The long awaited, much anticipated Saviours’ Day message from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan called “The Swan Song” was viewed worldwide Feb. 27 from Mosque Maryam, the Nation of Islam international center based in Chicago. Through the internet and efforts of his representatives, followers, and supporters in Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean, Minister Farrakhan’s message was spread far and wide.
The webcast was translated live into Arabic, French, Spanish, Creole, Bosnian, and several African languages.
“The world is paying attention to Minister Farrakhan for the guidance needed for these troubled times. For many his international influence has been known. However, people are now beginning to see him deeper,” said Abdul Hakeem Muhammad, the Student European Regional Minister of the Nation of Islam, based in London, England.
“Because he has made himself of no reputation, people always knew that there was something different about this man; something special and divine,” said Student Minister Abdul Hakeem Muhammad.
›Implementing an extensive outreach campaign, replete with promotional material in different languages, the Nation of Islam European Region promoted “The Swan Song” to be hosted or viewed throughout Europe, Africa, and the Far East.
Abdul Hakeem Muhammad credited the response and turnout via the internet and available venues airing “The Swan Song” to Divine Providence backing of Minister Farrakhan.
“Because of coronavirus restrictions many who would otherwise travel to the United States for Saviours’ Day could not. Instead, they went into double-time organizing to make the message and experience available to their home countries and people. Through social media networks, radio, television and billboards, the important webcast was advertised,” he noted.
The efforts were not absent of challenges. Local time differences between the U.S., Africa and Europe were a factor. Some countries were under covid mandates restricting public gatherings and in the case of Rwanda, in East Africa, there was a time curfew. However, none of these issues deterred organizers.
“We are very excited over the highly anticipated message by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan,” said David Muhammad, the Nation of Islam Eastern Caribbean student regional minister based in Trinidad.
“Most of us not traveling, staying in Trinidad,” he said. “We get an opportunity to be here for each other as a community while we relish in the weekend.”
There was a full weekend of programing at the Kwame Ture Education and Development Center in Trinidad that began Friday, Feb. 25 with Jumu’ah Prayer; a daylong Trade Fair on Feb. 26 and the Minister’s Saviours’ Day 2022 message on Feb. 27.
While the message aired in-person at the center, it also aired on the popular Gayelle TV, which simulcast the message live in 22 other Caribbean nations.
One-thousand miles away in Guyana, South America, the Minister’s message was shown on local television where Minister Farrakhan has been aired weekly for many years.
Organizers in Haiti worked in several cities around the country to share the Minister’s message with the people of the first Black Republic, said Yusef Makhandal, the Nation of Islam Student Representative for Haiti. Student Minister Makhandal along with Rasin Ganga of Kiskeya Interpreting and Translation translated the message into Creole for the Haitian people.
Working with various organizers in Haiti, television and radio stations in five key viewing locations carried the Saviours’ Day 2022 address. The locations for viewing included Jeremie, Jacmel, Port-au-Prince, Plaisance du Nord and Port de Paix.
In Jamaica, the homeland of Minister Farrakhan’s father, the Fruit of Islam, men of the Nation of Islam, distributed fliers in the streets. A digital billboard highlighted the website where the address was live -streamed, www.noi.org, day and night and a “cultural radio” station ran 150 thirty-second spots, said Clive Muhammad, the Nation of Islam representative for Jamaica.
For Barbados, despite limitations the island has concerning covid and related directives, an in-person viewing was organized. Local Student Minister Abdul Rahman told The Final Call the webcast in St. James Parish was held outdoors. To hear from Minister Farrakhan at this time in the world is a blessing, said the Barbados representative. “I feel blessed to be here to witness the time that we’re in … to have an opportunity to serve this man and what he represents,” said Student Minister Abdul Rahman.
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