Prof. Tony Martin
Joins the Ancestors
21st February 1942 - 17th January 2012
TENDAI MWARI
It is with great shock and deep sadness that the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement receive the news of the passing of Baba Prof. Tony Martin, the foremost scholar on the life and legacy of the Most Eminent Prophet and King - His Excellency: Marcus Mosiah Garvey and official UNIA historian.
According to various sources, he departed while being hospitalised at the West Shore Medical Hospital, in Trinidad and Tobago. Although to date we have seen no reports on the circumstances.
Baba Tony Martin, the man upon whom this Movement bestowed the title of The Apostle of The Prophet (Papa Garvey), is most renowned for his life long devotion to and monumental research on the life and legacy of The Prophet. From this wellspring of information, flowed his prolific authorship and publication of numerous books, including: Race First, Marcus Garvey Hero, Message to the People – A Course in African Philosophy, Literary Garveyism, the Poetic works of Marcus Garvey, African Fundamentalism and The Pan-Afrikan Connection among others. Such works span the breath and depth of this colossal legacy, placing Baba Martin, without a doubt, at the forefront of the fight to rescue Papa Garvey from the evil designs of those who would seek to distort the truth about the man and his Race 1st, Nationalist Pan-Afrikanist message.
In addition, the professor of Africana Studies at Wellesley College, Boston Massachusetts, USA, has traversed the globe lecturing on the phenomenal works of the man he regarded as “The most outstanding Pan-Afrikanist of the 20th century.” This included several trips to the UK, where he lived and studied in the 1960s. In 1987, he joined us in commemorating the centenary of the birth of Papa Garvey addressing several events. In 1995 he was in Britain again participating in the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the fifth Pan-Afrikan Congress, in Manchester. He has also been the guest of the Pan-Afrikan Congress Movement (PACM) on several occasions and has on occasions been the special guest speaker at their annual Afrika Liberation Day.
In 2003, Baba Tony Martin became the centre of a controversy which gave rise to one of the most powerful events in the history of pan-Afrikan activism in the UK. Having invited Baba Martin to speak at the 'First Voice Conference,' ostensibly marking Black History Month (October), Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, ventured to dis-invite him, on the pretext that he had shared platforms with a certain 'holocaust denier' from the US. Of Course the real issue was that the US-Jewry was up in arms against Baba Martin, calling for his dismissal from Wellesley College and even for his death, for introducing into the curriculum the Nation of Islam's book, 'The Secret Relationship between Blacks and Jews,' chronicling the disproportionate Jewish involvement in Afrikan enslavement. True to his spirit, this warrior scholar remained resolute in defence of the integrity of Afrikan scholarship and right to tell our own story.
It thus transpired that Livingstone was bowing to pressure from the UK Jewish lobby, acting in tandem with its US kith and kin. This sparked a massive public outrage from the Afrikan community-UK. More importantly, we 'The People' led by a coalition of Pan-Afrikan organisations (ARM, PACM, AAPRP, APLO, EWF, NBPP, etc) mobilised and organised the pooling of our resources to bring and host Baba Martin ourselves. To crown this decisive act of self-determination, over 1,000 people turned out to hear Prof Martin and stood in book signing queues for more than two hours, registering two resoundingly successful event: a celebrated moment for Pan-Afrikan unity, procuring a small but significant victory over a powerful international Jewish lobby. (see: www.blacksandjew.com/TMLondon [London Disinvitation]).
In Mosiah (August) 2007, Baba Martin was back in the UK as a guest of The Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement's (ARM) Mosiah celebration, themed 'The Afrkan Empire Strikes Back' - a resistance to the UK government's sinister bicentenary of the 'Slave Trade Act,' celebrations. On Umoja-day (Sunday), 19/08/2007, ARM paid tribute to Baba Martin by awarding him an 'Order of Distinction,' on behalf of the Afrikan Community-UK. In addition to an OoD trophy, Baba Martin was gifted a Mosiah plaque and gold chain with a custom built Soul Force logo-pendant (combining Afrika, the Ankh, and the sun). At this event he spoke on 'Slavery, Abolition-Deceit and the Garvey Movement,' exposing British government hypocrisy around the fictitious Abolition of slavery and its fiendish efforts to destroy Papa Garvey and the Garvey Movement.
