Brother G (Gregory L. Walker) is a Chicago based journalist, poet, historian and author. While working part-time for the Associated Press, Brother G spent 10 years conducting research for the African Legends genre, writing "Shades Of Memnon," and developing contacts in archeology, anthropology and linguistics worldwide. He has also written columns on comic books and graphic novels for the American Library Association, contributed to the national news publication "In These Times" and is one of a popular group of Chicago poets who inspired the motion picture "Love Jones." "Shades of Memnon" has been optioned for movie production by the actor Wesley Snipes, star of the "Blade" trilogy.
Acknowledgments:
I would like to first thank the creator for making this world in such a way that it challenges all of us to struggle and to strive, for without this there would be no progress. I must next thank the long chain of ancestors, those known and unknown, who sent me here and put it into my heart to carry on this work. To my mother, Geneva and father, Pat and the rest of the Walker clan, thank you for your support and love. Thanks also to the Ausar Auset Society for revealing the great wisdom to me. Thanks to Clyde Winters for revealing the facts to me. Thanks to Bill Duke, Joe Landsdale and Tim Truman for the kind words and assistance.
To my creative and spiritual homies Apuat En Heru, En En Sa Takhi(John Grey), Donnino Hill, Courtney Jolliff, Darryl Spicy, Auset N' Temu, Aung Mu Ra, Jah Bang Jah, Baba Oje, Frank Stevenson, Tony Akins, Reatha Hardy, SeneMaku En En, Hrupti Men Ab and Hra Ptah: Thank you for every line drawn, every image rendered, every verse kicked, every line spoken, every minute edited and all advise given- together we are the modern Medjay and I love you all. You are constant reminders to me that a fist can break through where a finger falters. Peace.
Author's Notes:
"Shades Of Memnon" is the first series of the new African Legends genre being introduced by Seker Nefer Press. Based upon 10 years of research, the genre reflects the study of epic traditions that we call "Epicology," a word coined by Ayele Bekerie, a brilliant professor of Africana Studies at Cornell University.
In his ground breaking book "Ethiopic: An African Writing System," Bekerie defines Epicology as "the art and science of mythologizing, symbolizing, narrating, lamenting, prophesying, allegorizing and folklorizing. It could be looked upon as total history."
I realized total history was what I had embarked upon 10 years ago after reading Bekerie's book. In my quest I have studied traditions of history, legend and myth along with the sciences of archeology, linguistics and anthropology in an attempt to find out where the history and lore originated. I too discovered that "epic comes in and out of history" and that "some epic tales could literally and deliberately evolve out of history" as Bekerie mentions in his definition.
I will even go a step further, to say that, based upon my study of spiritual traditions and African religion, Epicology can sometimes be a stream of spiritual energy. It can be the process by which the ancestors give us guidance here on the earth, a way of keeping messages alive so that we will not totally forget, even in the darkest times.
The legends of Memnon are of this nature, having over the years taken on an almost magical quality, as if the legend had a life of it's own. They raise questions:
? Who were these "blameless Ethiopians" praised frequently by the ancient Greeks from the earliest times?
? Why were they the central focus of "The Ethiopis," the third book in the Trojan War saga?
? Who was Memnon, the prince/king of these blameless Africans?
? Why was he chosen to receive a unique immortality, while his opponent Achilles was sent to Hades after death (see "The Oddessy").