Reclaim the Warrior: How Ɔbenfo Kambon Exposes Cultural Imperialism in Afrikan Combat Sciences

Afrikan cultural imperialism operates through language — and that makes language a battlefield. When Afrikan people adopt alien terms to describe their own warrior traditions, they surrender power before the fight begins. Furthermore, this is not accidental. It is a deliberate strategy to misname, misframe, and ultimately erase Afrikan knowledge systems from the global stage.

In 2019, Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé Bakari Kambon delivered a keynote at the UNESCO-ICM 2nd African Regional Martial Arts Congress that cut straight to the root. He challenged the uncritical use of “martial arts” to describe Afrikan Combat Sciences. Moreover, he exposed the dangerous implication hidden inside that simple equal sign — the assumption that Afrikan warrior traditions are merely a subset of something else. That framing is not neutral. It is an act of cultural conquest. As a result, Kmtyw warriors and scholars lose ownership of their own heritage before they even speak.

Afrikan Cultural Imperialism, Terminology, and the Warrior’s Responsibility

This keynote goes deep. Ɔbenfo Kambon addresses cultural misorientation and disorientation — conditions that cause Afrikan people to see themselves through the eyes of their oppressors. He also examines alien-self and anti-self disorders, soft power, and the false narratives that prop them up. In addition, he presents 75 slides across 23 minutes and 53 seconds of dense, liberating scholarship. Most importantly, he charts a clear way forward for the Afrikan warrior tradition and Afrikan Combat Scientists who refuse to accept subordination.

This lecture is essential for warriors, educators, parents, and community builders who take Abibifahodie seriously. Abibitumi exists to deliver exactly this kind of foundational, uncompromising scholarship directly into Afrikan hands. Therefore, do not wait for institutions that were never built for us to teach us who we are. Take ownership of your cultural heritage now. Watch this keynote, study it, and share it with your community.

Get it here: Combating Cultural Imperialism & Cultural Misorientation to Preserve Afrikan Intangible Cultural Heritage