On a Sunday morning I sat in front of my Luganda teacher, my brain swelling and throbbing, my tongue loosening and stretching and my intone-ation of the vernacular expanding as I began the task of grasping the language of the Buganda people of Uganda. During a 2hr session of mind expansion the question of why the K in Afrika began resounding. I have noticed a resistance to the use of the K from a few corners even Afrikan people themselves.
I even asked my language teacher is there a use of the C in Luganda and he replied very few words no more than 10. The answer had confirmed my own research with the minimum use of the C compared to K in Afrikan languages.
I would arrest ones fear of the K, and encourage acceptance and allowing which is the aim of yogic/Smai practice.
The importance of language is critical to a culture as it is the mode of communication, the art and tone of vibration emanating from the energy seats within the body. This re-affirms the bond to kith and kin to mothers and fathers and in the case of Afrika, to ones humanity.
In India the language of Yoga is Sanskrit. Was it always so?
The Sanskrit language like all languages were once spoken then developed
into a script by the conquerors of India (the Aryans) not the indigenous people.
‘It is equally certain that by the end of the epic period (the ending of the Mahabharata war, the Greek invasion after Magasthenes and before Ashoka) Sanskrit had ceased to be a spoken language and was confined only to learned men. Had it been otherwise Buddha would not have preached is new religion in Magahdi. The old Sanskrit had been popularised and simplified in the form of the several Prakrit languages spoken in the several provinces of India where the Indo-Aryans settled’
The aboriginal people (meaning indigenous people) could not have spoken the Sanskrit language correctly and the common people (conquered people) composed of Vaishyas and Shudras (Afrikoid) naturally simplified forms and sounds and developed certain Prakrits of their own.
Non-Aryans who attempted to speak the Sanskrit language naturally committed mistakes and were unable to pronounce the [hard sounds in] Sanskrit correctly’ C. V. Vaidya Epic India Vol 2.
The language changed from what the indigenous people spoke which is various Dravidian dialects leading to Prakrit. Sanskrit came about through the conquering of India.
This is not specific to India alone the language of the conquerors is given precedent over the languages of the indigenous people and portrayed in books, dramas, poems, and statutes of that country as the language of the learnt. Vaidya goes on to say – ‘The learned used Sanskrit alone and the form of the original poem must have influenced it’s recasting. It is also probably that in opposition to the Buddhist who used the common language to teach their religion the Mahabharat which as we have shown was given a religious form by *Sauti mainly to counteract the influence of Buddhism was entirely written in the Sanskrit the language of the orthodox religious books of the Aryans of India’.
In today’s political arena’s this is called ‘Spin’ an angle to combat a growing influence in these terms it was to combat Buddhism. This is also a war on the spirituality of the indigenous and common people. Dr Muata Ashby from his book African Origins of Civilization, Religion And Yoga Spirituality.
“The origins of Hatha Yoga were clearly in Buddhism and not in Hinduism since we find evidence of rejection of Hatha Yoga by the Hindu sages. Hatha Yoga is clearly rejected in the Laghu-Yoga –Vaisistha (5.6.86, 92), which maintains that it merely leads to pain. Some of the criticism, especially against the magical undercurrents”. Dr Muata Ashby continues further saying “Specifically, Tantric Buddhism gave rise to the earliest practice of certain postures as a means to enhance spiritual evolution. Before this time, the only reference to asana or posture was the sitting posture for meditation mentioned in the Raja Yoga Sutras by Pantanjali. STHIRA SUKHAM ASANAM
STHIRA: Steady. SUKHAM: Comfortable. ASANAM: Pose (for meditation)
Meaning
A seated pose (for meditation) that is steady and comfortable is called Asana
To attain success in the practice of concentration, meditation and Samadhi, an aspirant begins by developing steadiness of a meditative pose.
Buddhist records show that early Buddhist had visited Memphis (Sakkara/Tattu the Nome or city of Ptah) and set up a settlement there. Henceforth Buddhism begins to develop similar iconographies including the Divinity sitting on the lotus, similar to those of ancient Egypt.
There is clearly a competitive element to the Hindu priests. In order to maintain a level of control on the populace this same strategy was deployed in Afrika with Dutch, Portuguese, English, Italian and German priests and authoritarians.
In Afrika the K is prominent in the languages of the people.
I personally met the priesthood of the Ga people Akans who migrated from Egypt to Nigeria and then settled in Ghana who told me directly ‘we do not use the C in Africa we use the K’.
This is one of my reasons for using the K in Afrikan Yoga, the question why do you have a K does’nt have a complicated answer. Afrikan languages mainly had an absent of the C, even in the most Ancient, Egyptian, Hebrew and Cuneiform the C letter is not there.
