The Nationwide Black United Entrance (NBUF) will host its twenty eighth annual Sankofa Caravan to the Ancestors on October 18, combining added significance for 2025 with the group’s timeless objectives.
The Sankofa Caravan to the Ancestors is a religious, cultural and historic expertise, which is a bodily caravan of automobiles, buses and vans from Houston to the shores of Galveston.
The added significance of this yr’s caravan speaks to an essential anniversary for the tradition and an acknowledgment of the difficult socio-political local weather in 2025.
2025 significance
“This week, Oct. 16, 2025, represents 30 years because the Million Man March mobilization,” mentioned Kofi Taharka, nationwide chairman of NBUF. “We should move on classes realized in historic and up to date activism, organizing and mobilizing.”
Taharka mentioned NBUF believes in striving for an intergenerational motion, and shared this yr’s caravan theme as proof.
‘Standing on Enterprise’
“This yr’s Sankofa Caravan to the Ancestors, we’re ‘Standing on Enterprise: Preserving Our Historical past and Tradition’ throughout occasions of bother,” shared Taharka, founding father of Black Guerilla Media. “This 2025 theme was given to us by an 11-year-old and a 25-year-old participant.
This yr’s returning particular visitor will likely be Charlotte “Mama C” Hill O’Neal from the United African Alliance Group Heart (UAACC) in Arusha, Tanzania. She is a veteran Black Panther, acclaimed multi-dimensional artist, creator, movie producer and African Conventional Religions (ATR) priestess.
Members and mates of NBUF alike are enthusiastic about this yr’s journey to Galveston.
“The Sankofa Caravan to the Ancestors is essential as a result of it’s a residing act of reclamation. It calls us to recollect who we’re.”
NBUF member Folade Madzimoyo
“The Sankofa Caravan to the Ancestors is essential as a result of it’s a residing act of reclamation,” mentioned NBUF member Folade Madzimoyo. “It calls us to recollect who we’re, to achieve again and collect the fragments of our historical past scattered by captivity and colonialism.
“Within the spirit of Sankofa—to return and fetch what has been misplaced—we honor the reminiscence of those that got here earlier than us, not as a ritual of mourning however as an affirmation of continuity.”
This yr’s caravan will depart from NBUF headquarters (2428 Southmore Blvd., Houston, Texas 77004) at 7 a.m. sharp. Members are scheduled to be on the seaside at twenty ninth St. and Seawall Blvd from 9 a.m. to midday.
“We maintain a sacred ceremony with prayer, tune, drumming, dance and audio system honoring our nice Black/African and Indigenous ancestors whose shoulders we stand on,” mentioned Taharka. “All religion traditions are welcome. We put on all white for unity and spirit.”
Though this yr’s caravan holds added significance, the aim of the twenty eighth annual caravan stays the identical because it was from the start.
Function
The aim of the Sankofa Caravan is to:
Honor our creator, divine mom essence and father essence
Venerate/uplift and draw inspiration from our Black/African and indigenous ancestors
Find out about our African, African in America and Indigenous spirituality, historical past and tradition
Obtain blessings to attain our objectives and overcome our challenges
Settle conflicts and disputes
Energize ourselves for the work we should do in the present day and sooner or later
As with all NBUF actions, the Caravan just isn’t funded by grants or exterior sources.
“The caravan is free; nevertheless, your help to maintain us robust and impartial is important,” shared Taharka. “Go to www.nbuf.internet for normal info and to sponsor or donate.”
Calendar of Occasions
Whereas in Houston, Mama C may also be talking/performing on the following occasions as part of her annual “Heal the Group” tour.
Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., SHAPE Group Heart (3903 Almeda Rd., Houston, Texas 77004). Host – Houston Alumni Chapter of the Black Panther Social gathering & All Actual Radio. FREE
Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. NBUF HQ (2428 Southmore Blvd., Houston, Texas 77004). SANKOFA NGOMA – Host – All Neighborhoods Powerfully United (ANPU). FREE
Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Shrine of the Black Madonna Worship Service (5309 Martin Luther King Blvd., Houston, Texas 77021). FREE
Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. First Unitarian Universalist Church (5200 Fannin St., Houston, Texas 77004). FREEFor extra info, go to www.nbuf.internet, name 832-422-7806 or e-mail nbufhouston@gmail.com. Or comply with NBUF by way of Fb @NBUFHOUSTON and IG @NBUF_HOUSTON.
