same venue. People travel from USA, South America, Australia, Japan, China, Canada, Europe and from within Africa.

Diaspora Devotions to African Martyrs

USA, Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan, Philippines, Caribbean and South America has seen a rise in popularity of African Martyrs. The African Diaspora have increased the devotions and taken more leading roles in conducting the liturgical accompaniments.
California is a state known to lead in many things. The Ecumenical, cultural diversity and coming together of many people to observe the day of the African Martyrs has made an indelible mark in contemporary American lifestyles.

America and Africa meet in Spiritual Traditions

Rarely do we experience a relation where America is getting from Africa. There is a long tradition in which America has drawn Africa to it. But, when it came to modern day Christian liturgy, Africa is contributing to the new and diversified message. It is helping to make the fire of longing for a Divine burn brighter. It is no longer like the fire that burnt the martyrs for their belief. It is different fire. It is a fire that does not scorch the skin nor cause bodily disfigurement. It is a fire that cleans, brings laughter, promotes cohesion, empowers many diverse cultures to come together, contributes to the strands that make America a very diverse and allows peaceful co-existence. It is a fire that allows for freedom of worship. This is seen nowhere better than in the diverse Californian valleys, gorges, high hills, plains and mountains. This fire that burnt in Africa is now burning in America.

Martyr Saints

Has Africa influenced Christianity and Islam?

• Yes
• No
• I do not think so

See results without voting

Note

1. African led liturgies in USA are an opportunity to contribute to outcomes of the dreams and aspirations of the Declaration of Independence.
2. African led liturgies in USA and other parts of Americas and Canada are an opportunity to bring together different people in observing a day or time of devotion.
3. African led liturgies in USA and other parts of Americas and Canada are a contribution to the cornucopia of activities and cultures in the world.
4. African led liturgies in USA and other parts of Americas and Canada are a show case for music, dance, drama and dressing for GOD.
5. African led liturgies in USA and other parts of Americas and Canada is an opportunity to bring what is good, beneficial, enduring and durable from Africa.

Prayer Series 2: Our Father, a discussion on the meaning of this prayer by Thomas Rogers Muyunga Mukasa

THE LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father....

This is a prayer that Jesus Christ taught us. In doing so, He was opening up our eyes and pointing us towards what deeds we needed to do in order to feel fulfilled. It would enable divest from us any semblance of selfishness, hypocrisy and ill-will.

 

Our Father; we are called to say out His (His-Her) name, call on Him (Him-Her) and be the children, daughter and son. We seek our Father ( Father-Mother) by clearly addressing Him (Him-Her) to get His (His-Her) attention. This Father is also a Mother. What we are in essence acknowledging is a Father-Mother figure! A source!

 

Who art in Heaven; we are encouraged to acknowledge that He (He-She) resides in an abode that is magnificent and that there is our home too.

 

Hallowed be thy name; this is a humble step that puts us in a position in which we are bowed and kneeling.

 

Your Kingdom come; this is a belief statement and part plea bargain.

 

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven; our Father’s (Father's-Mother's) will is for us to be subjects who partake of His (His-Her) Kingdom. We are co-creators and co-workers in ensuring that all understand and contribute in this Kingdom and kind-dome! Like in Biology, we have two forms of Kingdoms: Plant and animal Kingdoms. In the spiritual cosmos, we are kind-domes!

 

Forgive us our trespasses; Forgiven first by our Father (Father-Mother) gets us in His (His-Her) presence.

 

As we forgive those who trespass against us; we should also not hold grudges.

 

Lead us not into temptation; be our guide to you.

 

And deliver us from all evil; not only are you our guide but our sole protector too.

 

I am always humbled by the love of Christ. Christ gave us every morsel and grand gift He could from heaven. He knew the entire goings on and was faultless. He devised all the plans for our salvation after our fall. He left us a letter that we should read, lead others to read and empower many still in deed to put its words into action. This letter was a deed to fulfill our needs.

Prayer Series 1, a discussion on meaning of prayer by Thomas Rogers Muyunga Mukasa

Prayer:

- is an invocation or act that seeks to activate a rapport with an object of worship through deliberate communication.

- is to directly appeal to God to grant one's requests. This in many ways is the simplest form of prayer. Some have termed this the social approach to prayer.

- is meant to inculcate certain attitudes in the one who prays.

- is to help train a person to focus on divinity through philosophy and intellectual contemplation.

-  is to enable the person praying to gain a direct experience of the recipient of the prayer (or as close to direct as a specific theology permits.

