A Fallen Tree
My encounter with Master Naba has done a lot for my awareness and has changed the quality of my life and my behaviour. I am a painter by profession and have spent ten years of my life in illnesses and solitude. I spent most of my time between the city and village, helping relatives in various cultural events. These activities left me with a discomfort deep within my soul. I did not know what God to give my faith. I was born to a Muslim family but I did not practice Islam. I tried different churches and congregations without satisfaction, I was at a loss with such a diversity of religious options to choose from.
So my life was left tortured by doubt and uncertainty until one day, when I was returning from the workshop where I paint, I saw a rastaman in front of the door of my neighbor's house. He was sitting under a tree working. I approached him and respectfully greeted him, introducing myself and informing him of the work I do through my painting. I would say that I try to promote and enhance life and African cultural practices and traditions through my art. He listened carefully and assured me that what I said was good/honorable. He informed me that he had returned home to open a traditional education center, and then he asked me if I knew the meaning of the name, "Africa" which I spoke about defending through my work. "No," I answered. Then he gave me the meaning of Africa and asked me if I'm proud of this name that the white man has given to my fatherland. "No, not at all," I replied, and so I asked the true name of the land. "Kemet is the name of your continent, it means the 'Black Lands'."
Those words kept me up all night, meditating on the strength and logic of our short conversation. Over the next few days, I realized through reading some of his books and magazines that I was facing a great spiritual teacher, a priest, a philosopher, a guide, a scientist in every field. I registered in the first generation of students under Master Naba in Kemet. This would allow me to regain control of my life, and deepen a familiar, ancestral self-determination. Namely, it would answer for me who I am, where do I come from and where am I going. Master Naba was a wise man who loved life. He always talked intelligently to a person's mental capabilities and logic. I was fortunate to often be close to him to share and play games in times of our distraction. Sometimes I see him in my dreams where he is saving me in some situation. I am grateful for the implementation of everything I have learned from and with him.
The MTAM lessons consisted of things like the traditional Kemetic healing, Medu, our sacred language and the modern system and deceptions of the white man in his ambitions to gain total control over the people of the world. We got great light from Master Naba concerning respecting life and nature. Before his last trip to Togo, I received a bad omen in a dream. In the evening, as usual, he was sitting at his door. After some hesitation, I approached to share some of my concerns regarding what I saw in my dream. After I explained, he advised me not to worry because it was the result of the experiences I've had in my life and he encouraged me to continue my meditation.
On the day before his departure to Ghana, where he was to start a new school, he shared a bit of his plans. He said that he will often come to visit us. I asked a question concerning my doubts about the future of the center and he told us that we don't have to worry. That we just needed to continue to work and he was confident that we were initiated well and prepared to do it.
A few days later, I witnessed an extraordinary scene. I was sitting at my workshop and, to my surprise, a little bird fell from the tree in front of me. The bird was trying hard to fly away but couldn't, I asked my brother to bring it next to my tricycle bike where I was sitting. While I was asking those around me what this meant, I was surprised to see the bird, slowly dropping his head and body and die. Even more disturbing was that my question of what this meant left me with a feeling that it was not a good sign. It was some time after that when I learned that Master Naba had left our world due to an illness he suffered which had gotten worse on his travels to Ghana.
Living in perfect harmony with my Ancestors and satisfying their needs is my goal. I feel that I am under their protection and through my personal work and meditation, more of what we live is often seen in another dimension. I will continue to deepen this through the various tools I've been given in the initiation in order to better see clearly and understand the world.
Today, Master Naba is no longer with us physically and we pay him a great tribute. His transition is just a change in life's progression and we meditate that the Ancestors will receive him in good hands. May his light continue to enlighten us. Losing our master is like the fall of a very big tree, many birds cry having lost their home. As we feel this loss, we also say - one can always kill the prophet, but one cannot stop the prophecy. We will continue to face the challenge he has entrusted to us. We will continue to give the best of ourselves in the struggle for the awareness and the liberation of the minds of humanity.