Funds are needed for the burial rights of this elder who lived his life for the upliftment of I&I 
$1348 US / £886 UK / €999 / $120,000 JA
See below tributes for phone numbers for contributions or contribute via the Word Sound Power Collective by going to Paypal and making payment to wordsoundpowercollective@hotmail.com
See note on WSPC myspace link above or on my facebook page

Transition Rites for Bongo Tawney

Bongo Tawney, Chair of Nyahbinghi Ancient Council, Transition Rites are to be held at Portland Cottage, Clarendon, home to some of the most powerful and inspirational Nyahbinghi Ises, on April 10th and 11th. Please contact Ras Ivi at 876-491-7524 who is the lead coordinator for these proceedings to give needed assistance for these proceedings.

Support has come from the Ghetto Youths Foundation/Marley Brothers, North Carolina Community and Miami Community that covers half of the needed costs such as the Funeral Home but more is needed for Food, Transportation and Chairs/Tables etc.

Bongo Tawney's Empress Sister Pam was the focus of a call for support from the Community by Bongo Tawney as she has a grave medical condition and this also looms over these proceedings, so this need for support will be even more crucial going forward. So there will need to be a continuing effort for this support.

The issue of the Ancients has been a great need and rallying cry from the Community for the last 30 years with various splinter groups and efforts seeking to impact this social welfare dilemma for the Community that is symptomatic of the great need to support the Rastafari Trust Fund being activated by the Millennium Council and its aims and objectives.

This is the central cry for a multi dimensional socio economic agenda for the Community that must be foremost in our activism, with our Culture being an oral one in the most part, the loss of these giant Elders challenges the Foundation where differing interpretations and cultural and social engineering around the Culture seeks to diminish its vitality and self ownership.

The Millennium Council appeals to ones to contribute specifically to Bongo Tawney's family and long term edifying ourselves in this challenging experience of loss to make real the Social Welfare Agenda that has been articulated and recorded by the Community from the 1983 R.I.T.A. Conference.

Raspactfully,

Ras Howie
Chair

Please contact Ras Howie at ethioafricamillennium2000@gmail.com for Sister Pam's details if able to send a strength 

Bongo Tawney passes forward to Zion

"It is with very deep and utmost regret that InI announce the transition of one InI stalwart Patriarch BONGO TAWNEY who has contributed in many many ways to the Rastafari Nation both nationally and internationally." Ras Sasse

Greetings All,    
I too within the last few weeks was in communication with Bongo Tawney, Chair of the Nyahbinghi Order and the Ancient Council, and was hopeful though not completely surprised by the turn in his health.  He spoke about the Rastafari Conference at the UWI and he expressed strong views that the Community must stand its ground for its right to host it own conference on its own terms and saluted the work of the Millennium Council in putting forward a progressive MOU in this regard.  I spoke to him in the hospital and was looking forward to his leaving there and was heartened to hear that he had left the hospital, though it was reported he felt weaker based on the medication.  It is with great sadness that I heard today that he transitioned, most notably in the shadow of yesterday's send off Brother Ista J, the recent transition of Brother Ras Cliffen and other notable Elders, it shines a great light of responsibility for the Future on all those who have eyes to see, hears to hear and shoulders to carry on.    

We are that much richer in our experiences in the life and work of Bongo Tawney and I link this article as a small but pertinent reminder on the height and breadth of his contribution to us all.  May we all work together in Championing and Owning his name, activism, integrity, spirit, works, hopes, dreams, smiles through all that is the Collective and Living contribution of Ras Tafari On I and I Own Terms.    

Ride On, Bongo Tawney, Ride On,  
Let your life not be showered in mere tributes but your spirit be acknowledged through actions.  To The Rastafari Trust Fund Campaign, Creed and Repatriation with Reparations, All For One, One For All    

Maxine Stowe

Patriarch Congo Bongo Tawney I
Ras Sela life experience with Bongo Tawney

May the true light of Ras Tafari shine and carry ancient Congo Bongo Tawney I on the journey to infinity with grace and glory.

"Never fail to reflect the patient of all peoples that only through discussion, collaboration, agreement and enforcement of the will of mankind can world peace and stability be achieved." H.I.M Emperor Haile Sellassie I The First on Peace

The above quote of the HIM reflects how I spirit saw the Patriarch. I truly can not put into words how the passing of Bongo Tawney I rest upon I spirit. I say Bongo Tawney I because he as become one with I in the spirit. However, I can express in words the impression he left on I due to our experience living together in Panama and Chile.

