Sidney Francis is the President of CABO, The Central American Black Organization (In Spanish, Organización Negra Centroamericana o ONECA), an organization that works to organize Afrikans in the region on the basis of rediscovering African cultural heritage and inter-group solidarity tactics designed to create an environment where Afrikan people are empowering Afrikan people.  He sits down with Black Power Media to introduce CABO to our readers and to offers some insight into how we can build with each regionally.

Tafari Melisizwe: When, where and why was ONECA/CABO founded?

Sidney Francis: CABO, or the Central American Black Organization was founded on August, 25, 1995 in Dangrida Belize. The primary purpose of this organization was to make visible the African presence in Central America… CABO fights against racial discrimination and seeks to build and promote solidarity amongst the Afro-descendents in Central America; we also put forth an agenda of development with identity, political advocacy etc.

TM: In how many countries does CABO have representation?

Sidney Francis

SF: 7; Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua and the USA, we have an Afrocentroamericano organization based in the United States.

TM: Outside of being President of ONECA/CABO, what other things are you involved with in the region?

SF: I also chair a local NGO, that works in the area of rural development… working on things such as microcredit, advocacy, and natural resource protection/management.  In CABO, I am one of the many volunteer.

TM: What are some of the major issues currently facing Afrocentroamericanos?

SF: There are approximately 4 million Afrodescendants in Central America. In a holistic way, the majority of Afrodescendants in Central America live in a deplorable situation, one of poverty and exclusion, racism and racial discrimination… We are affected seriously by illiteracy, unemployment, health, HIV-AIDS and forced displacement from our land and territory, with little or no participation in the States’ power structure, etc.

TM: In the Pan-Africanist school of thought, it seems that there is a tendency to overlook the historical and contemporary struggles and victories of African people in Central America, often in favor of other regions like the Caribbean, Western Europe, and North America. What, in your opinion, can African people in the Western Hemisphere do to build solidarity with Afrocentroamericanos?

Francis' with Dr. tChenzira of PerAnkh Khamniversity

SF: It is urgent to see ourselves as one people of African Ancestry, with a common history, culture, and tradition. We must educate ourselves in the African values. Solidarity with our ancestors has been vital for us to survive until today. I believe independently, where we are, what names they put on us, what language we speak, we have to build our own institutions to create our space of togetherness to express real solidarity. Your last question gave me the opportunity to give the readers a panorama of where we are and how we are, and now the focus is on how we could build the bridge.

TM: Do you believe language is a barrier to building this solidarity? If so, how can we overcome this?

SF: No.

TM: All 8 Central American nations have signed international agreements to protect the living standards of blacks in their respective nations. Alta Hooker, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Autonomous Regions of the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua (URACCAN) says that despite these agreements being signed and a complete legal framework existing, “what is lacking is the will to enforce them…they [the agreements] are ignored”. You expressed a similar view while also saying that in spite of this truth, you were optimistic because “the silence has been broken”. How have regional Government’s responded to the breaking of this silence?

SF: In some Countries more than others, the Governments are implementing important affirmative responses to the actions of the people that are learning their rights, and demanding the fulfillments of the same in an organized way. In some countries, people of African ancestry are in relevant positions of the government, both in the executive and legislative power, but it is not relevant in the holistic view… We need more than representatives that look like us.

TM: CABO has branches in every Central American country except El Salvador. Last year, leading up to ONECA’S General Assembly in Belize, you said to Amandala that “blacks in El Salvador don’t recognize themselves as such [As having African lineage] because their identity has been systematically erased…” This phenomenon of not recognizing or appreciating one’s African lineage is on the rise… What can we do to reverse this trend?

SF: I think it merely is a question of time.

TM: This weekend, ONECA/CABO and URACCAN are hosting the “Simposio Internacional de las Culturas Creole y Garifuna” (First International Symposium of Creole and Garifuna Cultures) in Managua, Nicaragua. This looks like it is going to be a very powerful conference; what does your organization look to accomplish through this symposium?

SF: Our central interest is in promoting dialogue from a community perspective, taking a trans-disciplinary, and intercultural look at

Simposio International

the political, economical, social, cultural dynamics of Central America, and furthermore their interrelation with the Afrocentralamericano. At the end of the journey, we expect to form a document which includes the criteria and indicators necessary for forwarding an agenda of development with identity, and to create a unified strategy of political advocacy.

TM: CABO is a member of The Pan African Diaspora Union (PADU), an international coalition-style organization comprised of Pan-Africanist organizations, what would you like to see PADU work with ONECA/CABO on, and What role do you see ONECA/CABO playing in PADU?

SF: PADU’s agenda or plan of action is very similar to our plan of action for Central America. I think PADU must get up close and personal and see African People in Central America as part of the struggle in the Americas as a whole. Then to road to Africa liberation will be effective. We, Afrocentroamericanos could, can and will play a major role in promoting and expanding the struggle also to our brothers and sisters in South America.

For more information:

http://simposiooneca.uraccan.edu.ni/