In 1980, Master Naba Lamoussa Morodenibig, a young man who excelled at indigenous knowledge and technologies, joined forces with other cultural activists inspired by the work taking place under Thomas Sankara’s cultural revolution in Burkina Faso. Master Naba started a cultural preservation organization called Khepra. Khepra’s goal was to protect traditional culture from modernisation, while at the same time promoting extensive research by the initiatic youth into the legacy of Kemet (original African civilization).
Master Naba MasterNaba continued his research around the continent of Africa, visiting many temples and sacred sites to learn more. He crossed the Sahara desert from south to north and from west to east many times in pursuit of reclaiming Kemetic knowledge. He traveled to Germany and spent time studying Kemetic (Ancient Egyptian) texts that had been looted from the Nile valley.
Everywhere he traveled his quality and knowledge attracted people who wished to study with him but the political surveillance he received in Germany for being able to read the hieroglyphs led to his decision to start establishing his international organization elsewhere.
After attending a conference at the famous African film festival FESPACO in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou about the state of the communities of the African diaspora and the inequalities they face in the United States, Master Naba was inspired to bring his work there. Bringing the wealth of these traditions out of the secrecy through which they had been preserved, proved to be no small feat. He sought approval from his initiatic elders and the Gulmu Kingship, the authority of his native tribe, centered in Eastern Burkina Faso. He also traveled to different kingdoms and temples, seeking the support of various tribes and clans responsible for the Kemetic legacy.
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In the mid 90’s with the permission and blessings of the Kingships and his elders, Master Naba established The Earth Center in 1996. The first Kebtah location in headquarters was established in Chicago, Illinois with the goal of providing an authentic education to communities suffering from lack of knowledge. Master Naba would also work to ensure the fruits of that education could be felt by the community through projects, events and programs. Master Naba would work with various organizations to expand the impact of his work.
In 2005, he and some of his students began traveling to New York to participate in the International African Arts Festival in Commodore Barry Park. He worked with cultural organizations to give lectures and workshops following the festival and resulting buzz from his presence. This led to him starting the second Kebtah location in Brooklyn, New York.
Before returning to West Africa, he led a lecture tour throughout the West Coast of America, stopping in Seattle and Tacoma Washington, California’s Bay Area, Los Angeles and San Diego. From that trip the San Diego Kebtah location was formed in partnership with the Worldbeat Center.
His return to Burkina Faso in 2006 meant he could bring his work, which had now evolved to an international mission, back to where it started, the continent of Meritah which we now call Africa. He opened The Earth Center in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou and began classes, workshops and a radio show called La Lumiere (The Light). He began facilitating the initiatives and projects to revitalize indigenous life in Meritah and set the direction for the Het Aishat Healing Center, which would later open in Togo.
Master Naba passed away in 2008. He left behind a large family and a profound legacy, including students and initiates from around the world. A few of his disciples have worked tirelessly within The Earth Center to ensure that the world could benefit from the sacrifices and vision of this great man and the oldest African traditions that have been preserved.
Not every location holds public events or projects. Some are traditional temples that take care of the spiritual basis of Kebtah, others are the sites of retreats led by The Earth Center with its sister organization, Ankhkasta Natural Healing. In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, The Earth Center brought its M’TAM School online. Since then classes have been held online, connecting people from many different countries and continents.
