On Objects and Voices: Material Culture and Oral History in the Case of Shule Ya Kujitambua

Shule Ya Kujitambua

Shule Ya Kujitambua was founded as a product of this racially disruptive history. Kofi Lomotey, an Oberlin alum (Class of 1974), founded the school and became the principal for the years it was in operation. While Lomotey studied economics, his passion lay in educating the youths of Oberlin. In 1972 Lomotey stopped most of his extracurriculars and dedicated his education to building and running the Shule. The first iteration of the Shule was in Ura Jones's office, the Afrikan Heritage House Director. In 1972, the Shule had only 4 students attending. They were taught by a rotating cast of College students in the African American Community Student Development Program. In later years, the Shule expanded to a class of 25 students. The final version of the school was in Carter’s nursing home on East Lorain Street. Lomotey speaks fondly of the interactions between the children and the older adults at Carter's. The students were welcomed into the Shule regardless of income or background. The main requirement was that the students and their families were dedicated to total liberation of African Americans.

Mission and Purpose of Shule Ya Kujitambua 

This is an excerpt from a pamphlet that was distributed by Shule Ya Kujitamabua describing the values and intentions of the school.

“Shule Ya Kujitambua is an independent black institution dedicated to providing instruction and educational guidance to Black people. The necessity for a well-rounded education has always been a major goal of Black people in our quest for freedom. Further, the question of racism in our society makes it necessary for Black parents to ensure that their children are not overlooked and ‘under streamed’ in the school system.

The Shule (school) started with the very ambitious aims of giving remedial help to black children and familiarising them with their culture. We see the teaching of academic skills as a crucial task, since they are the basis upon which further skills can be developed to serve the community”

Yakemba Padilla - one of the first four students who attended the Shule, explains the  physical and emotional sensations of the spaces created by Shule Ya Kujitambua 

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