Ashra Kwesi continues to awaken the souls of Blackfolk

In Black and African consciousness circles, few names are celebrated more than Ashra Kwesi. Alongside his wife and teaching partner, Merira Kwesi, the duo travels the world to share knowledge of an African past that has been distorted or ignored in classrooms for decades.

As lecturers on African history, civilization, and culture, the Kwesis present dynamic multimedia productions and conduct African-centered tours to Egypt. Based on their extensive research, they reveal startling insights into the African origins of concepts and symbols now used by the Western world. While they are regulars at the Shrine Cultural and Events Center in Houston, their faithful following extends globally through online content and their signature tours of African nations.

The Defender recently caught up with Ashra Kwesi to discuss the origins of his life’s work.

Beginning of a journey

Kwesi’s path began in 1973 when he first heard Dr. Yosef ben-Jochannan, affectionately known as “Dr. Ben,” lecture at Long Beach State.

“I never heard someone pull it together in terms of our African spirituality, as well as our African history, as he did that day,” Kwesi recalls. “I didn’t know about a lot of our African spirituality of ancient Kemet.”

After the lecture, Kwesi asked for proof. Dr. Ben’s response changed his life: “I could take you back to Africa and show you… but above all, we need young people like you to go back and do field research.”

Experiencing Kemet

In 1981, Kwesi made his first journey to Kemet (ancient Egypt) with Dr. Ben. He was stunned by the ancient monuments and the undeniable African phenotype of the figures depicted.

“I’m looking at the phenotype and the features, especially of the greatest and oldest colossal on planet earth: Ra Hor-em-akhet, referred to as the Sphinx,” Kwesi says. “This is something that should have been in our early education… many of these things were not even mentioned, that this was a connection to African civilization.”

Power of African foundations

For Kwesi, of all the many things ancient Africa has to teach modern society (specifically Black people), the most important lesson is that African people brought spirituality to the world long before man-made Western religions existed. He contends that Kemet provided the foundation for Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and other faiths.

“These spiritual ideas came up out of African people’s consciousness,” Kwesi explains. “In an African creation story, everything is based off spiritual balance. It was based off the creation of man and woman, who were created together. There was no misogyny.”

And Kwesi’s work enlightens and inspires individuals of all educational backgrounds.

D. Kimathi Nelson, presiding bishop of the Shrine of the Black Madonna and a Yale Divinity School graduate, emphasizes the weight of Kwesi’s work.

“Ashra Kwesi’s emphasis on showing the African origins of religion… highlights not just into our religion, but highlights into ourselves,” said Nelson, former pastor of The Black Church at Yale during his years in seminary. “There is no work of greater importance if you’re Black people in a world that has basically removed you from the human family.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU7B3zS4C4c&list=PLB5D0F9AB13888307

Grounded in Ma’at

A significant joy for Kwesi is working alongside his wife, Merira. The couple met on a Dr. Ben-led Kemet tour in 1992 and were eventually married by Dr. Ben himself.

“It’s a great balance, bringing brothers and sisters back and seeing it not only from an African man’s point of view, but also from an African woman’s point of view,” Kwesi said of the couple’s annual tours of African nations, primarily Egypt/Kemet. “When you have a queen on your side, and you’re in harmony… we can live heaven on earth.”

Tamani Mwandani, activist and founder of Black Gold Nation, views Ashra and Merira’s partnership as a vital example for the community.

“They are a testament to not only the value and importance of Black love, but the absolute power of Black love,” said Mwandani, who shared he was blessed to find his wife/soulmate of 30 years. “That balance is like the binding energy holding the nucleus of an atom together—exponentially powerful.”

Healing legacy

The Kwesis’ work is viewed by many as a necessary healing process for a people disconnected from their essence by centuries of anti-Black trauma. Nailah Nelson, executive director of Shrine Cultural Centers, notes that Kwesi has presented at the Shrines across the country for over 40 years, “to elevate the consciousness of Black people,” making complex historical facts accessible even to children.

“Western religions have created the deification of a culture and… spirituality has been moved to the side,” Kwesi concludes. “On those monuments and temples in Kemet, brothers and sisters can… see our own spiritual Black divinity.”

To follow the Kwesis, visit their YouTube channel (kemetnu6240) or their website at www.kemetnu.com.