Date: 12 October 2025
We are pleased to share that Inkosi Mgendela Gama, Tanzanian Chairperson of Afrikan Indigenous Leaders (AYIL), together with his family from Tanzania—Prince Markcelien Gama, Inkosikazi Neema Gama, Princess Lulu Gama, and other family members—attended the Msimbithi Cultural Festival in Pongolo, hosted by Inkosi Mbhekiseni Gumbi Jele.
The festival brought together Ngoni people from South Africa, eSwatini, and Malawi, symbolizing the living connections that continue to unite African families who were separated by historical migrations and colonial borders. These gatherings reaffirm that our shared ancestry and cultural ties long predate the existence of modern nation-states.
Through his commitment and leadership, Inkosi Mgendela Gama continues to play an instrumental role in strengthening bonds among Gama families and Ngoni communities, while fostering a meaningful reconnection to ancestral lands and heritage.
This moment carries deep significance in today’s context—where some movements seek to divide Africans by nationality or place of birth. As Afrikan Indigenous Leaders (AYIL), we reaffirm that no African is a foreigner on African soil. Understanding and teaching our true history is essential to dismantle colonial mindsets and to restore our unity as one people guided by the spirit of our forefathers.
Bayethe!
May the spirit of our ancestors continue to unite and guide us toward true Afrikan solidarity, dignity, and restoration.
Issued by:
Princess Dr. Nikiwe Bam
Founder and Global President – Afrikan Indigenous Leaders (AYIL)
Lead Facilitator – C20 Working Group on Cultural Diversity Recognition and Embracement, G20 South Africa
Global Ambassador – Pan African Leadership Institute (PALI) South Africa
Co-Founder – African Royal Chamber of Commerce
Country Head – CBW Africa South Africa
📞 +27 63 881 3666
📧 nikiwe.bam84@gmail.com
Yebo, this is absolutely beautiful and wonderful to preserve our African traditional culture and customs regardless who we are in society. I humbled to see such in our own traditional cultural heritage recognition to safeguard our dignity and identity.