As people of African descent, we call ourselves queens and kings because deep in our souls we know our true identity. So how did royalty become slaves?

I wonder if Megan Thee Stallion knew how far back the betrayal goes when she called out David Cameron during her SNL performance. “Daniel Cameron is no different than the sellout negroes that sold our people into slavery.”

Megan continues, “We need to protect our Black women and love our Black women.” “Because at the end of the day, we need our Black women. We need to protect our Black men and stand up for our Black men because at the end of the day, we’re tired of seeing hashtags of our Black men.”

The ownership of the atrocities of the Transatlantic slave trade lies solely in the hands of the greedy European invaders. Millions of us were stolen, not sold. And the Catholic church masked as evangelists and missionaries played a key role in the plot. But we must acknowledge the role our ancestors played in selling us out.

As Christopher Columbus and his band of criminals spotted the Americas and decided to murder the natives and steal their land, a family feud was brewing in the Motherland. A feud inevitably exploited by the invaders.

In 1620, the feud ended with a royal lineage of Africans being the first sold into the Transatlantic slave trade. About 2,000 years before that, thousands of African Matriarchs were murdered and erased from history in ancient Rome. The beginning of patriarchal reign.

In her book, The Sibyls, The First Prophetess’ of Mami (Wata), Mama Zogbe (Vivian Hunter-Hindrew) reveals what she uncovered from her research and travels throughout South America, Europe, and Africa. “To conceal their crimes, they destroyed and defiled Her name and all of Her temples. They murdered and accused Her prophetesses and prophets of heresy and witchcraft and disguised her sacred rites and divine legacy as their own. This trend of random destruction they continued, so that the world would never again know or honor Her, as their Divine African Mother.”

Mama Zogbe continues, “One might well conjecture that the Africans, from all indications, during their persecution in Rome, may have already begun their sporadic migrations Southwesterly back into Africa, decades before the final fall of Rome. However, what is certain, is that as soon as they returned, they began empire building in West Africa. Albeit, employing the current oppressive, patriarchal model so often mistaken by cultural anthropologists as Africa’s original indigenous culture. Many Africans until today, have no inkling that all of Africa was once ruled by their beloved Matriarchs.”

Africa was historically matriarchal. Even kings were chosen through the mother’s bloodline.

“For more than 6,000 years, nearly all of Africa was matriarchal. The dominate presence of African matriarchy resulted not as a consequence of political/feminists or military usurpation, but rather because it was the original (and more importantly) the natural divine order of the African civilized world. Its cosmology, philosophy, theology, ritual practices, and rich African culture emphasized the complimentary relationship between what has come to be known as the “masculine” and “feminine” divine, as it exists within nature and within the universe.”

She further states, “What passes for ‘traditional’ African culture today where women have been subdued and relegated to marginal roles in African political and religious life, is the result of the patriarchal usurpation of the older matriarchal codes upon whom the patriarchs sought to contain and to control her divine powers and political economic influence. However, hidden beneath this patriarchal substratum of ‘modern’ day Africa, one will discover it was under African matriarchy which birthed ancient African and Mediterranean culture and high civilization.”

In another groundbreaking book, Origins of the Vodoun Religion In America: Reclamation Of A Suppressed Heritage, Mama Zogbe explains the shift in power. “One of the tragic consequences of the rise of patriarchy throughout Africa, was the suppression and limiting of the sacerdotal, social and political power of the matriarchy. This in turn created a hurried reshuffling and masculinization of the cosmological pantheon and the pyramidal (as oppose to circular) structure of the priestly ranks. Men (male priests and diviners) placing themselves at its apex as a reflection and validation of the new global patriarchal order.”

This hostile takeover by men played out in the royal family, according to Mama Zogbe. “This feud was actually a fight between the local family of Adonon, over Houégbaja’s unauthorized usurpation of her matrilineal brother’s divine right to the throne…“It is she (Adonon) a local Wasa (Ghanian, Anlo-Ewe?) woman, who is the (ancestral) mother-in-law of Dahomey’s’ first three rulers (Houégbaja, Akaba, Agaja). Meaning that the succession to the throne should have been matrilineal. Adonon and Aligbonu, and her (Tohwiyo), founding ancestor, are the ones who should have been venerated, and their matrilineal heirs should have ascended to the royal throne.”