-is an experience of consciously being attentive, and having a silent love toward God, which the individual experiences without demanding to receive an experience.

- enables an existential transformation in the person praying. The act of praying elicits a new kind of understanding which wasn't apparent before praying. The Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard wrote that "the function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays."

- is often used as a means o f faith healing in an attempt to use religion or spiritual means to prevent illness, cure disease, or improve health.

- is often done by speaking in a foreign tongue, a practice now known as glossolalia.

NB. For more on prayer one can read different books from various religions or first familiarize self with what the following link has: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer 

I shall use this space to write about prayer. Prayer is a means of reminding: God, self and others. Prayer has benefits and these are as multitudinous as those praying. I shall write about some here. Let us see the first ten benefits of prayer and personality. The Psalms written by King David will be referred to a lot in most of these series.

1. Prayer improves on how one reflects on self.
2. Prayer improves on how one reflects on others.
3. Prayer improves on how one reflects on the surrounding environment.
4. Prayer improves on one's usefulness and worth to self.
5. Prayer improves on one's usefulness and worth to others.
6. Prayer improves on humility and courtesy.
7. Prayer improves on social interaction.
8. Prayer improves on how one applies themselves.
9. Prayer improves on the ability to weigh consequences.
10. Prayer is accountability.

A friend of mine took me through events that in turn caused three different aspects in which I sought to understand what praying is. The three aspects being: The beginnings of knowing God; an intimate distance with God and living in the times of fulfillment.

We visited places in United States that pulled at my spiritual persona. We visited the National Shrine in Washington DC, the Bernal Heights open air prayer venue and a museum where Albrecht durer's "Praying Hands" was part of the artifacts on display.

 I am someone who has contemplated what was going on in King David's mind as he thought about Jehovah, Yahweh or the Divine being whose name is never pronounced. It must have been so hard for him. At one time he (David) needed a solitary moment to meditate on life. May be he found time deep in the night. May be something pulled at his heart, woke him out of sleep and gave him energy to compose a prayer or two.

The stimuli must have been overwhelming. The duties as a sheep owner, a healer, a sought after musician and a very dashing royal person. He was a virile boy growing up in those lands known as Palestine then.  He was the sheep keeper. He must have trained the sheep so well, that they never strayed. Or when they did, he was able to get them back. He must have known the pasture lands like he knew his musical instruments. He must have known how to take full care of all his animals. He knew which herbs to use. He must have sold good sheep products. He must have sung so well, that he was sought after. He must have arranged the words to his music and poems so well that it was magical and mesmerizing. Just imagine the play of words! We are told that Psalm 25 is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

Entire villages must have congregated to recite the poem-prayers. It could be there were seasonal festivities in which he made an appearance. Imagine a Rosh Hashannah with encouragement for teshuvah or the Yamin Noraim or the Aseret Yamei T’shuvah up to Yom Kippur (acknowledgement, self-awareness, repentance and atonement) with David taking leading roles! In order to keep the people focused there had to be reciters of long passages both new and old. The new aligned with Tradition no doubt. Who else to call upon but that dashing sheep keeper!

May be there were those who had mischief too. Those with capacity to raid David's camps and cause mayhem! May be he sustained injuries or torture because he was famous. Perhaps, David had people who used his "copyright material" and claimed the fame! May be there were those who made up words and made the poems raunchy and obscene! David must have been hurt when he got wind of this, but he never gave up! If one reads the Psalms up to 25, one may not fail to see an emerging pattern on how King David must have felt. From a prophetic call, somewhat distance to a celebratory, somewhat intimate one. For instance Psalm 1 reads:

1	Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,          nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2	But his delight is in the law of the LORD;          and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3	And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, Jer. 17.8          that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4	The ungodly are not so:          but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5	Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,          nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6	For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous:          but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 25 reads:

¹ In you, Lord my God,
    I put my trust.

² I trust in you;
    do not let me be put to shame,
    nor let my enemies triumph over me.
³ No one who hopes in you
    will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
    who are treacherous without cause.

⁴ Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.
⁵ Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,
    and my hope is in you all day long.
⁶ Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,
    for they are from of old.
⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth
    and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
    for you, Lord, are good.

⁸ Good and upright is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
⁹ He guides the humble in what is right
    and teaches them his way.
¹⁰ All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful
    toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
¹¹ For the sake of your name, Lord,
    forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

¹² Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
    He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.^[b]
13 They will spend their days in prosperity,
    and their descendants will inherit the land.
¹⁴ The Lord confides in those who fear him;
    he makes his covenant known to them.
¹⁵ My eyes are ever on the Lord,
    for only he will release my feet from the snare.

