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Inside the Vatican: Praying with Our Feet
A Personal Account of African Reparatory Justice

Toward Freedom Editor July 24, 2025 Toward Freedom Editor
A bust of Antonio Negrita, who was the predecessor of Lourenço da Silva Mendouça and a cousin of Álvaro II, King of Kongo (1587-1614). In 1602, King Álvaro II sent Negrita as an ambassador to the Vatican to advocate for the freedom of the Kongolese people and for West Central Africa as a whole.

By Kim Poole | Founder, Teaching Artist Institute

When I stepped through the gates of the Pontifical Urbaniana University this past May, I carried more doubt than certainty in my bag.  For three days, during African Liberation Weekend, I watched a global circle of scholars, seminarians, artists, prophets, priests, and everyday people do something rarely done within these ancient Vatican halls; we told the truth out loud about Reparatory Justice for Africa and the African Diaspora.  We demanded that the Church help deliver it. read more

Men in red berets

Pan Africanism in the Sahel Region

Dr. Gnaka Lagoke June 20, 2025 Dr. Gnaka Lagoke

Dr. Gnaka Lagoke

Burkina Faso Captain Ibrahim Traore, Symbol of the Global Pan-African Resistance: Keys to Understand the Phenomenon

Pan-Africanism, defined as the spirit of unity and solidarity of Africa and its peoples, has been claiming several victories. Whether through a popular uprising that brought officers to power as in Mali (2021), or by a military coup as in Burkina Faso (2022), or through a palace revolution as in Niger (2023), or by an election as in Senegal (2024), Pan-Africanism is in vogue and living a new life. It is a new golden age of Pan-Africanism. The leaders who represent that new wave are advocating and promoting African sovereignty, Pan-African preference in Africa’s trading with the outside world, and the imperative for Africa to diversify its economic and political partners. read more

Derailing the Engine of Liberty

bbytes February 13, 2025 bbytes

The Trump crusade to end birthright citizenship isn’t a new idea. But it would create a permanent caste of aliens. It’s a crystal clear idea: citizenship and equal protection under the law for everyone born or naturalized in the United States. Beyond that, the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution also protects the rights of life, liberty, and property of all citizens.

Commentary – The Unfinished Business of the Pan African Congress

bbytes November 5, 2024 bbytes

The 9th Pan African Congress: postponed or cancelled?

Many of us at Toward Freedom were disappointed to learn that the long awaited 9th Pan- African Congress, to be held in Lome,Togo on October 29 to November 2, 2024 was postponed…or cancelled. Scant information has been available to clear the air. We are pleased to publish this backgrounder written by Siphiwe Baleka who has studied the history of Pan African Congresses and was closely involved in trying to work thru some of the knots that bedeviled the planning of this Congress.  Siphiwe has been involved with many Pan African groups: the Republic of New Afrika (PGRNA), West Africa Region of the Pan African Federalist Movement (PAFM), NCOBRA to list just a few. You can reach him at: [email protected] read more