MARTIALFORCE.COM
PRESENTS
AN INTERVIEW WITH
Aurélien Henry OBAMA
Voice of the African Warrior Tradition
Publisher of Shiai Magazine
“The International African Martial Arts Magazine”
“It was the practices of martial arts, which brought me salvation and made me proud of myself. I became stronger, more open up to people, more social, more human and proud of being called black.”
Interview by Eddie Morales
Martialforce.com
Online Martial Arts Magazine
My name is Eddie Morales and welcomed to Martialforce.com Online Martial Arts Magazine. I want to take this time to introduce Aurélien Henry OBAMA. He is a man of integrity with a sincere and compassionate spirit. He is the owner and operator of an Online Magazine that is well known by the Martial Arts community and without hesitation would think of his fellow man before thinking of himself. We met as a result of my reading his Magazine and appreciating what he has to offer to this world. Aurélien Henry OBAMA resides in Africa and has a vision coupled with determination and spirit, which is the fuel that empowers his life. We here at Martialforce.com hope you enjoy his interview.
Martialforce.com: Where are you originally from?
Aurélien Henry OBAMA: I am a Black African from Cameroon “Africa in Miniature” which is a central African country with various geographical sites which has 10 regions with 250 ethnic groups and dialects whose official language is French and English a former British and French colony. Cameroon is well known for its national football soccer team called indomitable lions, traditional music Makossa and Bukitsi. I’m the maternal great grandson of Ahanda Noah Mbia a famous traditional warrior chief of the Yanda clan of village Mfida in my country who died at the estimated age of 125 years old in the 60’s and who had more than 60 wives and more than 300 children. My clan is Ngoe from village Ossoessam; my tribe is Ewondo which belongs to Beti –Fang Ethnic group which is part of Bantu people of Africa. I’m 100% pure African and proud of my traditional heritage and culture. I had the chance to live and travel to America, Canada, France, Nigeria, Congo and Romania because my father at that time was a diplomat for Cameroon. Growing up in America and Canada in the 70’s and 80’s surely sharpen my way of seeing things; that the American dream is possible and that dream can also become the African dream. Every people and every nation needs to dream and believe in their opportunities and the gifts that God gives them as a whole nation in general.
Martialforce.com: What Martial Arts styles do you practice?
Aurélien Henry OBAMA: Although I was the son of a diplomat my father never did encourage me to practices martial arts; so I was obliged to study in secret in the beginning or finance my own studies by my own efforts. Luckily for me due to my personality, character and behavior most of my martial arts instructors taught me for free. In school I studied a bit of wrestling but it was Taekwondo my first discipline I studied in Canada. Later on in Cameroon I continued my training in Shotokan Karate, it was most popular and vulgar martial arts discipline within the nation. I am now a 2nd Degree Black belt in Karate Shotokan since year 2006. Later on I went back study taekwondo regularly and also Sambo. I’ve flirted with kickboxing and any other martial arts system I met on the way. I like bodybuilding and stretching. I’m fun of dancing. Presently I’m a researcher in African Martial Arts. Studying and observing different traditional fighting forms in my country but also within the international black community. In the beginning I was Asian oriented but now I’m opening up to beauty and culture of my people. I’m planning to develop my own fighting system based on my personal research work. For my young age I’ve been practicing martial arts since 25 years.
Martialforce.com: You are the owner of “Shiai” African Online Magazine; can you tell our readers what your mission with this magazine is?
Aurélien Henry OBAMA: Shiai Magazine is an online African Martial Arts Magazine supported by the Shiai African Martial Arts Sports Association (S.A.M.A.S.A) formerly called Shiai Sports Association (S.S.A) headed by me. It is a pan African magazine in the valorization of African modern, traditional and Diasporas systems of fighting, very well known as African Martial Arts as a form of socio-cultural expression. The promotion of the image of the African Warriors, promoting all Blacks/Africans who practices martial arts and sport combats in general across the entire world; the defender and the voice of the African warrior tradition. Since Africa is birthplace of humanity and civilization Shiai Magazine opens to all races and people in the common interest of martial arts, which can become a binding block of unity of peace and love within all nations. All races, all people have a warrior culture and African warrior traditions are the oldest in the world. Website: www.shiaimagazine.net
Martialforce.com: Who are some of your influences regarding Martial Arts?
