I have not known what to say ever since learning of the transition to the Ancestors of Bro. Reggie “Ruffmic” Logan, otherwise known as Bro. Anpu Ptah Amen, on March 7. From Precise Science’s breakout CD, “Everybody’s Not Gonna Make It”, to the various “Mixtape” CD releases and Ruffmic’s solo effort “Who Me?”, many of us in the Pan-Afrikan activist community had come to look for inspiration from Ruffmic and Bro. Heru “Freedomwriter” Ptah MeriTef.  The duo, often accompanied by Bro. “Flo” and DJ WaH-Heed on the Wheels, had traveled across the country to perform for adoring crowds and to spread their knowledge and uplifting pro-Afrikan message.  Precise Science had also performed regularly at the annual Pan Afrikan Day of Solidarity, hosted by the Pan-Afrikan Liberation Movement (PLM) in Baltimore, and featured in their shows a variety of talented vocalists, lyricists and musicians to deliver uplifting and self-affirming messages and knowledge to the people, as well as promotion of the Guerilla Republik apparel and philosophy which were woven into their performances.

Learning of Bro. Ruffmic’s health challenges of the past year created concern, but I never knew how serious his condition was. Those of us who were anticipating the possible return of Precise Science will now have only our memories of the unique concentration of lyricism, knowledge, wisdom and true commitment we had learned to expect from what had to be one of the most relevant artistic collaborations in the history of Hip Hop and of music in general.

The Pan-Afrikan Liberation Movement (PLM) is sponsoring a Celebration of Life for Ruffmic at 4100 Towanda Avenue, in Baltimore, on Saturday, April 21 from 3 to 7 PM.  This comes on the first Saturday after what in Ancient KMTic (Afrikan) tradition would be the 42-day period in which the ka (spirit) of the recently deceased visits the 42 primary ancestral deities (Netcheru), testifying to each how he has followed the 42 currently-acknowledged Declarations of Ma’at. These Declarations, in which the person’s ka states that he has refrained from some undesired or sinful act (“I have not killed another in anger”, for example), have often been called the “Negative Confessions” by Western Egyptologists who do not understand the depth of Ma’at and its Declarations.

I do not know specifically what the program for the Celebration of Life will be, but I will not be surprised if it incorporates a dramatization of Bro. Ruffmic’s ka making these visits to the Netcheru and, upon completing these visits, sees his heart judged on the Scales of Ausar and found to be “as light as a feather”, unburdened and unbound by the sins and evils so often attributed to man, and thus being determined to be worthy of admittance into the Halls of the Honored Ancestors. I have seen this ceremony done on three occasions: first, for my friend Dr. Kwame SabakhuRa in the summer of 2000; then for Dr. John Chisell a few years later; and finally for Baba Osei Owusu in 2012. If there are elements of this ceremony during Bro. Ruffmic’s Celebration of Life, we as a community will see the opportunity to truly raise him up in the honor his great service to his people deserves.