Posted on January 8, 2010 - by Kambale Musavuli

Goodbye Greensboro, Hello New York!

Today was a big day for me. A few months ago, I decided to move to New York after I realized how much I could be doing just living there. In 2009, I was in New York City a dozen times and every time I left the city, I saw more and more people join the movement from the contacts I made in NYC. When an opportunity presented itself to move to NYC and transfer to a college there, I took it. I applied for a program in the fall of 2010 in a very good school and I look forward to attending it. In months to come, I will disclose the name of the school.

When I woke up this morning, I knew that it was my last day in Greensboro. As I continued to pack around 4 am, I kept thinking about the past 11 years of me living in this city. I thought of the many people I have met while working and at school. I could see one of my mentors and also professor, Dr. Gilbert Casterlow, who insisted that Excellence was not just a term for a group of people but that this was a way of life for any human being. I thought of the going-away party my friend Victor organized for me in December so I could say goodbye to all my peers and friends who helped create the Break the Silence movement. I was so glad that I had one more opportunity to talk to them and remind them that Congo Week could not have existed without them. With teary eyes, I was happy they understood that they built a global movement for the Congo, which none of them have visited as of yet, but still believed that injustice in Congo was a threat to justice at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, or in Greensboro.

I can never forget that my African-American friends whom I call Africans born in America, in a historically black university, NC A&T SU, as they heard about the situation in Congo, built a global movement in support of the Congolese, and have been there for me when I was sad, frustrated, down, to comfort me. My brothers Amari, Wes and Orrin who stood beside me for years while we went to the third floor of the library reading Afrocentric books, the brothers and the sisters of the History Club who without any hesitation have kept the fire of Congo Week burning on campus… the African Students Association who allowed me to introduce the Sudan and Congo cause to the organization… Ms. Shauna Irwin who, as an administrator, helped me so much in my leadership skills as I learned how to submit organizational reports, network with other student organizations, and always do due diligence… Dr. Maria Palmer who has been my second mother and pushed me to make sure that my grades didn’t drop and gave me a powerful book, Three Cups of Tea, to help me in my work… the many great friends and professors such as Professor Bryon Turman who in my English class really helped me to understand the poem “Gingerbread Man” from an historical perspective… Ms. Arthea Perry who has continued to support me, Congo and Africa at large in her teaching and out of the classroom… Dr. Judy Rashid who, as the dean of students, always had ears to listen to my concerns and also pushed me for excellence…  the Greek organizations such as the Alphas, Deltas, AKAs, Sigmas, who have been quite supportive of the movement… the Student Government Association who also supported the Congo movement or any African cultural events I brought to them for their help… This will always be part of the history I write to always make sure that people remember the great friends I had while living in North Carolina.

To all the wonderful people at A&T, there are just so many names to mention… Taylor, Martamique, Ngozi, Eve, Alvin, Rodney, Carlyle, Karen, Akintunde, Sade, Mayana, Aaron, …  and so many other names  to say… THANK YOU for being such great friends. I know each one of you understands I appreciate you.

Reiterating my former school motto “Explore, Discover, Become!”, I can truly say I have explored the possibilities at A&T, discovered my passion while I was a student there, and become a man ready to take on the world! THANK YOU NC A&T SU for all you have done for me.

Congo Week I poetry night in 2008 at NC A&T S.U.

I was sad this morning about leaving everything behind, especially my family who has been there for me. I will miss my mother who really stood beside me and came to my events. I will also miss my brother and sister whom I knew I could always count on for anything I needed. Yet I was excited about the new challenge… the new life which was going to start in a few hours.

Last night, I went to see a great Congo supporter, Shannon, who have decided to use her talent and know-how to help us in our efforts of reaching more communities around the world. In November 2009 if I am not mistaken, I did a presentation on Congo at her home and had a chance to meet her son. He is a talented young man who loves film and he is aspiring to be the greatest filmmaker of all time. As I spent a few hours with Shannon’s family  yesterday and while I was speaking to her son about the advices I was given by elders about life, I realize how important mentorship is. He is so talented that he self-learned how to use Adobe Premiere, a video editing program, in three days. He will be doing Lacrosse this semester in his high school. He reminded me so much of myself when I was in high school and I can see already from the energy he has that he will be a very successful filmmaker. I will definitely help him in any way I can to make sure he gets in a great college. I recommended him to apply to Columbia University even if he can’t afford it. I believe Columbia will be able to give him a scholarship so he could get a great education and have access to best film equipments.

