The Wednesday, February 24 edition of Africa400 looks at Akoma Day, a weeklong celebration of Black Love that runs from February 14 – 20.  Mama Tomiko and Baba Ty interview Montsho and Nwasha Edu, creators of Akoma Day and the Black Love School.

Listen to the February 24 broadcast here:

“We are Montsho & Nwasha Edu MHS’, DSKM, SW-WMW.  Together we are a happily married SoulMate team and co-founders of the Akoma House Initiative.  Our symbol of introduction is the ‘Akoma’ (commonly called the ‘heart’ today)… It is an ancient Afrakan symbol of Love, Patience, and Purpose.

“We are the co creators of AKOMA DAY the 7 day Cultural Alternative to Valentine’s Day celebrated in 11 countries worldwide. We are the co-authors of two best selling books- Akoma Day: A Guidebook into the Sacred Science of SoulMating & Cultural Alternative to Valentine’s Day (2007) and You Are What You Cheat: A Guidebook into Understanding & Overcoming Infidelity (April 2014).

What is Akoma Day

“Akoma Day is a 7-day Black Love holiday celebrated from February 14th to February 20th and offered as an alternative to Valentine’s Day for black people who want to celebrate their love with cultural integrity.  Considering black people were the first to develop love words, terms, songs, poems, talismans and monuments of love, we should also return to our autochthonous holiday expressions. The focus of Akoma Day is to restore Black Love as the primordial example of love personified for all humanity to model.  The holiday was first conceived in 1997, celebrated locally in 1999 and then formally introduced internationally in 2001.

“Although officially celebrated for one week, the holiday is to be embodied throughout the year as a tool to attain the pinnacle level of Love in our intimate, personal and professional relationships. Part of celebrating the holiday involves organizing a sacred space to invite the 7 virtues, 7 principles and 7 symbols into your life and love.”