Mic Check – The Importance Of The African Diaspora Celebrating Kwanzaa – Guest Pan-Africanist Elder Pepukayi

I Nkrumah Nwapa Ajala Pepukayi born 19 Oct 1950 in the district of Moors Clarendon, Jamaica. I am the second of five children for my mother Vera, three brothers and one sister. Lived mostly in the district of Rose Hill in my early years, attended Chapleton Primary/All age School in Clarendon I was commonly known as Nnap which was a pet named, I won’t mention the slave name I was given by my parents before changing the name given to me to Nkrumah Nwapa Ajala Pepukayi. Why did I change my name one might ask. The answer is simple, Dogs and Slaves are named by their masters. Free men/women named themselves, given that I was neither a dog nor a slave the sensible thing was to name myself.

I had a lot of confidence as child I started my own business at the age of around thirteen/ fourteen as a bottle merchant. I often  like to tell how I started this business I saw how people would throw away empty bottles when they finish the contents (soda pop) I collect theses bottles and sold them to my guardian Miss Alice who was a merchant who would buy produce from the country side which she would sell in Coronation Market in Kingston this earned me the nick name bottle police I wasn’t afraid of hard work and didn’t take no offence to been called a bottle police it was a lucrative business the only outlay was hard work, discipline and dedication. While living with Miss Alice me and Barry her nephew work sourcing produce, she would sell mainly fruits such as mangoes citrus fruits star apples soursop, guinup, naseberry etc. depending on what was in seasons while still attending school. When Miss Alice return from Kingston she would bring back spices and seasonings such as Black Pepper Onions Scallion Garlic etc. When I asked my guardian for under pants their response was “the boy think he is a man now him want under pants” to them this was a big joke. Not getting the under pants from my guardians I bought them from funds earned from my own bottle business, self-reliance do for self was born in me at an early age. From a young age I was always enterprising a hard worker with a determine spirit. The person who influenced me the most was my Fraternal Grand Mother “Miss Madam” who was a strict disciplinarian She made it clear “this is my house and these are my rule you either do or die” I didn’t want to die early I choose to live so I abide by the rules. Growing up with my Grand Mother teach me discipline, reliability responsibility hard work, keeping my word doing things properly high morals. At the time I was living with her I felt I was brutalize taken advantage of, over worked It was only me and her My grandfather Had left he couldn’t take the pressure and left me there, I wanted to joined my grandfather who was now living with miss Alice. I too left not too long after to joined my grandfather and it was like escape from slavery to freedom. It was a good move because that how I learnt the skills of buying and selling. After my grandmother’s training in discipline hard work etc. I didn’t enjoyed living with my grandmother she was too harsh. Tough love is her way she always say hard work never kills no one I immigrated to England in 1967 to join my Mother I lived with her and her husband and my youngest Brother and Sister for about two years before they all immigrated to Canada. My mother came back to persuade me to join them three time and I am still here I didn’t want to go to Canada I heard it was very cold. I serve an apprenticeship in Motor mechanic and become a foreman when the foreman left the job it was a small Garage a small work force of three people One of the mechanic was much older and more experience than me. I didn’t get extra pay but I got experience in management and that when it was clear to me how my grandmothers training put me in good stead. I have to confess that when I left Ja for England, I didn’t write to my Grandmother I didn’t send her anything. I was done with her I thought she was cruel but when I realize what she has given me I couldn’t say thanks because she passes to the ancestors but she is greatly appreciated by her grandson who loves her daily and will always remember her with gratitude and love.

I serve an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering and attended Southgate Technical College did well at college in my final year at Southgate if I was to enter for the final examination and did well as I have been doing I could have pass with distinction with letters behind my name. Having no names for these letters I decided to to focus on my identity and my contribution to the movement I quit college I had already joined the Black Liberation Front (BLF) the only Organization I ever joined at the beginning of the 70s (71/72) there about I was a key member in the creation and running of Operation Headstar/Headstart Bookshop from its inception in 1974 until a sad departure in1992. I am the Founder proprietor of Pepukayi Book Distribution service and one of the founding Director of Nubian Natural LTD.  I am one of foundering member of the PACM Pan Afrikan Congress Movement. I am on the P.A.C.M’s National Executive and a trustee for the Marcus Garvey Foundation, I was one of two BLF members who were the BLF representatives to the Pan Afrikan Committee Before it becomes the PACM. I was the first chair of the PACM and served in that position for many years and was one of the main work horses of the movement I believe that unity bring strength and was the PACM lead person in forging unity amongst the diverse Afrikan organization here in the UK. I was PACM chief representative to the Afrikan United Action Front and was its chair until it become defunct My focus has been on identity, self-help and self-reliance, an institution builder and sustainer. A true Garveyite. The MAA MAAT Centre is an outgrowth of Pepukayi Book Distribution services which reflect my deep commitments to building and sustaining Afrikan Institution that will give identity purpose and direction especially to our young. I was one of the Elders of the now wounded INAPP Interim National Afrikan People Parliament. I have been an organizer and an uncompromising campaigner for the Liberation and justice for my people of over 50 years. I had two daughters one now deceased and five grandchildren one now deceased and seven great grandchildren My greatest challenge now is to make time for my grandchildren while still waging struggle all I need is more help to forge unity with discipline accountability subdued ego and more self-love from my community.