In 1934, Kwame Nkrumah applied to the Lincoln University for an admission to study. One year past and he had not received an offer or a response from the university on the status of his admission.
He then wrote an emergency letter to the Dean of Students at the University in 1935 reminding him of his request for an admission to study at the university. Following his reminder, the university wrote back to him asking him to write a brief story of his life and his reasons for wanting to study at the school.
The following is the summary of what Nkrumah wrote to the university:
“I neither know where to begin nor where to end because I feel the story of my life has not been one of achievements. Furthermore, I have not been anxious to tell people of what may have been accomplished by me. In truth, the burden of my life can be summarized into a single line in “The Memoriam,” quoted by Cecil Rhodes; “so much to do, so little done … In all things, I have held myself to but one ambition and that is to make necessary arrangements to continue my education in a university in the United States of America, that I may be better prepared to serve my fellowman ….”
This response was enough to convince the United of the uniqueness of Nkrumah and importance of admitting him to the school. Eventually he received an offer of admission with great joy and encouragement.
He began his preparation to continue his education in the United States early in 1935. In the late summer of that year his plans were completed. He had to visit a relative in Lagos, Nigeria in order to raise some of the funds he needed for this important journey of his life. In his journey to the United States he stopped at Liverpool and at London for final visa documentations where he learned that the dictator, Mussolini, had invaded Ethiopia. This added to his depression and awakened his nationalism
As HE (Kwame Nkrumah) walked the streets of London, the only concern he noticed about the war in
Ethiopia was the newsdealers using it to sell more papers. He read about the plight of Haile Selassie, the Ethiopian Emperor trying to buy arms in Europe in vain, while his troops mostly barefoot and armed with spears and ancient muskets, confronted a modern army.
In London, then the worldwide headquarters of colonialism, Nkrumah was being taught the first hard lessons in the practical reality of power.
When Kwame Nkrumah was a Fish Seller
The day Nkrumah entered the United States of America to begin his studies at the Lincoln University, he had not enough money to pay his fees for the first semester neither enough money to caretaker for his living expenses. Due to this financial difficulty, Nkrumah began to buy and sell fish in the street of Harlem. Unfortunately, he discovered soon, that his investment in the fish business far exceeded the returns and he was not making any profit.
Nkrumah left his fish business and he now has no job, no money, no accommodation and no one to resort to for assistance. A devastated Nkrumah walked in the streets of Harlem wondering where he could turn next. As nature always looks after those it has destined to change destinies, Nkrumah suddenly met a fellow student from Lincoln who originally comes from Demerara in British Guinea, now Guyana. He told him his story and this student said: do not worry my African brother; I will do everything possible to help you. ~I think I can solve the- accommodation problem as a start.’
~He explained that he knew a West Indian family who were extremely kind and sympathetic and that if he went along and put Nkrumah’s case before them, he felt they might help him out. Sure enough, by the time Nkrumah had told his story tears were in the eyes of the women. She offered Nkrumah small spare room, and added that he shouldn’t worry about the payment until he managed to find a job and become financially stable.
The single support which the students and the family offered Nkrumah helped him to complete his studies and move to Africa to present the key of political independence to the continental Africa. Yes, UBUNTU is our way and it is the only way that can bring us the Africa we want! Let us join together for action in the spirit of Ubuntu.
Please join the African Continental Unity Party – ACUP let us all build Africa together, register your membership at www.africanacup.org
