Roots: The Saga of Kunta Kinteh's Continental Descendants

Help the Harambee Organisation of Black Unity to renovate the house of Kunta Kinteh's descendants

• Harambee Organisation of Black Unity 
  HOBU is an update of the Organisation of African American Unity (OAAU) founded by Malcolm X in 1964. The OAAU’s goal was to bring together all Black activists and organizations in the United States to coordinate and strategize the way forward for the community.
  In founding the Organisation of Black Unity in the UK, with the first chapter in Birmingham we have brought the spirit and letter of the OAAU into the 21st Century. We aim to build a mass membership organization to work with existing groups to support the activity in the Black community and to create new programs where necessary. The organization would be focused practically on issues facing the local community, but always tying these into national and global concerns.

• Kunta Kinteh
  Kinteh is arguably one of the most famous African people in history. A Manindka man, he was born and lived in Juffreh (the Gambia) before being captured and enslaved in the United States. The story of Kunta comes to us as narrated by his descendant Alex Haley. The novel titled Roots: The Saga of an American Family and subsequent TV series from the 70's and 2016 engraved Kinteh's life, courage and exploits in the collective Black heart and imagination.

• His continental descendants
  One HOBU members visited the family of Kunta Kinteh who still lives in Juffreh. Their home reminded her of that of her grandparents: open space, the smell of cooked food and burned charcoal, the many apartments to house the large family. The material conditions is what struck her the most: there is nothing wrong with living in a humble abode but they deserve better than a rusty metal roof over their head. With the help of a local Gambian contractor, NaSuuBa, we want to give them a dignified house.

• Black solidarity
  There is always much talk about Black solidarity, nation building and the like. We have to, however, contend with people's material conditions and practical needs. We can shout "Black pride" and "Black is beautiful" all day, but what are they worth if we cannot keep our lights on and keep food on our plates? Join us to improve the life of Kinteh's descendants.