And this rise of patriarchy and the resulting suppression of the Matriarchs led to our enslavement. “However, what should be of interest to the Diaspora is that it was many of these Wassa Guedevi groups and their descendants whom the “dynastic” kings of Dahomey were constantly at war, because of their theft of the royal throne establishing an exclusive patriarchal rulership. Further, that it was these (Wasa/Guin/Guedeiv) royal lineages and their local descendants who were the first to be sold into slavery,” Mama Zogbe continues.

“It was particularly the priests of Aholu, Mami, the Loko and others, who were at constant war with the Dahomean kings, which caused them [these priests] to be sold into slavery. Such fear did the Dahomean kings maintain toward these clans and their priests, that they, nor their vodou were allowed to enter into the kingdom and erect shrines to them (Aholu). The Dahomean kings arrogantly claiming that ‘there can only be one king’ in the kingdom which was of course themselves. In fact, it was under the reign of the third king, Agaja, that so many of these royal priests of Aholu and Mami were sold into slavery, almost decimating their entire lineages.”

While we may not be aware, this suppression is the source of the mental health crisis in the Black community. Mental illness from the trauma of the slave trade and colonization, and also separation from the core and essence of who we are. Our souls and our ancestors are yearning for spiritual expression. And our ancestors are calling us to awaken.

“More importantly, the evidence of the constant presence of the African ancestors and deities/gods manifests in the psycho-spiritual pathology of many African-Americans. Most who walk around today, symptomatic suffering from years of spiritual malaise, and ancestral neglect, that neither the dogma of Christianity, nor the over excitation and emotive culture of the black church can alleviate. Tormented, many not understanding the source of their illness, seek help through western modalities only to be shuffled to and fro’ mental health agencies whose toxic medications only exacerbate their mis-diagnosed conditions,” Mama Zogbe explains.

“It is documented that the religious elders in the black community, devout Vodoun practitioners, were actually the source of social and cultural stability, moral direction, and role modeling. However, it was the constant harassment, mockery and vilification that discouraged many in the Diaspora from maintaining these religious practices. Many too, lured by the false promise of being fully incorporated and respected as “Americans”, openly denounced their own gods, proudly proclaiming their love and devotion as “respectful” Christians of the religion of their colonial masters…”

The bloodline of the African Matriarchs is what makes us royal and their link to the Eternal Creator called God. As the first humans that were created, this divine gene is passed on through their DNA. The source of our magic. And the envy of those not born with it.

Mama Zogbe states, “Additionally, (and regrettably), an entire generation of “Harry Potter,” Wiccan, and other pagan groups have taken an interest in African religions, and are publishing books that cater to their “magical” fantasies and practical needs, but hold little substantive spiritual substance for the Diaspora who are still attempting to gain their ancestral footing within these African based spiritual systems.”

As 2020 culminated in a full moon in Cancer on 12/29/20, the world shifted into a new age of unity. And it starts where we all started. Africa. Her children are dispersed across the world, but we are one. And our mother must be honored for the life she has given all of us. Our mother is the black woman.

When we divided, we gave up our power. And now we must unify to take our power back. Our power is our magic. Our magic flows through the bloodline of the African Matriarchs.

The role of the African Matriarchs in creation of peaceful, prosperous societies as documented in Jeremiah 44:17 is undeniable. “We will certainly do everything we said we would: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and will pour out drink offerings to her just as we and our ancestors, our kings and our officials did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. At that time we had plenty of food and were well off and suffered no harm.”

Mama Zogbe states, “Fortunately, today, a growing number of younger Diaspora generations are seeking out knowledge of their ancient ancestral traditions, and many are slowly incorporating them into a new holistic vision of themselves as African people. It is to them that the future of these powerful ancestral religions will ultimately depend.”

Today, a new era begins. Harmony between black women and men. Harmony in our families. Restoration of mental, physical and spiritual health. Restoration of our royal heritage and ancestral legacy wealth. Favoritism, sibling rivalry, sexism, colorism, child abuse and neglect, abandonment, domestic violence, ends now.

Honor the Mother of all life. Her body, mind, soul and spirit. Hold her up in high esteem. She is not to be used, abused or exploited. She must hold herself up in high esteem again. She is not to use, abuse or exploit herself or others.

I honor the African Matriarch, Asherah, in my first epic fantasy novel, Ashira’s World. She is called the Queen of Heaven in the Bible. Like countless others, she was demonized and erased during the rise of patriarchy.

I write for justice for the African Matriarchs. Their legacy will always be remembered and preserved.