¹⁶ Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted.
¹⁷ Relieve the troubles of my heart
    and free me from my anguish.
¹⁸ Look on my affliction and my distress
    and take away all my sins.
¹⁹ See how numerous are my enemies
    and how fiercely they hate me!

²⁰ Guard my life and rescue me;
    do not let me be put to shame,
    for I take refuge in you.
²¹ May integrity and uprightness protect me,
    because my hope, Lord,^[c] is in you.

²² Deliver Israel, O God,
    from all their troubles!

We see, hear or feel instances that are characteristics of prayer.  Like I said earlier, prayer is a means of reminding: God, self and others. Prayer has so many benefits and the first ten benefits of prayer and personality are:


1. Prayer improves on how one reflects on self.
2. Prayer improves on how one reflects on others.
3. Prayer improves on how one reflects on the surrounding environment.
4. Prayer improves on one's usefulness and worth to self.
5. Prayer improves on one's usefulness and worth to others.
6. Prayer improves on humility and courtesy.
7. Prayer improves on social interaction.
8. Prayer improves on how one applies themselves.
9. Prayer improves on the ability to weigh consequences.
10. Prayer is accountability.

As a student of prayer I have had an opportunity to meet with groups dedicating time to pray. I have visited Bernal Heights on many to capture moments of prayer.

One moment of prayer on Bernal Heights I happened to witness.

Praying Hands by Albrecht Durer

The National Shrine in Washington DC. I spent enjoyable and at the same uplifting retreats here. I learnt balance of prayer and works of miracles in our lives here.

Thomas Rogers Muyunga Mukasa on: The friends we make, can in turn make or break us!

I grew up like many of the people in Uganda. As a boy I took on roles as the eldest son and did indeed look after my own siblings. This followed the loss of our dear parents. I therefore did not enjoy the structured or expected life of a young man who comes out of University, Higher institute of learning or any such milestone in life to move on and get a job.

I managed to see my own siblings join Universities and go on to get work. This made me so happy. I felt this as a blessing. I also knew this was a message of hope and a reality of promise.

I have met friends and made good.....and bad friends. I am very good at community mobilization and organization. I have helped many groups win funding in Africa. I was approached by many to help them come up with winning proposals. Among these were the genuine ones as well as the crooks. The crooks left me regretting. But, I have since realized they never made it in life. Not that it is anything by way of consolation or a prayer one should in all sense wish for anyone. This was way back in years. But, I have since moved on. My advice: avoid friends who claim they can handle responsibilities and "that you do not need to bother about them." That statement became the bane of my life for a while until I met these friends and asked them to pay me back. They were all squeamish and ashamed. They failed in life even to date. One did go to South Sudan and there worked as an NGO-social worker. In the end he failed. Two others left Uganda briefly, went back and to date they are failures in life and are addicted to all sorts of intoxication.

But life goes on, we do not need to be pulled down by the bad friends. I still recall those days with shuddering.

As a human rights defender, I have advocated for respect and dignity of many persons in Africa. I was beaten and tortured for speaking out for the rights, respect and dignity of persons said to be"un-deserving." Un deserving is relative. I always approach people who are judgmental with caution. Not that am scared of them. No! But, I sense bias in certain attitudes. Any way, in one such experience I even lost many friends who feel my rubbing shoulders with different kinds of people who are undesirables. I told whoever would listen, I detest bigotry and comments by those who are not putting on others' shoes! For that reason those condemned also happen to be the butt of their comments. Wear the person's  shoes before you make comments about that person. For airing my opinion on this, I have made friends as well as lost many.

Life is an opportunity to engage in positive aspects. Martin Luther king Jr., says: " One of the most enduring questions that is still un answered is, what have you done to help another?" That is the question I leave you as well.

The question of stigma, Ebola and what can be done, insights by Thomas Rogers Muyunga Mukasa

Thomas Rogers Muyunga Mukasa tasted what it means to be on the receiving end of bigotry and stigma. He lost his job as a HOME HEALTH CARE worker in San Francisco when two of his clients kicked him out of their houses, saying that because he’s from Africa, they were afraid he might be carrying Ebola. For more read this link:

http://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/African-immigrants-speak-up-against-harassment-5933192.php#/0

Thomas Muyunga shares with us this in this blog: Pope has issued a warning on what will destroy the world if it continues

Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N.

