By Lauren Akselrod
Cavalier Daily Senior Writer
What is the meaning of true liberation? And what can people do to work it into their everyday lives?
Tony Browder, founder and director of the Institute of Karmic Guidance, will give his simple explanations to these mysteries and more tonight at 7 p.m. in Clark Hall during his lecture entitled, "Why We Need the Nguzu Saba: An African Agenda for the 21st century."
Browder maintains that ancient Africans laid the foundation of science, mathematics, religion and philosophy, and he sponsors lectures and conducts study tours of Egypt, West Africa and South Africa. His organization is dedicated to the research and application of ancient Egyptian history and metaphysics.
The words Nguzu Saba come from the African language, Kiswahili, and translate as the "seven principles," said La Tasha Levy, interim assistant dean of the Office of African-American Affairs.
"These seven principles include unity, collective work and responsibility, self-determination, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith," Levy said. "And these same seven principles form the basis of Kwanzaa, the only African-American cultural holiday."
In his speech, Browder will adhere to this idea of the seven principles to offer a holistic approach to improving the social, political and economic well-being of the family, community and black people as a race.
Browder's lecture will "officially prescribe solutions to the state of blacks in America and throughout the Diaspora," Levy said.
According to Levy, Browder believes that the importance of the lecture comes from his belief that blacks have been told to live their lives isolated from African cultural values that should be central to living.
"All people can use these values, but they're African based," Levy said.
Browder's lecture at the University today is not his first appearance. Last year he led a discussion on The Middle Passage, a slave voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. Browder blindfolded participants and used scents and sounds leading them to believe that they actually were on the journey.
"I had just graduated from the University, but came back for Browder's demonstration," Levy said. "It was very powerful and we asked him to come again"
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