George the Poet turned down an MBE because of the colonial trauma inflicted on the children of Africa.

George the Poet, a renowned spoken word artist known for his powerful and thought-provoking performances, recently announced on his podcast that he would be turning down the MBE award. As a proud member of the African community, George Mpanga, his real name, felt that accepting the award, which stands for Member of the Order of the British Empire, would be a betrayal of his African heritage and the ongoing legacy of colonialism.

In the final episode of his podcast, "Have You Heard George's Podcast?", he delved into the topic of colonialism and its lasting impact on Africa. He explained that while he originally told a friend he would accept the award if offered, upon being nominated and selected, he felt a "burning sensation in my chest" and knew he could not accept it.

George Mpanga, who is of Ugandan heritage, emphasized that he sees himself as a student, admirer, and friend of Britain, however, the colonial trauma inflicted on the children of Africa is still evident today and prevents him from accepting the title Member of the British Empire. He also added, He encourages future generations to seek relevant information to make an informed decision. What do the words British Empire mean to you?

He urged the Afrrican community and the African youth to be conscious and participatory in all levels of formal and informal education of the Africa populace. He said, "This colonial trauma is still evident in today's Africa. Millennials must go the extra length to be conscious and participatory in all levels of formal and informal education of the Africa populace."

At CoolAfricanMerch, we stand with George the Poet and his decision to reject the MBE award. We believe in promoting a message of transparency, inclusivity and consciousness in our Afrobeats community and African style. Our CoolAfrican playlist is a reflection of this belief and it features the best of African music, style and dress. Join us in this journey of celebrating and uplifting Africa.