Isaiah and I while I was visiting his mother on my last day in North Carolina

Afterward, I went to see another friend of mine who did not make it to the going away party in December. This guy, Raheem, is a young man who really have impressed me. He went to Ghana for a study abroad program and came back speaking Twi, a Ghanaian language, fluently and even better than Ghanaians. I remember an instance where he was speaking to a Ghanaian student on campus and the student asked him how he knew the word because usually he would use the English term rather than the Twi term. He earned himself respect for appreciating the African culture and embracing it to the extent that he spoke it very well. He is also a wonderful singer and songwriter and as I asked him to use his talent to break the silence on Congo, he wrote a song title “A song for Congo” in which he expressed the struggle of the Congolese people.

We had a very great conversation about the challenge of us, accepting who we are, and going forward with our passion trusting that everything will be alright. He did insist on me, or should I say us, to always remain true to ourselves.

But what is that truth for me?

I am moving to New York City… to take the Congo cause to new heights… and use that city as the platform to reach out to the entire world much easier. I heard the call… I know my mission… I believe and trust that the ancestors are on our side to make sure their stories are heard around the world… and I know more people will be inspired not to be afraid to believe in change in Congo.

What does New York City have in store for me? We shall find out in days to come. For now, I am stationed in Washington DC for a few days to meet with some key organizers in the area and catch up with letters mailed to me in our DC office.

I had a pleasant surprise when I arrived in Washington, DC. 5th graders in Congo sent me an international mail. They sent me an autograph copy of the book they published during Congo Week in October 2009. That wasn’t all. They also mailed funds they raised to support our work of mobilizing people around the world.

I should write this again to clarify. 5th graders in Congo mailed funds to support our work and an autograph copy of the book they wrote during Congo Week. This is so inspirational to see children in Congo breaking the silence and joining the movement by being part of the solution for peace in Congo.

My sincere gratitude goes to their teacher, Ms. Terea, who instill in them the desire to break the silence and helped them along the way to understand that their actions inside the Congo  will help in bringing change in that beautiful country.

To Imani, Ngangneh, Farah, Johané, Soren, Shezlin, Alexandre, Chandni, Wani, Sam, Karen, Danyella, Antillia, Amara, Dujaya, Dan, Stéphanie, Maya, Daniel, Sitara, Saara, Hari, Esther, and anyone I might have left out… I am very grateful for the energy you have set forth on your campus. When I was your age, though I was active, I did not have an opportunity to make a worldwide impact as you have done. Your actions have made your school write an article about your advocacy, encourage a teacher from your school to move to North Kivu to help in teaching other young kids just like you there, expose the reality of the war in Congo through a play you wrote and gave your parents an opportunity to discuss more about how to bring an end to the war in Congo… and I should add… you have motivated me and gave me the fuel of continuing the work we are doing knowing that the actions we take should never be taken for granted.

Thank you my 5th grade comrades and I look forward to working with you to liberate the Congo so that kids just like you don’t have to die in the war. Your action is a true testimony of the prophetic words of Patrice Lumumba when he said “We are not alone. Africa, Asia and free and liberated people from every corner of the world will always be found at the side of the Congolese.” Today, I know each one of you Congolese and international students are all at our side in our struggle to bring change in Congo.

5th graders in Congo performing the play "Secrets of the Congo" that they wrote

Moving to New York will have its ups and down, but I truly believe that each one of those challenges will be overcome. Now that I am beginning a new chapter in this journey, I have completely removed all fears that may stop me from reaching my potentials. This brings me to a quote from Marianne Williamson’s book “A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of “A Course in Miracles” which I have used so much while I was president of the African Students Association on the campus of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

Marianne Williamson says: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.’ We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

For a Free and Liberated Congo, or Die Trying… this is what has kept me motivated…

I have freed my mind… I am liberated from any fear I used to have… and I believe deep in my heart Congo will be at peace in my lifetime!

Are you breaking the silence? I know more than 35 countries and 200 university campuses and communities around the world and I are!