Aurélien Henry OBAMA: When I was a kid I was a big fan of Jean Claude Van Damme. I remember telling my late uncle I wanted to be called Black Van Damme. He told me no and said I should valorize my name, my personality, my talents and especially my heritage. Today I understand him very well, who would have imagine 10 years ago that my family name OBAMA would have been famous in the White House and I was about to put it aside (laugh). Although I was fan of Van DAMME, Loren AVEDON, Steven SEAGAL, Jackie CHAN and definitely Bruce LEE; deep in me there was that envy and desire to watch and identify myself to a black hero. Every time I watched my black brothers in film playing the villain or the best friend of main hero (white or Asian) being killed at the end of the movie, I always wanted to be like them. Watching people like Jim Kelly, Taimak, Billy Blanks, Black brothers in the ninja films, Wesley Snipes, Michael Jai White and many others fascinated me and made me proud. In Cameroon my master Francois Bertrand EMINI African Karate Champion now police officer and Joe ATEBA “The Unbeatable” African Taekwondo Champion were two who influenced my vision. Concerning African Martial Arts brother NUBA also known as Timothy Cage founder of TACRO (traditional African Combat Research Organization) and also Brother Khalil MAASI son of legendary African American martial arts master Shaha Mfundishi Maasi who is about to star in the upcoming African Martial Arts Movie “The Way”. Both men live in America. They shaped my vision and philosophy of African Martial Arts. It is true that all people I had interview for Shiai Magazine and worked in my film projects have been a great inspiration for me. I can only bless them all and thank God for their friendship.
Martialforce.com: You were going to be in the National Team in 2000, could you tell us about your experience?
Aurélien Henry OBAMA: I was a student in Eastern Europe within year 1998 to 2000 studying Industrial chemistry. Studies were expensive and there were no possibility to work. I was the best fighter in my karate club and there were Europeans and world champions my karate club. I knew by joining their national team studies will be less expensive for my family. But when my karate master met president and national coach about my case, they told him, they don’t want a black man in their team. I felt frustrated and discourage. My master told me about his own experience how he was rejected because his grandfather was against communism. Finally I became a punching bag for the champions of my club; every time they will hit me hard on the head, the master will never complain but when I hit hard they will always complain. Things got worst my master drove me away from club because students who were jealous of skills and popularity were complaining that I smelled very bad like a pig and that if I don’t leave the club, they will go away. Due hardship and difficulties my visa got expired and I was detained for 7 months behind bars. My human rights for a university student were abused. Everything I fought for and believed in vanished. At that moment I could have hated all the whites in world but at that moment of time I discovered the mighty strength and love of God in my life. Back in my nation, I continued to study and practice martial arts; strange indeed within my own people I experienced tribalism and favoritism. Who should I hate now the white or my own people. There was a deep crisis in me. There was a voice talking to me. I had to listen to my inner voice, my inner master; Praying to God to show me the way. That is when I decided to create Shiai Magazine and NGUL Productions my own art entertainment production promotion house. I knew that ignorance was the root of all evil and that true philosophy of martial arts and culture can break barriers between races, color, people, religion and nations. I thank God for every tears, hardship, pains and difficulties in life I ever experience. It made me a better person and true believer of God. Somebody one day describe me as civil right fighter in the martial arts, I did laugh but when I think about that I realize that he was right.
Martialforce.com: How did you become interested in film acting and what is your current involvement in a film project?
Aurélien Henry OBAMA: As a child I always dreamt to become a film star but when I got older, I thought that as for an African from Cameroon, it was impossible. Only Blacks living in America can have right dream to become an action film star that was my vision at that time. Later on after creating Shiai Magazine and NGUL Productions (I worked on an African super heroes’ comic book called ASH: Africa’s Super Heroes which I’m the author). After watching the film ONG BAK of Tony JAA and realizing how Thailand fought to promote their culture and tradition to black screen. My friend Joe ATEBA “The Unbeatable” and I decided to work on the 1st True African Martial Arts Movie called Money Bag, which will promote African Martial Arts and African Martial Artists in general. Project grew and people like Khalil MAASI, Mike VAMPLEW, Loren AVEDON and Jalal MERHI join up the production team of Money Bag. But for several reason Hollywood and international film community did not give actual support we needed to make the movie a reality. One of my friends put me in contact with a local TV station in my country; we discuss about the creation of an African Martial Arts TV series. That is when the idea of Lost brother “Waka-waka man” came up but the local TV station lacked means to produce show. My friend Joe ATEBA who was the main star of Moneybag declined the role of the main hero of Waka-waka man and asked me to play the main role. I shot a short film version in which I put it in youtube.com www.youtube.com/masterobama. It became very popular. With encouragement and support of my friend Pavel Nyziak from Poland film agent and webmaster of Bolo Yeung, I decided to work the feature film version of lost brother. When African American Robert Parham a retired World kickboxing champion turned film actor heard about my new project, he asked me if he was able to participate in the film project. Later on his friend African American Jason Sterling actual World kickboxing Champion also requested to be part of the film project. Later on Jamaican model and actress Nerissa Irving accepted to be part of film project. Lost Brother “Waka-waka man” film project is becoming very popular and we hope to shoot the film ending of this year 2010 or beginning next year 2011, once we will obtain correct means to make the movie. I think that every people, every race and culture deserve to have their own heroes.