This privileged proximity to the Apostle enabled us to get to know him beyond the platform a bit more, thus acquainting ourselves with a man whom for all his academic brilliance, professorial status and international renown, was humble and devoted to maintaining meaningful connections with the grass-roots, whom he greatly valued. In the tradition of the Afrikan Griot, this living library allowed us to tap him for hours, and patiently oblige us with reams of historical information.
Last Mosiah (August, 2012), we were blessed to have The Apostle of The Prophet on our show, Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan, on Voice Of Afrika Radio (94fm; www.voiceofafricaradio.com; every Monday 8:00pm-10:00pm). In this interview he informed listeners of his newly completed book 'Caribbean History – From Pre-Colonial Origins to the present' and that the long awaited 'Global Garveyism' – an anticipated masterpiece - was near completion. The possibility of 2013 was mooted, in hope of a UK launch. Alas, this was not to be. The predictable celebration of the centenary of the UNIA 2014 was also alluded to, without a thought that the man whose gigantic contributions, served so well to vindicate the sacrifices of its founder might not be with us.
Baba Tony Martin was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. He received a B.Sc. honours degree in economics at the University of Hull (UK) and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in history from Michigan State University. He began lecturing at Wellesley in 1973, was tenured in 1975, became a full professor in 1979 and retired in 2007. He is also a barrister-at-law from Gray's Inn, London. He is the author of many scholarly articles on Afrikan History and the recipient of various awards and honours, one of the most important being from the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations (ASCAC).
The news of the sudden departure of this warrior scholar in the heat of battle has rocked the homes and pierced the hearts of the ARM members, as it will have done throughout Afrika-UK and the entire Afrikan world-community. Naturally, we are inclined, nay, duty bound, as freedom fighters to enquire beyond what might seem plausible; knowing the nature of an enemy that is notoriously unforgiving, relentless, ubiquitous and stealthy. We note that Baba Martin's birthday is on the anniversary of Papa Omowale Malcolm X's assassination and that he passed on the anniversary of Papa Patrice Lumumba's assassination .
Notwithstanding our deep sense of loss, there is cause for celebration. The celebration of the return of a vigorous, victorious and liberated spirit to the realms of the Ancestors – 70 years young – to continue to empower our liberation fight.
We celebrate a life well lived worthy of our honour and praise, on earth and beyond the grave. Ceremonial drums should therefore be pulsating throughout the Afrikan world in honour and memory of this consummate Garveyite. In context, it is fitting that Afrika-UK should gather for this purpose at the soonest possible date.
Updates to follow.
We remember at this time his family, especially his wife, Sis Paloma and his son Prince Shabaka (aged 6yrs) and send them our love and condolence.
Long live the unconquered spirit of Baba Prof. Tony Matin. And:
May he rise on the wings of Maat, After a favourable judgement in the council of Asar: Ase! Amen-Ra! It is done!
Unite, Organise Now or Perish!
Rise, You Mighty People!
TENDAI MWARI
Bro Ldr Mbandaka
(Spititual Leader – Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement)
Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement
Freedom Begins with the Freeing of the Mind and Soul
c/o 282 High Road, Leyton, London E10 5PW
Tel: 020 8539 2154; 07908 814 152
~
https://theblacklist.net/
Replies
Comments in response to hearing of the passing of Professor Tony Martin.