InI met for the very first time in Panama in 2002 during a mission to livicate the 1st Ras Tafari tabernacle in Hispanic America which was later burned down by the police forces but what a honor was bestowed on the community there. It was love to Ras Tafari and people in general that the Patriarch imparted on I as a father and all those who came within his space. (see Panama news)

His humbleness spreaded a blissful aroma of child play amongst everyone in his present. It was a glorious CHAPTER in the trod of Ras Tafari. More so for InI community in Panama. Living with Bongo Tawney for 10 days during this livication, gave I a strength which propel and instill a powerful energy I never felt before.

This loving gave InI in Panama the duty and responsibility to call a Hispanic Ras Tafari Summit for the 1st time in the history of the trod. It's purpose was to seal the gap between the Anglo and Spanish speaking Ras Tafari family. What a tremendous task this was and so InI accomplished this on May 25, 2005. What a victory this was for Ras Tafari. Every house of Ras Tafari house and mansion present chanted Nyahbinghi under one Tabernacle which still stand strong in VeraCruz (See the Cross - English translation) Arraijan, Panama. (see also addition to report linked above)

From that instance, Bongo Tawney has been a guide and a pillar of strength to I while conducting the works of Ras Tafari on a international level. Of which, led a delegation of Ancient rasta men and women to trod to Chile in May 25, 2006. A year after the Summit with the mission to bless the community there under the Nyahbinghi Order and the Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress - Bobo Ashanti. InI lived in Chile for 10 days and again this loving Patriarch spirit just made love conquer through the Power of H.I.M Emperor Haile Sellassie I The First and Perfect balance in Creation Empress Woizero Menen I. (visit to Chile in Spanish)

His love to Ethiopia - Africa and his family is what I can say was his strength and guiding power. Physical Repatriation was a dream this ancient aspired for with all is being. Give thanks that the production film Africa Unite accomplished part of his dream. He was the ancient star of this production where his vision was manifested.
Patriarch Congo Bongo Tawney was a powerhouse in the flesh and still is a powerhouse for future generations to emulate. He will surely be missed and I hope I could become that loving child like ancient he shined on everyone that knew him trodding Ras Tafari.

Father and Mother of Iration Emperor Haile Sellassie I and Empress Menen I receive your beloved son Bongo Tawney and keep him within the light of divine glory.

Rest in Loving peace, 
Ras Sela

Original post on facebook + reasoning from other idrens   

Greetings In the name of the Most High Haile Selassie 1st and His Iloved Empress Menen.

George Sylvester Bent affectionately known in the International community as Bongo Tawney,has departed on Friday 26th March due to a severe heart attack.

Bongo Tawney took ill a few weeks ago, was hospitalized and diagnosed with having an enlarged heart that resulted in a mild heart attack.

After days of observation he was released from the hospital but succumbed to another attack less than a day after Junior ( Ista J ) Manning was laid to rest.

The International Rastafari community has lost two outstanding members, Ista J, Chairman of the Millennium Council and Bongo Tawney, Chairman of the Nyahbinghi Ancient Council.

The final Rites for this outstanding Patriarch will be decided on and made known to the International community as soon as the finances to effect such is in place.

On behalf of the bereaved family we hereby entreat the financial contribution of the International community to help in this endeavor.

Bongo Tawney will be remembered for his mastery of the repeater in Ises of "Yesterday"as well as his role in the New York film documentary "Life and Dept". His role also in the documentary film "Africa Unite"will be etched in the memories of all. His participation in the Nyahbinghi Album titled "Rastafari Elders" will not be forgotten.

A man of humility, tolerance, knowledge and humor, Bongo Tawney will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

A great pioneer, freedom fighter and Ambassador of Rastafari whose name and contribution to the livety of Rastafari will be recorded in the annals of InI history.

Telephone contacts for information or assistance for Bongo Tawney's family is as follows:

Sister Pam (Bongo Tawney's Empress) ........(876) 898-3261 
Ras Ivi .....................................................................(876) 491-7524 
Ras Sasse..............................................................(876) 379-6084

May the Almighty bless each and everyone that call upon His name with wise-mind, health and strength to continue his works.

Greetings Rastafari Family,

In the name of His and Her Majesties Emperor Haile Selassie 1st and His Iloved Empress Menen.

This is to inform the family that even though there are no funds to date for the burial of our Ancient Bongo Tawney preparations are still ongoing.

The tentative date for the one light Ises and the funeral is the 10th and 11th April respectively. Any changes that are made will be known to the Rastafari family.

A total of $120,000 is required to offset the funeral expenses, this will include 1 wreath, 2 newspaper advertisement and the casket. This was confirmed by the funeral parlor 'Witter and Son" in Clarendon.

The family awaits whatever contribution can be given in this time of need.

Give thanks in advance,
 
Ras Sasse for the family of Bongo Tawney.