COMMUNITY PROCLAMATION

N’COBRA’s QUEEN MOTHER ENTHRONED
NANA YAA ASANTEWAA OHEMA
(Ms. Dorothy Benton-Lewis)

June 24, 2006 Indianapolis, Indiana

 

WHEREAS, the African struggle for Reparations in America has produced some extraordinary committed and talented female leaders, whose steadfastness, personal sacrifice, unyielding faith and wise leadership has inspired many to join the fight for justice for the victims of the African Holocaust of Enslavement and their rightful inheritance and,

WHEREAS, the first two were Ms. Callie House (1861-1928) who co-founded “The National Ex–Slave Mutual Relief Bounty and Pension Association” in the 1890s and Queen Mother Audley Moore (1898-1997) who founded the Reparations Committee For The Descendants of American Slaves in 1963 and, 

WHEREAS, Ms. Dorothy Benton Lewis has demonstrated that she has walked in the footsteps of these strong women leaders by co-founding and providing leadership to four National reparations organizations: Restitution for Involuntary Servitude, Inc. (Alaska, 1968); the Black Reparations Commission (Maryland, 1978); the African National Reparations Organization (New York, 1982); and, the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA) (Washington, DC, 1987) and,  

WHEREAS, within N’COBRA, Ms. Dorothy Lewis has served as National Co-chair, and is currently serving as International Affairs Commission Co-chair, an officer in the Fund Development Committee and member of the N’COBRA Legal Defense, Research and Education Fund (LDREF) Board of Directors and,

WHEREAS, Ms. Dorothy Lewis has demonstrated that she is an extraordinary female leader of the Reparations movement as exemplified by her unyielding faith and commitment to Reparations and justice; her benevolence, wisdom, integrity, and a 38 year history of speaking and organizing for Reparations and Justice for African descendants from all walks of life and,

WHEREAS, on June 19, 2004, during the N’COBRA annual conference in Washington, DC, Ms. Dorothy Benton-Lewis was the recipient of the Queen Mother Audley Moore Award for her dedication to the Reparations Movement, nationally and internationally,

WHEREAS, N’COBRA felt it appropriate to link our efforts to honor the contributions of Ms. Dorothy Lewis back to a time honored tradition which honors the critical role that extraordinary women have and will continue to play in our liberation struggle’s leadership and,

WHEREAS, N’COBRA has determined that the best of our historical experiences (Africa and Diaspora) indicate that the title of Queen Mother is appropriate for honoring her many years of outstanding contribution to the Reparations Movement, and our ongoing quest for Justice, Liberation and Self-Determination and,

WHEREAS, on the 24th day of June 2006 during the N’COBRA annual conference, in Indianapolis, Indiana there was an N’COBRA Membership Declaration of Acceptance of N’COBRA’s new Queen Mother of the Reparations Movement; naming her “Nana Yaa Asantewaa Ohema” to connote: her position as an elder and person of note in the Reparations community (Nana); the name for a female child born on Thursday (Yaa); her spiritual and cultural connection to the courageous warrior Queen Mother Yaa Asantewaa (1840 - 1921) who is known for her leadership role in rallying the Akan people to fight against the onslaught of the British invaders (Ohema).

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:

1) that on the 24th day of June 2006 at Martin University, in Indianapolis, Indiana, the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA) officially bestowed upon Ms. Dorothy Benton Lewis, the title, authority and spiritual mantle of N’COBRA’s Queen Mother of the Reparations Movement and,

2) that in her official capacity as Queen Mother that she be known from this day forth as NANA YAA ASANTEWAA OHEMA

3) that from this day forth all N’COBRA members, Reparations activists, supporters and others acknowledge and embrace N’COBRA’s Queen Mother role and status in the national and international Reparations Movement.  

 

Signed on behalf of the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America:

Milton McGriff,
N’COBRA National Co-Chair

Kibibi Tyehimba,
N’COBRA National Co-Chair

Abusuapanin Kwabena Abremkwa
(Hannibal Tirus Afrik), N’COBRA Board Member & Elder Head of Family Agona Duakwa, Ghana; Chief Officiant, Queen Mother Ceremony

Mama Awusi Naomesi II

(Mashariki Jywanza), former N’COBRA Board Member & Queen Mother Fiare-Kpotame Tefle Traditional Area, Ghana;
Officiant, Queen Mother Ceremony