As African writers without borders who are connected beyond geography with those who live in the United States of America and other parts of the African diaspora, we state that we condemn the acts of violence on Black people in the United States of America. We note in dismay that what Malcolm X said in Ghana in 1964 that “for the twenty million of us in America who are of African descent, it’s not an American dream; it’s an American nightmare” remains true for 37 million in 2020.
We condemn the murders of:
George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, Amadou Diallo, Ahmaud Arbery, Aiyana Mo’Nay Stanly-Jones, Tony McDade, Pamela Turner, Matthew Ajibade, Rekia Boyd, Eric Garner, John Crawford III, Michael Brown, Shelly Frey, Ezelll Ford, Dante Parker, Michelle Casseaux, Yvette Smith, Darnesha Harris, Laquan McDonald, Atatiana Jefferson, George Mann, Tanisha Anderson, Akai Gurley, Tamir Rice, Rumain Brisbon, Jerame Reid, Frank Smart, Natasha Mckenna, Tony Robinson, Anthony Hill, William Chapman II, Alberta Spruill, Walter Scott, Shantell Davis, Eric Harris, Philip White, Mya Hall, Alexia Christian, Brendon Glenn, Victor Manuel Larosa, Jonathan Sanders, Salvado Ellswood, Joseph Mann, Freddie Blue, Albert Joseph Davis, Darrius Stewart, Billy Ray Davis, Samuel Dubose, Troy Robinson, Christian Taylor, Sean Bell, Brian Keith Day, Michael Sabbie, Asshams Pharoah Manley, Felix Kumi, Keith Harrison McLeod, Junior Prosper, Anthony Ashford, Dominic Hutchinson, Paterson Brown, Lamontez Jones, Bettie Jones, Alonzo Smith, Tyree Crawford India Kager, Janet Wilson, Sylville Smith, Benni Lee Tignor, Yvonne Smallwood, Kayla Moore and all other names, known and unknown, that represent human beings who are our kin.
Our blood.
We support the protests in the United States and across the world as our people demand justice for any and all racial killings whether by police or civilians. We are aware that these are not quiet protests. We do not expect it and neither should the United States of America. The killings were not done quietly. The police brutality and state sanctioned murders were done loudly with no fear of consequences from those who perpetrated them.
We acknowledge the African Union’s condemnation of the United States government’s continual terrorism towards African Americans. We believe that the African Union can and should do better.
We ask that African governments recognize our alliance and connections with our brothers and sisters across borders, from America to Brazil and through the rest of the diaspora. That they offer those who choose it: refuge, homes and citizenship in the name of pan-Africanism.
We demand that the American legal institutions independently investigate every police killing as well as investigate any complaint against police violence.
We demand that any accused be suspended without pay until a fair trial clears them of charges. In essence, we are asking the United States of America to be brave enough to adhere to its own bill of rights so that it can be the land of the free for ALL Americans regardless of color, creed or sexual orientation.
We assert that Black Lives Matter. As writers, we raise our fists in solidarity with those who refuse to be silenced. To our brothers and sisters in the United States, we stand with you.
We ask all decent human beings to join us in being our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. As they protest in the United States, please give whatever donations you can to #BlackLivesMatter https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019
SIGNED:
• Chris Abani
• Kelvin Nonvignon Adantchede
• Ama Ata Aidoo
• Ali J Ahmed
• Abdilatif Abdalla
• Yasmin Abdel -Magied
• Leila Aboulela
• Leye Adenle
• Bisi Adjapon
• Jose Eduardo Agualusa
• Ali J Ahmed
• Júlio de Almeida
• Ayesha Harruna Attah
• Sefi Atta
• Meti Birabiro
• Tanella Boni
• Nana Brew-Hammond
• Noviolet Bulawayo
• Shadreck Chikoti
• Nana Awere Damoah
• Tolu Daniel
• Ibrahim El Khalil Diallo
• Boubacar Boris Diop
• Raoul Djimeli
• Edwige Dro
• Ainehi Edoro-Glines
• Chike Frankie Edozien
• Filinto Elisio
• Kalaf Epalanga
• Amir Tag Elsir
• Mona Eltahawy
• Ubah Cristina Ali Farah
• Virgilia Ferrao
• Aminatta Forna
• Chimeka Garricks
• Kadija George
• Laurence Gnaro
• Hawa Jande Golakai
• Isatou Alwar Graham
• Francisco Guita Jr
• Helon Habila
• Osman Ahmed Hassan
• Suad Sadig Hassan
• Pede Hollist
• Abdelmoumin Ibrahim
• Abubakar Adam Ibrahim
• Tsitsi Ella Jaji
• Nozizwe Cynthia Jele
• Mamle Kabu
• Mubanga Kalimamukwento
• Tamanda Kanjaye
• Precious Colette Kemigisha
• Grada Kilomba
• Moses Kilolo
• David Lukudu
• Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse
• Angela Makholwa
• Nick Makoha
• Jennifer Makumbi
• Napo Masheane
• Mohale Mashigo
• Makanaka Mavengere
• Eusebius Mckaiser
• José Luís Mendonça
• Maaza Mengiste
• Thando Mgqolozana
• Niq Mhlongo
• Amna Mirghani
• Nadifa Mohamed
• Natalia Molebatsi
• Yara Monteiro
• Merdi Mukore
• Marie-Louise Mumbu
• Richard Ali Mutu
• Kevin Mwachiro
• Remy Ngamije
• Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu
• Mukoma wa Ngugi
• Nducu Wa Ngugi
• Natasha Omokhodion-Banda
• Ondjaki
• Troy Onyango
• Tochi Onyebuchi
• Chinelo Okparanta
• Gabriel Adil Osman
• Ladan Osman
• Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
• Mia Couto
• Nii Ayikwei Parkes
• Abreu Paxe
• Mbate Pedro
• Pepetela
• Yovanka Paquete Perdigão
• Hannah Azieb Pool
• Jorge Querido
• Sanaa Abu Qussasa
• Abdelaziz Baraka Sakin
• Mohamedou Ould Salahi
• Hassan Ghedi Santur
• Malebo Sephodi
• Lemya Shammat
• Lola Shoneyin
• Lemn Sissay
• Kola Tubosun
• Chika Unigwe
• Abdourahman Waberi
• Zukiswa Wanner
• Djamila Ribeiro
• Molara Wood.
• Howard Meh-buh Maximus
• Jocelyn Danga
• Dr. Juliane Okot Bitek
• Kei Miller
• Khalid Hane
• Priscillar Matara
• Esther Karin Mngodo
• Fadhy Mtanga
• Kinyanjui Kombani
• Sophie Nuwagira Bamwoyeraki
• Wangui Wa Goro
• Kimani Njogu
• Richard Mabala
• Sitawa Namwalie
• Ruby Yayra Goka
• Anna Samwel Manyanza
• Nahida Esmail
• Moraa Gitaa
• Uwem Akpan
• Doreen Baingana
• Fadhy Mtanga
• Aminu Salihu
• Tee Ngugi
• @CheekyNatives
• Jonuel Goncalves
• Dele Fatunla
• Lillian Akampurira Aujo
• Sisonke Msimang
• Telma Tvon
• Uzodinma Iweala
• Susan Mahakata
This letter came out of a core group of African writers who formed the virtual literature festival, Afrolit Sans Frontieres in light of the #COVID19 pandemic; where they hold book readings and question-and-answer sessions on social media. They were joined by other writers to make this collective statement.