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Alkebulan Children

100 essential things an Alkebulan (African heritage) child should know or master before the age of 18

Identity, Ancestry & Purpose

Know your full name, meaning, and the history of your ancestral surname(s).
Know the original name of Africa: Alkebulan—“Mother of Mankind.”
Memorize your family tree at least 4 generations back.
Know what tribe, ethnic group, or lineage your ancestors came from.
Understand the impact of colonization and how it reshaped our names, lands, and stories.
Study Ma’at, Ubuntu, and ancestral codes of honor and balance.
Know your purpose is divine, not random—rooted in restoring harmony.
Understand the meaning of being melanated and your body’s spiritual technology.
Learn and honor major African & diaspora holidays (Kwanzaa, Juneteenth, etc.).
Know at least 10 revolutionary freedom fighters from the continent and the diaspora.
Visit ancestral burial grounds or participate in libation ceremonies.
Make a personal “Life Purpose Statement” by age 15.
Know the power and spiritual importance of your hair, skin, and body.
Study how African cosmologies explain creation and our connection to Earth.
Understand the sacred role of children in traditional African societies.

Mental Strength & Historical Truth

Read Carter G. Woodson’s The Mis-Education of the Negro.
Know that the first universities and libraries were in Africa (Timbuktu, Egypt).
Be able to spot colonial lies in history books and media.
Study Pan-Africanism and the global Black liberation movement.
Learn to decolonize your education and question everything.
Know at least 5 African languages and their regions (Swahili, Yoruba, Igbo, etc.).
Visit or connect with African cultural centers or elders.
Study the history of African empires (Mali, Ghana, Kemet, Nubia).
Understand how African knowledge systems birthed math, science, and astronomy.
Journal weekly about your growth and your place in the world.
Learn the concept of Sankofa—“go back and get it.”
Know the real story of the transatlantic slave trade.
Understand how media misrepresents Black people and learn media literacy.
Learn to build your own reading list based on liberation and truth.
Know the power of African storytelling and the griot tradition.

Spiritual Grounding & Inner Wisdom

Learn how to pray, meditate, or chant daily for clarity and peace.
Study your ancestors’ spiritual path (Ifa, Christianity, Islam, Rasta, etc.).
Understand the difference between religion, spirituality, and ritual.
Learn to give daily gratitude to ancestors and the Most High.
Know the significance of libation and how to perform it respectfully.
Create an ancestor altar or sacred space at home.
Fast or cleanse seasonally for spiritual discipline.
Know the seven principles of Kwanzaa and live them.
Learn the 42 Laws of Ma’at.
Keep a spiritual journal for dreams, visions, and divine messages.
Understand that your body is a temple and portal of creation.
Know that spiritual warfare is real—and how to protect your energy.
Honor the sacred cycles of nature: moon phases, solstices, and equinoxes.
Learn sacred drumming, dance, or song as a way to raise energy.
Know that intuition is ancestral wisdom speaking—trust it.

Self-Sufficiency & Land Skills

Learn to grow at least 10 vegetables or herbs.
Understand USDA Plant Hardiness Zones and what grows in your region.
Learn how to compost, collect rainwater, and enrich soil.
Start your own food garden—indoors, on a balcony, or in your yard.
Know how to save and store seeds.
Learn how to cook at least 5 traditional African or soul food dishes.
Know how to preserve food (drying, fermenting, freezing).
Understand food sovereignty and why it's key to freedom.
Learn how to use plants as medicine (garlic, ginger, hibiscus, etc.).
Raise or care for an animal (chickens, goats, bees, etc.).
Know the difference between natural and processed foods.
Participate in a local farm, community garden, or urban agriculture program.
Make your own natural products (soap, salve, toothpaste).
Learn how to fish, forage, or identify edible wild plants.
Understand the connection between healing the land and healing ourselves.

Financial Literacy & Wealth Legacy

Open a savings account or youth credit union account.
Learn budgeting: needs vs. wants.
Know the meaning of cooperative economics (Ujamaa).
Study Black Wall Street and economic sabotage in history.
Learn to barter and trade skills.
Create a small business selling crafts, food, or services.
Know how to create a business plan.
Understand interest, credit, and how to avoid debt traps.
Know how taxes work and how money circulates.
Save money for something that benefits your community.
Invest in land, tools, or seeds—not just sneakers.
Learn the importance of group economics and Black co-ops.
Start a family legacy savings or emergency fund.
Use financial apps to track spending and goals.
Learn how to be both ethical and profitable in business.

Safety, Protection & Self-Defense

Learn physical self-defense techniques.
Know when to walk away and when to speak up.
Understand how to stay safe online and on social media.
Memorize emergency numbers and have a plan.
Carry yourself with awareness and confidence in public spaces.
Know how to recognize abuse and where to get help.
Build a network of trusted adults and mentors.
Learn the signs of manipulation, coercion, and emotional harm.
Learn basic first aid and CPR.
Know your legal rights in school, on the street, and with police.

Communication & Leadership

Learn public speaking and how to share your truth with power.
Practice conflict resolution and mediation.
Start or join a youth council or leadership program.
Know how to write a persuasive letter or petition.
Lead at least one community service or social justice project.
Mentor a younger child and be a role model.
Know how to advocate for yourself respectfully.
Practice active listening and empathy in every conversation.

Culture, Creativity & Global Awareness

Learn an African instrument, dance, or traditional art form.
Study the African diaspora around the world (Caribbean, Brazil, Europe, etc.).
Know traditional stories, music, and food from at least 5 African nations.
Learn your national anthem and your liberation song.
Create and perform a skit, poem, or song about your culture.
Travel to or connect with a country on the continent or in the diaspora.
Know that being African, Black, melanated, or Alkebulan is a gift, a mission, and a crown.

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