Martialforce.com: From previous interviews I have read, you speak about problems regarding Blacks in general and in martial arts, can you explain?
Aurélien Henry OBAMA: Africans and Africans from Diaspora have experience slavery, colonization, segregations, apartheid, and many other ills, which have affected the mentality and image that Black man has about him. We are always second in command. The image we have about ourselves is that we are poor, drug dealers, corrupt, losers, and the list is long. We continue to teach our children that we are cursed race and that there is no hope for us and that the others are superior to us. Many will say no but through our action we behave inferior as if we tell others that it is impossible to dream. That Dreams are made for others. When will we decide to change our perception about us as people in a whole? When will the black man unite not in violence but in peace helping each other to prosper and to grow? We need role models in our society. We need to give a positive light to our children and children of our children. Our Ancestors were warriors, kings, queens and great people. Civilization was born Africa. Humanity was born in Africa. We are the big brothers of all races, not a brother of wickedness but a brother of love and forgiveness. We can share our vision and philosophy of family to all people of world. I truly think that world redemption can come from Africa. Many great minds like Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King junior, Malcolm X, Michael Jackson and many others gave us a dream to believe on and hope. Martial arts just reflect a short aspect of the problem that we face and I think that as African discovery our martial arts heritage can only make us proud.
Martialforce.com: You wrote an article in Shiai Magazine called the 7 Ways of the African Warrior based on your vision of African Martial Arts. Can you tell us about this?
Aurélien Henry OBAMA: You see that in Africa, you will not find Ninjas, samurais, knights, cowboys, Vikings, barbarians which reflect the culture and identity of warfare of these people in Asia, Europe or America instead in Africa; you will find warriors and hunters. In the warrior tradition of Africa, we live in a community and we must protect and be part of the community we live in. Every warrior during time of peace is hunter searching for food for rest of community. Every warrior during time of war most protects his community. Every warrior most be noble and be an example to all members of the community. Every warrior must have a family. Every warrior is a good dancer; he participates in the moments of joy and happiness in his community. Every warrior is herbalist knows the secrets of plants to heal the sick and needy and knows the art of spirituality. Finally everywhere is true believer and worshipper of Most High the Almighty God. I think as “the Voice of African Warrior Tradition” our role models cannot be drug dealers, corrupt African leaders and so forth. We should look deep within our soul and search for the answers and solutions to all problems as people and race but I truly think that if we study the history, legends, myths and stories of our people we can learn from their wisdom and evolve better in society. See the success of Asia, they are modern but they still practices and respect their tradition with love of God.
Martialforce.com: Thank you for your time and the opportunity to interview you for Martialforce.com Online magazine? Are there any closing words you would like to share with the readers?
Aurélien Henry OBAMA: I remember when I was kid although my parents had financial means living in nice house and having a nice car; everyday I was reminded that I was black by white kids but even by black kids. As a kid I refused to be called black, I told my teachers and parents that the color of my skin was brown and only my hair was black. I was very shy kid, always alone and very sick. I was only watching TV. There was moment I felt to commit suicide because I felt that my life was not important in the society I was living in but it was the practices of martial arts, which brought me salvation and made me proud of myself. I became stronger, more open up to people, more social, more human and proud of being called black. For years I’ve been fighting for my dreams, I never thought that my dreams were the dreams of many people around the world who read Shiai Magazine and support film projects of NGUL Productions. Many readers including famous people write to me everyday thanking me for work I’ve been doing these past years. Even though I am financially broke and every moments I am having problems with my website due to finance, just your nice words when I interviewed you in Shiai Magazine encourage me to continue my work making people to believe in themselves that dreams are possible once we believe in ourselves and the almighty God. God bless you all my readers. Don’t forget to come to visit me in Cameroon my nation. Thank you Eddie Morales to give me the opportunity to open my heart and soul to all humanity.
You can contact Aurélien Henry OBAMA at:
shiai_magazine@yahoo.com
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