In presenting Afrikan Yoga as a brand I had to research what was already in existence as I was taught in certain business circles be ethical and not to step on any ones toes. There where already yogis in South Africa calling their brand African Yoga I was fortunate to meet them while in Afrika and found that the brand of yoga was not African or Afrikan but Vinyasa yoga an Indian style and brand of yoga. There is also a group in Kenya whom Afrikan Yoga has been associated with known as the African Yoga Project this too on closer inspection is brand of yoga based on Power Yoga and Vinyasa an American and Indian style of yoga not Afrikan origin. There has to be clear distinctions when presenting Afrikan Yoga and the K extends to more than just political posturing.
‘Even though I have used the term Africa spelt purposely AfriKa or A Free Ka (a free spirit) on promotional materials and even to short cut the description of what I do to perspective students. I have chosen to redefine the word Africa as this word universally means a down trodden separated people and this piece of writing in no way wants to promote this present world view of Solar (sun) people.
You may have noticed that many are comfortable with this title Africa which derives from the Arabic word Farraq “to divide.” The word Africa has been said to have various sources all of which are foreign to the present day ‘9 ether solar beings’ who reside on the Mother/Father continent….. However in the Yogic tradition the smai practitioner is a free spirited being and what Afrikans call for all over the world is to be what we once were and that is to be free. We cannot be truly free unless we are free in body, mind and spirit. Afrikan Yoga frees the spirit by working through the body first. So, “ A Free Ka” (spirit) is the definition I use intermittently with Afrika. So do not look at this word merely as continent or place but see it as a state of mind and spirit’.
Extract taken from the book Afrikan Yoga A Practical Guide To Smai Posture Breath and Meditation by Pablo Imani Khonsu Sekhem Ptah.
This is my personal use of the K in Afrikan Yoga, there are many others who have brought the K in to prominence.
The opening pages of Haki R. Madhubuti From Plan to Planet
Life Studies: The need for Afrikan Minds and Institutions. (1973)
,
Four reasons to spell Afrika with a K. by Don L Lee (1972)
Under comments by an Afrikan* in America
1. Most vernacular or traditional languages on the Continent spell Afrika with a K. K is germane to Afrika.
2. Europeans particularly the Portuguese and British, polluted Afrikan languages by substituting ‘C’ whenever they saw ‘K’ or heard the ‘K’ sound B as in Kongo and Congo, Akkra and Accra, Konakri and Conakry B by substituting Q whenever they saw KW. No European language outside of Dutch and German has the hard ‘C’ sound.
Thus, we see the Dutch in Azania calling and spelling themselves Afrikaaners.
We are not certain of the origin of the name Afrika, but we are sure the name spelled with ‘C’ came into use when Afrikans were dispersed over the world. There the ‘K’ symbolizes our coming back together again.
3. The ‘K’ symbolizes a kind of Lingua Afrikana, coming into use along with such words and phrases as Habari Gani, Osagyfo, Uhuru, Asante, together constituting one political language, although coming from more than one Afrikan language.
4. As long as Afrikan languages are translated (written) into English, etc., the
European alphabet will be used. This is the problem. The letter ‘K’ as with the letter ‘C’, is part of that alphabet, and at some point must be totally discontinued with the original name of Afrika used. The fact that Boers (peasants) in Azania also use the ‘K’, as in Afrikan to represent the hard ‘C’ sound demonstrates one of the confinements of the alphabet. Azania is the original name for South Afrika.
A few of the People and Companies that have chosen to use the K in Afrika.
Afrikan Bambaata – One of the Godfathers of Hip Hop
Afrika Investment Bank
Afrika (photo and Safari game) Playstation 3
Afrika Travel/Tour Operator (Major sporting events)
Afrika Fuentes- Music Artiste
http://www.filmafrika.com/films_all.asp
Resources and
http://www.scribd.com/doc/4804612/Why-spell-Afrika-with-a-K
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugrasrava_Saut
Other Commentaries of the use of The K in Afrika.
I believe you are quite correct in speculating that there is an
implicit political statement (of kinship and solidarity with the
continent in question) in the spelling 'Afrika' when it is used by an
American group.
Here you will find a discussion of this subject, attributed to writer
Haki Madhubuti:
"We are not certain of the origin of the name Afrika, but we are sure
the name spelled with 'C' came into use when Afrikans were dispersed
over the world. There the 'K' symbolizes our coming back together
again."
