A new Saturday school, which will have students study African history, culture and languages, aims to provide Bermuda?s youth with a sense of identity.

The school is based on African-centred teachings and will include lessons in history, science, geography, art, culture, language and much more.

One of its founders, Peggy Burns, said: ?Our aim is to reawaken the Afrikan consciousness of our young people through the study of Ourstory in order to give them a sense of identity, purpose and direction which will empower children of the Afrikan Nation.?

Ms Burns said they chose to use the word ?ourstory? because it explains a major component of the curriculum, African history taught by Africans to Africans, as opposed to history being taught in Euro-centric schools on the Island.

Another example of reclaiming the African identity is the choice to spell the continent?s name with a ?k?. This is done by a number of scholars, educators and social groups around the world because most vernacular or traditional languages on the Continent spell Afrika with a ?K?, it was Europeans imperialists that substituted the ?k? with a ?c?. Changing the spelling it is seen as a way of reclaiming the African identity.

?The children?s education and curriculum are based on truth, balance, order, harmony and reciprocity so that each student will understand that self-determination is fundamental for participation in a culturally diverse society.? Ms Burns said. ?The students must be centred in their own historical and cultural heritage which fosters a positive self-esteem, develops group identity, and provides for entrepreneurial activities that encourage collective work and responsibility.?

The group, which includes Sistah (sic) Tianja Bean and David Hughes (Lumumba) believe that their Saturday course will benefit students and cover areas where the the public school system fails.

?There is something dreadfully wrong with an education process that leaves us ignorant of our past, strangers to our people, apes of our oppressors and creatures of habitual, shallow thought and trivial values,? Ms Burns said.

?I do believe Afrikan history was a secret hushed for such a long time and our ancestors are quaking,? Sistah Bean said. ?They want to be heard, they are saying if you want to know the truth you have to listen.?

?We know there is a sickness in Bermuda and we have to heal it. We have put Bandaids on it for so long but under the bandaids the wound is festering and pussing. That?s where this Island is now.

?We have undertaken the responsibility not just to talk about it but to do something about it.?

The women said that the curriculum would start in Africa, with the origin of life, but that it would also include African-Bermudian history.

Mr. Hughes said by teaching students to better understand who they are and where they came from it will help ease racial tensions.

He said that in his own experience Europeans respect him because they understand his beliefs and that he is aware of his history.

Students will also get a chance to learn Swahili, Arabic, Amharic and Yoruba, all languages currently spoken African. They will also learn about African history, culture and spirituality, but Ms Burns was quick to add that it was not religion-based spirituality.

?One having a belief in Afrikan spirituality does not mean that one has to reject his/her religion,? she said ?There is no conflict. To the contrary. It is probably because of the Afrikan?s sense of spirit that Afrikan people are amongst the most religious people in the world.?

The school will be more interactive than students are used to, they said, because African-centred learning focuses on making the student the subject of the educational experience rather than an object. The organisers said that by making students the centre of the process it includes them in their education.

The school will open on April 29, every week classes will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. It is aimed for students enrolled in primary or middle school, currently there are 20 spaces available.

There will also be a summer school run in July and August. For information about the curriculum call Sistah Bean at 737-0488 and to enrol call Ms Burns at 297-1624.