Pope Francis addresses the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. staff during the Second International Conference on Nutrition in Rome, Nov. 20, 2014.

God always forgives mankind, but the earth does not, warned Pope Francis on Thursday.

At the Second International Conference on Nutrition, the Pope cautioned that if men continue to be greedy about abusing natural resources to make a profit, the earth will eventually take her revenge, the Daily Mail reported.

"Take care of the earth so it does not respond with destruction," he said to representatives from 190 countries. 

The head of the Catholic Church also said "primacy of profit" and "market priorities" have obstructed efforts to fight global hunger and malnutrition. He commended the works of the World Health Organization and the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization for pushing for the adoption of the Rome Declaration on Nutrition and a corresponding Framework for Action, which not only address food access but also the issue of being overweight.

Two billion people lack nutrients like iron and vitamin A, according to the Daily Mail, while 42 million kids and 500 million adults suffer from obesity.

Read the coverage on the Daily Mail.

Hailey LeeNews Associate

Thomas Rogers Muyunga Mukasa on Lake Lords, Lake Ladies, Air space Lords and Air space ladies in Africa: Case of Uganda

Old and New Tenure Systems in Africa:

Sub Saharan or the whole Africa before the trade with, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans and Phoenicians did know land was a symbol of status beyond demarcation and territories. It was negotiated, understood and bargained for using four points:

a. Ownership, location and ancestry e.g. Egyptians of the Lower Nile or Upper Nile.

b. Estate making and a factor of production e.g. basis of establishing home, address and forms of sustenance.

c. Component of holistic cognition e.g. among Baganda "Omutaka we Kyaggwe."

d. The firm ground on which water or other elements are held firm. It was a point of referral for claim of ownership e.g.the water next one's land subsequently belongs to the owner of that land. 

The shorelines and hinterlands of Africa gradually saw so much change as far demarcation of air space, marine and land went during the subsequent interactions with Greeks, Romans, French, British, Danes, Germany, Italy, Russia, USA, Portugal, Belgium and Spain: Africa has special territories belonging to these countries; after 1884 much of Africa was partitioned; the cold war brought with it the non-aligned movement and much of Africa seemed like a political invertebrate with ability to swing at west- east will.

Water body related disputes and misunderstanding in Africa:

-Tanzania, Mozambique and Malawi are fighting over a name for Lake Malawi or Lake Nyasa. Malawi claims the name should be Lake Malawi. Tanzania and Mozambique each want the name Lake Nyasa or Lago Niassa respectively.

-Uganda and Kenya had a near clash over Mgingo Islands.

-Uganda and DRC have contested the Albertine boarders.

-Nigeria and Cameroon had a dispute over Bakassi Peninsula. A boundary demarcation is the last step in the U.N. -backed process to end border tension between Cameroon and Nigeria. Much of it centered on the ownership of the oil- and fish-rich Bakassi peninsula that juts into the Gulf of Guinea. The situation escalated into military confrontation in 1993, when Nigerian troops invaded and occupied it.

Local Uganda lake related legislation:

Land tenure is understood by Ugandans today after it was introduced by the Colonialists as : 'Mailo or Communal' Land Tenure system.

Ugandans should understand or at least give much scrutiny to a form of lake tenureship that seeks to manage lake Victoria today. Government of Uganda has just completed plans to lease sections of Lake Victoria to boost fish farming. The Gov't of Uganda is set to lease parts of Lake Victoria to private developers interested in specialised fish farming. Fisheries state minister Ruth Nankabirwa said the move was aimed at boosting the country’s Gross Domestic Product and to encourage the development of cage fish farming and beaches, among others.

What will happen to the land at the bottom of the lake though? Does the lake lord or lake lady own the land below the lake and lies below the land that is below the lake?

What will happen to the air space above the lake? Who owns that?

Fears, Hopes and last words:

1. It is hoped that leases will be timed and not signed in perpetuity.

2. The land lords or land ladies or in this case lake lords or lake ladies should be trained to manage the lake as co-owners with other Ugandans.

3. Issues of trespass should be cleared through education and less of heavy handedness.

4. Marine industry and construction should be standard so that we do not have cases of concrete slabs breaking and ending up filling the lake with otherwise non eco -friendly substances.

5. It is hoped over 100, 000 people will be engaged in a form of employment once this takes off.

Will it be possible to walk the shores of lake Victoria as freely as one's relaxed mind would want? Shall we see beaches, lake side resorts and forms of lake related recreations or habitation thrive? These are the worries and prayers of hope.