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For Information, participation, registration and vending
Contact: Seba, Heru-Ka Anu
Phone: 443-453-3010
Ankh@AnkhFestival.com

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Everyone bring your Ankhs of all kinds - pendants, rings, ear-rings, wall-ankhs, etc - for participation in Ankh Ten (Raising the Ankh Ceremony)

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Bring your drum for participation in Wehyt Hem-Hem (Community of Drummers) Sunrise Ceremony - We will convene at Druid Hill Park - 5:00 A.M. - each morning and begin our drumming minutes before Ra appears (sunrise).

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Glossary Of Kemetic Terms:

Ankh – Life; additionally, it conveys the quality of life and longevity

Kemet – One of the names of our third oldest civilizations, most famous for is pyramids, temples, spirituality, writings and the spread of Kemet-like civilization throughout the ancient world.

Ntr – Life Force; a Kemetic word for the Creator; the Elements that sustain life – water, sun, air, earth/land, food; and the Principles that guide us in the 'Way of Life'. Ntr is from whence we get the words 'Nature' and Neter; the latter word Neter is used by agreement of White 'Egyptologist' who've decided to place the letter 'e' between the consonants in order to pronounce the word; however, the word 'Nature' is most likely closer in pronunciation to the original.

Heb – Festival

Renput – Year

Qebu Tekhan – gathering, community (qebu) / drums, tambourine (tekhan)

Seba – leader, teacher / Tepi Seba – head leader teacher, leader-teacher of great knowledge

Ua't (ou-wat) – sacred path, the way / Ankh Ua't – 'Way of Life', 'Path of Life'

Ankh Ten – raising (ten) life (ankh)

Aku (Ancestor)

Prt (peret) – seed, progeny, those yet to come

Sn-t - sister

Sn - brother

Heb Ankh | Heb Renput for the most part is the combining of two major festival-celebrations and numerous, relatively speaking, smaller celebrations.

Heb Ankh

Heb Ankh – the festival of life is a celebration conceived by Seba, Heru-Ka Anu, Leader of the TaNefer Ankh Community based upon the philosophy and 'Way of Life' practices of our Ancient Kemetic Aku (ancestors). Kemet distilled the qualities of life and the 'Way of Life' into a symbol – the Ankh; this symbol came to represent the essential ideas, beliefs and practices associated with life – that Life is the greatest gift to creation; Life is sacred; that the goal of is to establish optimal Life for everyone and everything; that all relationships should be 'life-creating and life-sustaining'. As a consequence of this way of thinking the society commanded that each person fullfil the responsibility to live a Life-Centered Life; that for doing so one would be rewarded with eternal life; failing do so would result in the end of ones life.

Today, there is a movement to restore African people to the 'Way of Life' and to restore Life to the status of sacred as it once was held. By way of enslavement and colonization – attendant with racism and cultural hegemony – African people have been forced off the path of the 'Way of Life' onto a path in direct opposition to Life-Centered living – the 'Way of Barbarism'. The 'Way of Barbarism' characterized by the conquest mentality is one driven to conquer by way of invasions, plunder, domination, exploitation, and hoarding of other peoples, and Creations, resources. This, 'Way of Barbarism' has resulted in a path of destruction for African people and various manifestations of life across the planet, a path that is contrary to celebrating, revering and perpetuating Life.

With the understanding of Ancient Kemet as a guide Seba, Heru-Ka Anu was called to introduce Heb Ankh – The Festival of Life – as a part of the process towards restoring Life as sacred, and being Life-Centered as the standard by which we live.

Heb Ankh – The Festival of Life – and the 'Way of Life' Forum gives a voice to Life, and to the African society and culture that developed, practiced and honored the 'Way of Life' – Ua't Ankh. The convening of Heb Ankh brings together advocates, educators and practitioners of the 'Way of Life' to dialogue, share, elevate and impart solutions to restore African people on the 'Way of Life' path, and to advocate that the 'Way of Life' – the life-Centered life – be embraced globally.

In addition to imparting information about the 'Way of Life' and the 'Life-Centered Life' – Heb Ankh is a celebration of Life. In this light we are invited to come together to rejoice in receiving the greatest gift to creation - Life. For Heb Ankh we come together to dance, sing, make music, socialize, relax, create and just be in the space of festive celebration.

A highlight of Heb Ankh – The Festival of Life – is Ankh Ten (Raising the Ankh Ceremony) – In this ceremony the community collectively invests its intentions and power in the ankh, then withdraws from it power and inspiration to go forward in establishing and living the 'Way of Life' by being Life-Centered.

Heb Ankh – The Festival of Life – is a life-enriching experience not to be missed.