welcomE to mubita, llc.
Join Mubita, LLC in restoring relationships with our historic Homecoming Kingdoms in Africa!
*** Click on one or more contribution options below ***
m.g. audiobook
at-will contribution
M.G. freedom center
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what is MUBITA, LLC?
In August 2019, Eric Anthony Sheppard was blessed to be given the Lozi name "Mubita" by The Litunga (King) His Majesty Lubosi Imwiko II of the Barotseland Kingdom (Western Province, Zambia) during the inaugural Africa Homecoming Pilgrimage to commemorate the 400 year milestone of the transatlantic slave trade era, under British rule starting in 1619 at Jamestown, Virginia (USA). The name "Mubita" means "one who is passing through and leads others" or "one here to stay." Mubita initially met the Litunga during his first visit to the Barotseland Kingdom in June 2017, and he made a promise to the Litunga to bring back others to commemorate the 400 year milestone in 2019.
After visiting Barotseland, Mubita found a striking resemblence of the history of slavery in the Kingdom to his research of the Maroon ancestors escaping into the Great Dismal Swamp, seeking freedom from slave owners who held them captive. The Litunga (King) Mulambwa Santulu, the 10th King of Barotseland, designated Barotseland as a refuge for enslaved Angolans and others from neighboring enslaved tribes who escaped from the Arab slave traders in the early 1800's. It is because of this similar history that Mubita brought together the history of the Barotseland Kingdom and the Maroon ancestors of the Great Dismal Swamp to form Mubita, LLC.
Because of Mubita's historical research and inspiration from his own ancestor, Moses Grandy and his 1843 slave narrative, he also established a Strategic Tourism Partnership between the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Suffolk, Virginia and the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) in the Barotseland Kingdom to develop heritage tourism, trade and restore relationships between descendants of American Africans and Africans on the Continent. Barotseland of Western Province, Zambia will be the location for the planned Homecoming Headquarters at Restoration Center in the Mongu District. WALL OF RETURN During the Africa Homecoming Pilgrimage in 2019, The Litunga also bestowed to Mubita and Mubita, LLC. 300 hectares of land for heritage tourism and trade development projects. One of the first planned projects will be to develop the land as a heritage tourism site for the "Wall of Return" project. There will be 12 designated memorial Walls, with one of the Walls listing the names of our enslaved ancestors from the Virginia/North Carolina Great Dismal Swamp areas and beyond. This is Mubita LLC's way of returning our ancestors "back home" to their ancestral homeland. Another Wall will list engraved sponsor names for (Option C). You can choose the best option below that fits your budget and help support the Wall of Return project and Restoration Center development: A.) Online Sponsor Book digital name listing on our website: Minimum of $3.00 - $999.00 B.) Digital Display name listing inside Resotration Center: $1,000 - $4,999 (includes Option A & B) C.) Engraved name listing on outside sponsor Wall: $5,000 and greater (includes Option A, B & C) To contribute, please use the AT WILL SPONSORSHIP button above and become part of this symbolic Homecoming for our Ancestors. WE CAN HEAL TOGETHER!
Because of Mubita's historical research and inspiration from his own ancestor, Moses Grandy and his 1843 slave narrative, he also established a Strategic Tourism Partnership between the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Suffolk, Virginia and the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) in the Barotseland Kingdom to develop heritage tourism, trade and restore relationships between descendants of American Africans and Africans on the Continent. Barotseland of Western Province, Zambia will be the location for the planned Homecoming Headquarters at Restoration Center in the Mongu District. WALL OF RETURN During the Africa Homecoming Pilgrimage in 2019, The Litunga also bestowed to Mubita and Mubita, LLC. 300 hectares of land for heritage tourism and trade development projects. One of the first planned projects will be to develop the land as a heritage tourism site for the "Wall of Return" project. There will be 12 designated memorial Walls, with one of the Walls listing the names of our enslaved ancestors from the Virginia/North Carolina Great Dismal Swamp areas and beyond. This is Mubita LLC's way of returning our ancestors "back home" to their ancestral homeland. Another Wall will list engraved sponsor names for (Option C). You can choose the best option below that fits your budget and help support the Wall of Return project and Restoration Center development: A.) Online Sponsor Book digital name listing on our website: Minimum of $3.00 - $999.00 B.) Digital Display name listing inside Resotration Center: $1,000 - $4,999 (includes Option A & B) C.) Engraved name listing on outside sponsor Wall: $5,000 and greater (includes Option A, B & C) To contribute, please use the AT WILL SPONSORSHIP button above and become part of this symbolic Homecoming for our Ancestors. WE CAN HEAL TOGETHER!
Who was moses grandy?
*** Read about out the proposed Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area Act - April 11, 2021 ***
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/04/11/great-dismal-swamp-slavery-descendants/
Moses Grandy was a formerly enslaved ancestor who was born in Camden County, North Carolina around 1786, and ancestor of Eric "Mubita" Sheppard. Moses had his life story documented in an 1843 slave narrative entitled, The Life of Moses Grandy; Late a Slave in the United States of America, by the British & Foreign Anti-Slavery Society (known today as Anti-Slavery International) in London, England. After paying for his freedom THREE (3) times, Moses was finally freed circa 1830, prior to the Nat Turner rebellion insurrection. He eventually purchased the freedom of his wife, son and other Grandy family members with the proceeds from the slave narrative sales and his European speaking tour.
The narrative is the story of tragedy, triumph, perseverance, family and entrepreneurship, while exposing the complexity of slavery and race relations in America. This is a must read for all Americans and people globally. Historians have said that Moses Grandy's slave narrative is the only known firsthand written account of how enslaved and freed Africans hand dug the 22-mile long historic Dismal Swamp Canal between North Carolina and Virginia, in the Great Dismal Swamp. The Great Dismal Swamp became a refuge for enslaved people (Maroons) escaping the surrounding plantations. In 2003, the Great Dismal Swamp and Canal were designated as an official Underground Railroad (UGRR) site by the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service’s "Network to Freedom" Program.
In June 2020, Mubita, LLC adapted the Moses Grandy slave narrative into an audiobook called Moses Grandy Legacy Lives. The audiobook is a great primary resource for anyone to learn about Moses' freedom story and life being enslaved around the Great Dismal Swamp. Please vist the audiobook page for details.
MOSES GRANDY FREEDOM CENTER
To honor Moses Grandy and others who fought for freedom, Mubita LLC is developing the Moses Grandy Freedom Center in the Greater Williamsburg, Virginia area. The Freedom Center will serve as a heritage tourism site to tell the regional stories of our enslaved ancestors. 178 years after the narrative was first published, Moses Grandy still inspires Mubita and others, and his legacy is opening doors to promised land opportunities in Africa. Please click on the M.G. Freedom Center button above to contribute. All Freedom Center supporters will be listed inside the facility upon completion.
For more information or to inquiry about other sponsorship opportunities for the Wall of Return project, Moses Grandy Freedom Center or other Mubita LLC projects, please contact Mubita, LLC. at info@Mubita.net or call (757) 395-0768.
check out these videos!
Want to learn more about our Mubita, LLC?
Watch these featured news videos and our 2019 Africa Homecoming Pilgrimage to Barotseland video
13 New Now Daybreak Marking A Mark:
"Keeping Moses Grandy Alive"
The 700 Club/CBN News:
"Living in Swamp Better Than Being Enslaved"
2019 Africa Homecoming Pilgrimage Barotseland