A Maroon Assessment of Power

Sùwŭ 𞤅𞤵𞥊𞤱𞤵𞥇, or power is the ability to cause or prevent change. It is both stabilizing and destabilizing; both a causal factor in bringing about certain changes in social and environmental circumstances as well as preventing them. There are variegated nuances related to power such as: A) Power to/ability to –the ability to get what one wants because of the possession and effective application of power. It is the capacity of some persons to produce intended and unforeseen effects on others. It is the ability a person or group has to produce intended effects upon the world around them, to realize their purpose within it, whatever these purposes happen to be. B) Power over – use of power by a person or group (can be race) to constrain or restrict the possibilities or options of another person or group when they are not able to act freely.

The person/group which possesses and applies “power over” another person or group is thereby enabled to structure and restrict the action range of the subordinate person or group and to limit options available to them. “Power over” as defined herein, characterizes the primary relationship between the European yovo and Afrikan people worldwide. The Kilɔmbo Paradigm is well designed to eliminate this imbalance. Our culture is paramount in this fight. This definitely includes our spiritual traditions.

Mɛhɛn Gannugánnú ɖi Sùwŭ

Coercion as Power

Force or its idea is often attached the concept of coercion as power. A coercer may succeed without actually possessing the capability of carrying out its purported force. The coercer’s success is directly related to if the subject believes the coercer possesses this form of power or not. Thus, we come to overstand that in many cases power holders exercise power of their subjects because of the subject’s misperception and mis-overstanding, or false beliefs, about the power holder’s ability to restrict their options or possibilities. Equally and of greater importance is the ability of the dominant agent to coerce its subject because of the subject’s misperceptions and underestimation of his/her own capacity to successfully thwart the coercive or punitive actions of the dominant agent.

We are arguing that if Afrikans do not permit themselves to be psyched out by Euro-racist propaganda, if they both recognized and actualized their real potential to neutralize “white power” in either its imagined or actual forms, they can by these means neutralize it. Ultimately, the employment of the power of our elevated ancestors and the deities must be engaged in. That is how we are built as a people.