Reflecting on the Past for the Future

There is a word in Twi from the Akan people in Ghana, Sankofa, which comes from the Akan proverb, "Se wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenkyiri," meaning, "It is not taboo to go back for what you forgot (or left behind)." In English, we translate Sankofa to mean, “go back and get it.” One of the symbols for Sankofa is that of a bird whose feet are facing forward while its head is facing backwards picking up an egg in its beak.

The Sankofa bird and the meaning of the word is a fitting reflection for this Heritage Sunday. As people of God, disciples of Jesus Christ, we have a bright future ahead of us, a future worth walking towards. As Black people living in the United States, we have a rich heritage and legacy from whence we have come, a heritage and legacy of fortitude, creativity, ingenuity, knowledge, wisdom, joy, and overcoming. We would do well to reflect on the past, to gather the lessons, wisdom, and gems of our ancestors, and to use what we have gleaned as inspiration as we walk into our future. 

I see this principle on full display in Bro. Darrold Edgar’s arrangement of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” performed by the Garden State Choral Chapter. Darrold honored the legacy of James Weldon Johnson while at the same time moving the song forward for a future generation. I can imagine a day where my daughter’s children will sing the original, sing Bro. Darrold’s arrangement, and in the spirit of Sankofa, create their own for generations to come. 

Growing in Christ,

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah