How Losing A Warrior Intensifies The Struggle
By
Obi Egbuna Jr
When Daughters and Sons of Africa at home and abroad learned about the sudden and untimely loss of our Comrade and Sister Dr. Nana Seshibe, all who struggled side by side with her, understand what the revolutionary aspect of our culture has always dictated. After the transitioning of a fighter whose labor and passion, was clearly guided by the principles at the core of our genuine resistance, one’s most loyal and devoted comrades are granted a unique opportunity to carefully analyze their complete body of work.
In the case of Comrade Nana Seshibe neither her most compelling attributes or areas in which she appeared to be vulnerable, should never be discussed in isolation from the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, the organized formation
that Sister Nana served courageously until her very last breath of air.
Since the country we commonly refer to as South Africa gained its flag independence in 1994, a ruthless propaganda campaign to write both the PAC and AZAPO completely out of the country’s history immediately ensued.
We watched March 21st the day used to honor and commemorate the Sharpeville/Kwa Langa Massacre in 1960 renamed Human Rights Day, and June 16th the day reserved to honor our fallen comrades were trampled and shot down in Soweto renamed Youth Day.
Those on the outside looking in prematurely arrived at the conclusion, based on the resources both human and material resources that Madiba Nelson Mandela and the ANC had at their disposal, the odds of setting the historical record straight were not only unrealistic but insurmountable. For all of us who had the honor and privilege of working with Nana directly in her tireless efforts to build support for PAC inside US borders, can all verify when facing this particular challenge our sister waved the banner of PAC proudly and apologetically.
The manner in which Comrade Nana conducted the affairs of PAC cadre in exile, coincided at a moment in history, when certain organized formations masqueraded as the architects and driving force of the Anti-Apartheid movement in the United States.
These opportunists are not only guilty of arguably the most shameless form of self promotion, we have ever witnessed on the frontlines of struggle, but
even worse attempting to blatantly sabotage the work of Comrade Nana and others representing PAC in exile.
We as Africans at home and abroad have never taken kindly to blatant attempts to hijack our resistance and distort our history, these cowards are not only guilty of lying to the masses of our people outright, but also underestimating our collective appetite for truth and integrity.
To dismiss the work of PAC and AZAPO is one thing but falsely claiming to trailblazers of work, that WEB DuBois and Paul Robeson were doing thru the Council of African Affairs in the 40’s and 50’s, that
SNCC(Student Non Violent Coordinating Committee) continued in the 1960’s should never sit well with our people.
For the sake of historical accuracy it is necessary for so-called African Americans to make a clear distinction between anti-apartheid work, and efforts designed at raising the profile of the African National Congress exclusively.
Our failure to address this problem will result in a narrative of the Anti-Apartheid struggle, similar to when we reduce the movement for Civil and Human Rights to the life and work of Dr. King, or the ever glowing genre of Reggae to the musicianship and brilliance of one Robert Nesta Marley.
We must recognize that Sister Nana’s commitment to build support for PAC and her undying love for her husband and her three sons, was matched only by her
burning desire to acquire and spread knowledge.
The founder of PAC Mangaliso Robert Sobukwe himself was a fantastic teacher, it is truly disappointing that he never got to see, one of his best disciples Sister Nana Seshibe bring our illustrious history to life in the classroom.
Many of the giants who are part of the Pan African sector of our movement,
were not just fearless warriors on the battlefield, but crusaders in the field of education.
Some of the standouts were women like Anna Julia Cooper and Amai Sally Mugabe, which means in the African ancestral world Sister Nana will be in very good company.
For many so-called African-Americans whether they heard Sister Nana speak on behalf of PAC at African Liberation Day, Nation Day or Garvey Day,
were one of many students or in simple one on one conversation, these experiences for so was many served as their introduction to the struggle against Apartheid.
We only hope each and every one of them recognize how that this was truly a blessing, not only because of the quality of information they received,
but who the message came from.
Since its inception the PAC as a liberation movement has laid many of its comrades to rest, its founder Mangaliso Robert Sobukwe, Uncle Zephaniah Mothopeng, John Nyathi Pokela, David and Elizabeth Sibeko to name a few.
During this process genuine words of solidarity and camaraderie from those who have worked closely with them not only serve as an antidote, but a reminder that we have more important work in struggle that must be completed.
I first met Sister Nana 25 years ago when instructed by the Sibeko family in New York to help organize the memorial for Uncle Zephaniah Mothopeng.
Throughout the 90’s decade we organized commemorations for the Sharpeville/Kwa Langa massacre, where we received updates of what was transpiring on the ground.
It is with honor and pleasure I join comrades all over world in reflection and celebration, of a sister and fighter, who now joins the many fighters whose work she continued and elevated.
Long Live Sister Nana Seshibe Long Live PAC
Obi Egbuna Jr
US Correspondent To The Herald(Zimbabwe’s National Newspaper) US Based Member Zimbabwe-Cuba Friendship Association
