Sankofa Empowerment Initiative (SEI)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Inaugural Session of the Sankofa Challenge—The Movie Project Set to Launch on June 8, 2024
Indianola, MS, April 29, 2024 – The Sankofa Empowerment Initiative (SEI), Khafre, Inc., and Bel Art Cotton, Africa are thrilled to announce the upcoming orientation of the Sankofa Challenge – The Movie project. The inaugural sessions are set to commence with an orientation on June 8, 2024, at 10:00 AM CST. This virtually transmitted project promises to be a transformative journey to all sides of the Atlantic bringing together an impressive array of students, scholars, professionals, universities (including JSU), and institutions in a uniquely collaborative exercise. The Sankofa Challenge—The Movie workshops are free for all participating members!
Dr C. Sade Turnipseed, SEI’s founder, and CEO encourages beneficiaries of African resources, talents, and cultural wealth to “Embark on this remarkable journey with us. We as a collective are confident that we shall realize the heartfelt vision of our ancestors through SEI’s Initiative, the Sankofa Challenge – The Movie!” The tremendously supportive endorsements received thus far underscore the significance of this Initiative, which is rooted in the vision articulated by former President of Burkina Faso, Thomas Sankara, who championed the significance of preserving African and African Diasporan history through film and storytelling, thereby controlling the narrative and true portrayal of the beauty and courageous dignity of African people.
Reflecting on Sankara's profound words, “the experiences of what we have lived, do live, and are suffering ... is the cry from the heart of our ancestors.” The Sankofa Challenge—The Movie is a project that pays homage to Sankara and the visionary contributions of historian Stanislaus Spero Adotevi, (Togo), filmmaker Ousmane Sembene (Senegal), and co-partner Aboubacar Patrice Napon. This project seeks to craft aspirational narratives that intentionally embody the essence of Sankofa—an ancient Akan (Ghana) concept deeply rooted in Ancestral Wisdom that symbolizes the importance of learning from the past in order to build a better future.
The Sankofa Challenge—The Movieproject is exclusively designed for students in African universities, to work in collaboration with students in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). These students on both sides of the Atlantic have ancestors that journeyed through the Middle Passage, to establish its Diaspora (USA, Brazil, the Caribbean/West Indies, and Europe). This student embarkment will be on a cultural exchange that transcends borders and fosters mutual understanding like never before. “Our curriculum both in its subjects, objectives, aspirations, and array of presenters encapsulate a legacy and the rich repository of knowledge/light that serves as a catalyst to guide our students. They will learn that to ..."know thyself" is the truth that stimulates ingenious ideas and releases the creative process of storytelling and imagination. By interpreting their history and proclaiming their future as their truth is an intentional design and strategy,” stated Obiageli Osasona, SEI’s Curriculum Officer.
Three years in the making SEI and its strategic partners are now poised to move forward with vigor and optimism. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants for their unwavering commitment to this transformative endeavor; and welcome new sponsors and intellectual input to enhance the scholarly outcome we anticipate in this inaugural launch,” stated Olorunshola Osasona, SEI’s COO.
We encourage All students to apply TODAY for the 2024 Summer Session.
TO APPLY: https://t.ly/I28lM; https://forms.gle/ZxXj4Rh27RtUS96z9
Selected participants will be notified June 3, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
info@SEIprojects.org ~ www.SEIprojects.org
USA—662.347.8198; Nigeria—234.706.2223158; Burkina Faso—226.75577359; Mali—223.76210781
