4 Ways To Participate In Black History Month With Beeyonder

​“Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.”
― Carter G. Woodson

It was Carter G. Woodson, known as the father of Black history, who first spearheaded the creation of Negro History Week (which eventually became Black History Month) in February 1926. Over the years as the civil rights movement grew, Black History Month was officially recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976 who urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history”. For 2022, the theme is The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity which according to the World Economic Forum “explores the diasporic nature of the African family – both the individual families whose members are spread out across different states, nations, and continents, but also the wider perception of the African diaspora as the “Black family at large”. We hope these four live, interactive tours help to deepen the ongoing exploration of Black lives, their achievements, rich culture, heritage, and history. 

Learn About The Life of Nelson Mandela
Few black individuals are as prominent as the late Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, South Africa’s first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. The anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist served 27 years in prison, of which the final 14 months of his incarceration took place at Drakenstein Prison. An exclusive to Beeyonder experience, Moira Edmunds and Manfred Jacobs of Green Beyond Tours & Travel Co. will take you through the house and reveal some of the stories from the time Madiba (as he was respectfully known) was imprisoned there. You’ll see the table where both the terms of his release as well as the foundations of South Africa's new democratic constitution were negotiated, and learn about his integrity and nobility from people who lived close to and served as Madiba's allies. 
Join the tour here. 

See Nairobi Through The Eyes Of A Street Child 
A unique one-on-one experience, the Nai Nami Experience brings you on a live storytelling tour through downtown Nairobi. Aside from showing you the colorful life on the street, your storyteller and guide will share real-life stories as former street children and gangstas, and how they’ve used their well-honed skills to transform their lives and become social entrepreneurs. Like making a friend while abroad, this experience will leave you forever changed. And as a bonus, booking the Nai Nami Experience allows former street children and disadvantaged youth to earn a regular income and have a future.

Learn About Afro-Argentine History
On the surface, Argentina appears to be the most European country in South America but at one time it had a strong African presence because of the slaves that were brought there. This unique tour created by Lunfarda Travel aims to shed some light on the rich Afro-Argentine history. Led by a Jewish Afro-Argentine performance artist, she’ll elaborate on Argentina’s complicated history, the culture of the Afro-Argentine community, and their influence on everything from the tango to the quilombos (communities formed by descendants of runaway slaves). You’ll also explore the San Telmo, Buenos Aires' most historic neighborhood, where enslaved Africans worked in colonial times, and see a conventillo, a place where free Afro-Argentines lived side by side with Native Americans and Europeans. As a bonus, for every private tour booked, Lunfarda Travel sponsors one for a public school. 
Learn more about this experience here. 


Soak In The Sounds and Sights of Langa Township
Join this walking tour of Langa, the first black township in South Africa for a raw, unfettered look at life in Cape Town. Led by a resident of Langa, he’ll share more about how townships came about and the story of the Apartheid government’s forced removal of people. Along the way, you’ll learn more about the culture of the people, listen to the local language and perhaps learn a few Xhosa words by the end of the tour. 
Join this eye-opening experience here.