THE LATEST CHAPTER
#TenaciousTribe
THE LATEST CHAPTER
MAKING STORIES OF
BLACK RESILIENCE HEARD
COMING IN 2022
Stories of strength. Stories of courage. Stories of triumph over adversity. This is Black Resilience, the next chapter in the New Chieftains.
And we’re searching for more people to be part of it. Know an amazing individual whose voice needs to be heard? Nominate them today.
We can feature them in this powerful picture-led storytelling.
Black Resilience is the latest chapter in the New Chieftains. We want to normalise the notion of black excellence. And give a platform to inspiring black voices. Because making these voices heard will help build a more just world.
A nation-wide street exhibition with posters will launch this exciting new chapter. Watch this space. But we’re also on the hunt for more people to tell their stories.
We want non-conformists. Creative minds. People who inspire. Break moulds. Push boundaries. Just fill out the form below to nominate someone to be part of our tribe.
THE NEW CHIEFTAINS FOUNDER, WHAT IS BLACK RESILIENCE?
NOMINATE A NEW CHIEFTAIN
Tell us about your chosen person in as much detail as you can. Nominations close end of September.
By entering your email, you give consent for us to contact you with updates of your nomination and other updates.
Want to nominate someone for another chapter? Click here and complete the main nomination form.
HOW WE’LL SHARE BLACK RESILIENCE STORIES
All chapters of New Chieftains are developed using powerful photography storytelling from Agenda Brown.
If someone has been selected, their story will be captured through an interview. Two portraits will be taken of them by Agenda.
We may create behind the scenes content to be used, too. The chapter will then become a series of printed and digitally promoted content.
The launch of each a new chapter coincides with supper clubs, street and indoor exhibitions and talks. Keep an eye out on our site for details of these.
Once you have nominated a potential New Chieftain, we will get in touch by email to confirm this process.
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN MAKE STORIES HEARD
MAKE A DONATION: Financial fuel powers our work. From one-off donations to continued support to patronage, you can help shape this chapter and create further chapters.
SHARE YOUR TALENT: Whether you can help us gain traction through PR and marketing, help raise funds or help document our journey on film, help print our book, or even chef at one of our events – we would love to hear from you. Join our movement.
SHARE YOUR SPACE: We’ll be in need of amazing spaces to hold launch events, talks, supper clubs and more. Got a venue we can use? Please let us know.
SPREAD THE WORD: We need as many people as possible to know about this work. So if you see our posters out and about, please share them on social media using #TenaciousTribe
MY BLACK RESILIENCE
NEW CHIEFTAIN, MASTER FRANCK
The BLACK RESILIENCE chapter is focussing its gaze on black members of society who have overcome adverse and challenging moments in life and have arisen more powerful than ever. With Tenacity and Resilience at the core of these stories “BLACK RESILIENCE” pays respect to these Chieftains.
This chapter will launch with thoughts and stories of BLACK RESILIENCE told by existing New Chieftains.
“We are programmed physically and mentally to overcome adversity”
MY BLACK RESILIENCE…
It never leaves me, it has been my guide in times of trouble and also my aid when planning what comes next. The things that life and society throw at us are much less impactful because it is there. My life is enhanced, fulfilled and energised because of my BLACK RESILENCE!
BEING BORN IN THE CONGO
A country where you can express yourself freely (except for politics) you must be aware that with this may come some consequences but this can make you stronger and more determined as an individual. In the Congo, life can be hard so you have to be strong, tough and flexible with the ability to bounce back.
We as Congolese throughout history have kept going. We do not just sit down and feel sorry for ourselves, we face difficulty head-on, our mindset is “Did you die? no, then carry on” we are programmed physically and mentally to overcome adversity. I had to leave my family and when I came to the UK, I couldn’t speak any English so I had to learn quickly and gain an understanding of the culture here, this is where my foundations aided me.
England is very different but I wanted a challenge, we as Congolese embrace challenge for it makes you stronger, as long as you are alive it’s okay we keep trying and don’t give up until we are dead! We use our minds intellectually and educationally as well as our bodies for sport and physical activities such as Martial Arts which is a huge passion for most Congolese. I was encouraged from a young age to explore Martial Arts and it has been a great asset throughout my life. Though our involvement in sport we access a higher level of tolerance and thinking and we learn the hard way through this. We are not inherently violent as a people.
SPIRINTU
My education was a blend of the French and Belgium systems back in Congo. My education was not recognised by the English system, which meant that I had to start from the beginning and repeat the entire process. I wanted a particular job, I didn’t speak any English, but I studied very hard to achieve my Master of Science (MSC Network Security and Pen testing) this was possible because of my resilience. I had to use my Congolese foundations and now I have ten years of teaching I.T. in English!
We have been through so much as a people, from generation to generation and this gives us a spirit of fighting back “Sprintu” (Fighting spirit) our past and present experiences are what makes us who we are. We ride on the waves of our ancestors, their power, their experiences and they know the atrocities and the injustices that continue to take place (Adama Traore / Amadou Diallo / George Floyd plus many, many, others in the USA and across the world) there is a connection centuries-old.
LEGACY
Education, Education, Education… Determination, focus and discipline, this is how we will instil resilience in the young. Our real history and culture has not been taught and it is time for this to change. Once we understand that misinformed white supremacy has used black nations throughout history, things will change, this is when we will see long term resilience in the young.
Many of us know that the greatest inventions came from black people such as George Edward Alcorn Jnr who was responsible for 20 inventions related to astro physics and semiconductor manufacture and Mark Dean who is responsible for developing the first colour pc monitor and the first gigahertz chip. Our contributions are evident if you just scratch the surface. A lot of the western world’s education is based on fallacy which has been twisted to suit those who are afraid of our resilience!
NO CHOICE!
We do not have a choice, we have to be resilient, we have to persevere regardless of what is in front of us. We need to remember who we are no matter what!
“We draw on experience and power from our ancestors, we REALLY feel these things are happening to us”
AGENDA BROWN, FOUNDER OF THE NEW CHIEFTAINS
INTERVIEWED ON BBC RADIO BY DOTUN ADEBAYO
THE BLACK RESILIENCE PLAYLIST BY @DONLETTS
THOUGHTS ON BLACK RESILIENCE FROM THE TRIBE
BLACK RESILIENCE commences with 6 existing member of The New Chieftains tribe sharing a line on the subject. Each image below takes you to their respective chapter and interview.
BLACK RESILIENCE LONDON WIDE BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN
“We do not have a choice, we have to be resilient, we have to persevere regardless of what is in front of us.” MASTER FRANCK