“And those who disbelieve say: Listen not to this Qur’an but make noise therein, perhaps you may overcome. So We shall certainly make those who disbelieve taste a severe chastisement, and We shall certainly requite them for the worst of what they did. That is the reward of Allah’s enemies–the Fire. For them therein is the home to abide. A requital for their denying Our messages.”—Holy Qur’an, Surah 41, verses 26-28
Being back in the city of Detroit to commemorate our 84th year since the founding of the Nation of Islam with the first public appearance of the Great Mahdi, Master W. Fard Muhammad in 1930 brought back many fond memories of my growing up in this city from the time of my birth until today. I thought about the many people I have met through the years that have impacted my life and strengthened the foundation of my pursuit of knowledge. The setting of the Joe Louis Arena to hear the enthralling words of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan after nearly 60 years of his service to Allah and His Christ, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad was truly magnificent to witness.
Walking through the newly-renovated Cobo Hall Convention Center and meeting our wonderful brothers and sisters in attendance from around the country was exhilarating, bringing great joy and happiness to my heart and spirit. This year, I was particularly joyful to participate in a musical, multidimensional, theatrical production focusing on the history and Divine Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. This effort was made possible by the combined talented youth, joined by adults of all ages, from across the country who stepped up to the task of sharing our Nation’s history to an audience in a way that has never been performed before. We were received with open hearts and minds and overwhelming support.
I wish to thank the many outstanding individuals who traveled from across the country and devoted their time and personal finances to make this production a success in the city of Detroit. It was like returning to our Mecca in the West and the beginning of a New World Order of Islam. We congratulate Sister Margaret Mahdi of the Mahdi Theatre Company based in Chicago, Illinois, who directed the performance to a standing ovation. We thank graphic artist, Brother Harold Muhammad, for his skillful portrayal in art posters taken from the theme of our exhibit in the setting of the universe. Our sister Shernette Muhammad, from Miami, Florida, graced us with a beautiful hand-painted Color Wheel of the rainbow exhibiting six of our 25,000-year cycles of history which Master Fard Muhammad had memorized by heart. Brother Siddique Muhammad rendered a breath-taking 3-D holographic portrayal of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s Vision-like Experience as he was being taken to the Great Mother’s Wheel.
Other video and technical crew from Los Angeles, California, Brother Lemuel Muhammad, Brother Jon Muhammad of Detroit, Michigan, Sister Chinyerim, and Sister Caryette Muhammad from Los Angeles, California, added their expertise in directing this aspect of the production. I also wish to thank the support team from Los Angeles, California, and Chicago, Illinois, which includes Sister Rosetta Muhammad, protocol director of Los Angeles, Sister Valerie Muhammad and Sister Amina Muhammad, dress designer and entrepreneur, who facilitated communications from start to finish. Costume and wardrobe personnel and designer headed by Sister Rosalyn Muhammad from Phoenix, Arizona, dressed the dancers and the entire cast in noble attire befitting the theme of our presentation. She was assisted by Sister Sandra Muhammad from Los Angeles, California, and Sister Carmen Muhammad from Chicago, Illinois.
The beautiful dancers who staged the choreography of this production were formerly members of the Divine Hands Dance Ensemble, founded by the late Sister Sareeta Muhammad. One of the principal dancers, Sister Harmony, is one of her daughters and Sister Hanniyah Muhammad is the daughter of Sister Sandra, who is a leading dancer in a famous New York dance company. Other dancers included Sister Ayesha, Sister Salima Muhammad from Chicago, Sister Jamillah from Washington, D.C., and Sister Luewilla X Barnett also from Chicago. A special martial arts youth, Brother Daniel X, played the part of Yacob playing with two pieces of steel is also from Chicago. Our Master Teacher was Marcus X Conley, and one of our storytellers, Maurice 7X, were from Chicago, and our second storyteller, Gladys Muhammad, is from Phoenix Arizona and formerly served the Nation of Islam as protocol director in Los Angeles. Sister Gladys is a bonafide specialist in the art of storytelling as derived from her family geneaology.
Our live musical ensemble of gifted musicians consisted of harpist, Sister Indigo Bleu from Washington, D.C., violinist, Henri Muhammad from Buffalo, New York, flutist, Bilal, also known as Detroit Blue, and crystal bowl players, Travon, Dustin and Muakhin. With great buoyancy and skill, our brother, Kenny Muhammad, known worldwide as the Human Orchestra, also performed on stage lighting up the scene while our story was being told. A beautiful waltz was performed by a couple from Miami, Florida. We acknowledge the state of the art sound and light engineers of Cobo Hall who rendered a brilliant display of colored lights and sound throughout the performance.
We thank Dr. Stacy Muhammad, principal organizer of the Nation of Islam Timeline Exhibit and former director of Muhammad University of Islam in Detroit, Michigan, for her magnificent support and assistance given to this production. A word of thanks to the Mxodus Team for their moral and financial support of this theatre production. Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad introduced this multicultural event to our audience, supported by a host of laborers and members of the Nation of Islam. To one and all, I express my gratitude.
Above all, I thank the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan for his continuous help, support and encouragement to all of us in the onward evolution of the Cultural Revolution taking place in our Nation. We thank all of the Conscious Believers for making this 84th Commemoration of Saviours’ Day 2014 in Detroit, Michigan, an outstanding success story for the people of the world. May Almighty God, Allah, continue to bless us our beloved Minister, and our believing families, that we may be guided to enter into a New World of peace and happiness.
“Those who say, Our Lord is Allah, then continue in the right way, the angels descend upon them saying: Fear not, nor be grieved, and receive good news of the Garden, which you were promised. We are your friends in this world’s life and in the Hereafter, and you have therein what your souls desire and you have therein what you ask for. A welcome gift from the Forgiving, the Merciful.”—Holy Qur’an, Surah 41, verses 30-32