Trinicenter: Why Spell Afrika with a K?
http://www.trinicenter.com/kwame/2002/Feb/172002.htm
This essay specifically addresses reasons why an activist organization
might choose the spelling 'Afrika':
"In the spelling Afrika, a 'k' is used rather than a 'c' because for
many activists the 'k' represents an acknowledgment that 'Africa' is
not the true name of that vast continent. When one speaks of Afrika,
they're bringing an Afrikan-centered view to the meaning. Therefore,
the Afrika spelled with a 'k' represents a redefined and potentially
different Afrika, and also it symbolizes a coming back together of Afrikan people worldwide. Let it be understood that when one speaks of Afrika and when most whites think of 'Africa,' they are coming from two different worldviews. One view supports the Afrikan ethos, while the other view supports the European ethos."
South Jersey Grad: The Struggles of Afrikans in America
http://www.geocities.com/southjerseygrad/afrikanstruggles.txt
Here the Pan-Afrikan Center of Augsburg College explains its choice of
the spelling 'Afrika':
The DIASPORA refers to the areas (including the continent) where
Afrikan people have been dispersed, primarily by European colonial
force. Spelling AFRIKA with a 'k' is a symbol of self-definition."
Augsburg College: Pan-Afrikan Center
http://www.augsburg.edu/pan-afrikan/mission.html
Musician Darrell Rose discusses why he chose the spelling 'Afrika':
"Afrika Phase Three lasted for two years. We played a variety of
traditional Nigerian rhythms and idioms, which we also tried to fuse
into a new idiom--a new understanding of the past as perceived by the
present. That was the whole idea behind the name and the music. Africa
was--and is--in its third stage. The colonization and exploitation of
the last two centuries separates modern Africa from its proud and
ancient past. It hasn't erased it--although that was the intent of its
exploiters--but it sharpened divisions and created artificial
barriers. That's why we spelled Africa with a 'k'--it was an effort to
reclaim that which had been taken from us."
Camera Obscura: Healing Rhythms
http://www.hicom.net/~oedipus/darrell.html
Ligali
Africa, Afrika, Afrikaan
[n] Africa – The true origin of the word are unknown however the famous ‘Ex Africa semper quid novi‘ quote from the Greek philosopher Aristotle determines the word Africa was already established during Roman times.
Ifriquia is a transliteration of the Arabic term for the region, adopted as the Moslems occupied North Africa from the Byzantine/Roman Empire. It is believed by some to have extended across regions as awareness of the size of the continent grew.
[n] Afrika – There are several theories and explanations why many Africans spell Africa with the letter ‘K’ (Afrika). Most use the Afrika spelling to affirm a Africentric politicised belief which symbolizes an ethos of self definition and self determination. This spelling acknowledges that whilst we cannot be certain of the origin of the name ‘Africa’ we can be sure it is not the true name of the continent. The spelling of it with a ‘k’ is said to symbolise unity with fellow diasporic Africans who share an African centered view of the world. The spelling ‘Africa’ is deemed to represent a European world view.
Note: Many Africans who live on the continent find the ‘Afrika’ term offensive due to its definition by 17th-century Dutch settlers.
Etymology: Afrikaans, from Dutch Afrikaan, an African, which is from Latin Africanus
There are also claims that a Roman general, Scipio Africanus invaded and conquered Africa around 205 BC and the continents name was renamed to honour his ‘achievement’. Historians worldwide refute this myth and explain that Publius Cornelius Scipio was invited to assume the cognomen Africanus after his success in the battle for the ancient city and state in northern Africa named Carthage. His renaming to Scipio Africanus is said to be the first recorded instance of the Roman practice where victors were awarded with titles relating to the region they conquered or pacified. By the time Scipio Africanus died his full title was Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus Africanus Numantinus. Numantinus was added after he secured Spain by besieging and destroying Numantia.
Another popular belief is that before their interaction with Europeans, Africans did not use the letter ‘c’ in their native tongues; the usage of the letter ‘k’ is an attempt to correct a historical wrong. An example often given is that of “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” the National Anthem of South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia which is also sung in Zimbabwe and Namibia. Some claim that the various versions sung in Bantu languages like Xhosa, Swahili and Zulu which all spell Africa with a ‘k’ prove this as the original spelling. Despite this, there are many doubts about this theory based on the fact that Enoch Sontonga, who composed it in 1897 was a teacher at a Methodist mission school in Johannesburg. In fact South Africa’s anthem today is an amalgam of two anthems – Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika and the Afrikaans anthem, Die Stem van Suid Afrika (The call of South Africa), written by the European South African (Afrikaans) poet CJ Langenhoven in 1918.
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