DR. TONY MARTIN
African people have lost a brilliant, unafraid Scholar; and UBUS Communications Systems have lost one of our most renown supporters and friends. Dr. Martin came routinely to our annual presentations of Black Book Awards for Excellence in Black Literature during the 1990's. And he always stayed over to take part in the Nat Turner Trail Tour...i just now found out about his passing...will do, say and post up some of the photos of Dr. Martin later...i am saddened...on the other hand i am pleased that his spirit remains strong with me at this time. and his legacy and history, like Dr. Amos Wilson's will be vital parts of THE NAT TURNER LIBRARY ..........Khalifah
Nubian Malik
January 18, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Sifa ote ina Mzee Tony Martin.
Much appreciation for all of your contributions. Just last night (1/17/13) i
was stating that you were a leading authority on Marcus M. Garvey. We were
doing an overview of “Race First†in our examination of Garveyism
(neo-Garveyism) being our primary method of getting us “out of this mess†of
this “400 yr roomâ€
It was your text “Marcus Garvey The Hero†that was so instrumental in my
re-Afrikanization process. Your text was one of the first four books that
started a path for me some 25 years ago. This body of work provided me the
ideological clarity and frame work to develop a theoretical lense to view and
engage my/our Afrikan reality.
Again, i say, sifa ote ina Mzee. Asante sana for all of your contributions.
Your name and efforts will not be forgotten,
Baba Nubian Malik
Co-founder Amos N. Wilson Institute (Chicago)
“An Afrikan is not dead, until
Cecile Johnson
January 18, 2013 at 10:35 am
I am in shock also, I was hoping to meet this great man whose work spoke for
itself. He is now a righteous ancestor and his work lives on in all of us who
read it and carry forth his spirit in our actions. He was a mighty Pan
African. RIP brother, you will be missed.
Ray Winbush
January 18, 2013 at 3:58 pm
I was shocked when I heard the news of Brotha Tony’s passing. I got to know
him when I testified on behalf of him for his lawsuit against Wellesley where
he taught for many years. He was a kind and gentle Brotha whose scholarship was
absolutely impeccable. He was fearless, and his work on the insidious nature
of zionism and its influence in the academy was brave and accurate.
May the Ancestors receive this powerful scholar and gentleman with open arms.
He will be missed…
Molefi Kete Asante
January 18, 2013 at 5:39 pm
A great general of our intellectual army has fallen in battle and his spirit
will forever support our efforts at African regeneration. Tony Martin will
return a million times and he shall be seen in the young brother or sister who
refuses to accept falsehood as truth and evil as good. I remember when Tony was
fighting against his enemies at Wellesley and asked me to come to Boston to
give a deposition to lawyers about his place in our history and his expertise
as a scholar. I flew up to Boston and spent the day with this warrior and
attorneys. His courage, bravery, and genius were always on display for his
people. We will miss him but each time we see the storm, like Garvey in the
whirlwind, we will see and hear Tony Martin. Hail Tony Universe!
Kamm Howard
January 19, 2013 at 1:32 am
It was through Professor Martin that I came to know the Honorable Marcus Mosiah
Garvey. Tony’s spirit will forever be linked with the spirit of Garvey as he
would not allow H.M.M. Garvey’s memory to die. As such, neither shall
Professor Martin die as we shall pour libations in his honor whenever we evoke
the spirit of Garvey. Long live Marcus Garvey. Long live Professor Tony Martin.
A Luta Continua - The Struggle Continues
Kamm Howard
Amos N Wilson Institute GB2B
N'COBRA www.ncobra.org
"Power concedes nothing without a demand." Fredrick Douglass
Black Is Back Coalition Blackisbackcoalition.org
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From: Cecile Johnson >
Sent: Fri, January 18, 2013 8:23:24 AM
Subject: Fwd: Prof. Tony Martin is now an Ancestor
Our Dear Brother is now an ancestor.
I had wanted to meet him as i was very pleased with his work especially as it
related to Marcus Garvey. His bravery in standing up to the powers that be to
tell our story.
He will be missed.
May he rest in peace.