The Neo Black Movement of Africa is an international confraternity. It was established in 1977 at the University of Benin in Nigeria as part of the Pan-African movement.
History In 1977, nine students from the University of Benin, led by Nicholas Idemudia started the Neo Black Movement of Africa (NBM), a male brotherhood focused on "intellectual radicalism in pursuit of Pan-African struggles." With the support of M. Angulu Onwuejiogwu, a professor of history and anthropology at the university, the founders of the NBM were:
The NBM formed as a response to the reported excesses of National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates), a similar group established in 1952. NBM became a prominent group at many universities in Nigeria during the 1980s. Its leaders then decided to connect with the Neo black movement of Africa, calling itself a brotherhood focusing on black realism and determinism.
The Neo-Black Movement of Africa was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission under the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) on 24 February 1994, with registration No 7729. As of 2024, it has around one million members. Its headquarters are in Amagba, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
Symbols
The NBM's motto is "Social Justice and Equality/Equity for all." Its symbol is a black axe above two hands in chains, symbolically smashing the shackles of colonialism. This represents its readiness to confront difficult tasks and to break social injustice, along with other vices that limit humanity's progress.
Its colours are white, black, and yellow. Members wear white shirts, black pants, a yellow tie, and headgear consisting of a yellow ribbon. White represents harmony and purity of the body and mind, black represents sympathy with the Black race, and yellow represents struggle.
Activities NBM's activities encourage African art, culture, and traditions, along with global peace. It holds a national convention annually in March. Members participate in "jollification", an event featuring Egede drums, music, and dancing. At the end of each year, the group hosts Black/African Nights that are open to non-members of all genders. Members participate in at least one charitable activity each year. Its priorities include climate change, education, food sovereignty, health, indigenous people, and water.
Controversies and member misconduct
In February 2024, the Neo Black Movement of Africa publicly disassociated itself from the Black Axe, a criminal subgroup of the confraternity that formed in 1994. In January 2024, NBM published a list of 24 expelled members who were associated with Black Axe, followed by a list of 27 expelled members in July 2024. The latter included four former NBM national presidents. However, various publications refer to NBM and Black Axe as synonymous, including the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. In April 2024, reporter Biaca Bridger wrote, "Due to the secretive nature of the group it is difficult to ascertain the alleged links between the Neo-Black Movement and Black Axe. However, throughout Nigeria, the two groups are synonymous, with their members taking part in organized crime, human trafficking and money laundering."
Chapters NBM refers to its campus chapters as temples. As of 2013, its temples were at the following Nigerian colleges and universities, with active chapters indicated in bold and inactive chapters and institutions in italics.
ChapterCharter dateInstitutionLocationStatusFuta JallonUniversity of Benin, Ugbowo CampusBenin City, Edo StateActiveAdamawaInstitute of Management and Technology, EnuguEnugu, Enugu StateActiveAfotamodiGateway ICT PolytechnicOgun StateActiveAgemoTai Solarin University of EducationIjebu Ode, Ogun StateActiveAgulu LakeAlvan Ikoku Federal College of EducationOwerri, Imo StateActiveAjayi CrowtherKogi State PolytechnicLokoja, Kogi StateActiveAlabataFederal University of Agriculture, AbeokutaAbeokuta, Ogun StateActiveAmba lokoCollege of Education, Katsina-AlaKatsina-Ala, Benue StateActiveAmeh OboniKogi State UniversityAnyigba, Kogi StateActiveAsaKwara State PolytechnicIlorin, Kwara StateActiveAshantiDelta State University of Science and TechnologyOzoro, Delta StateActiveAzaniaCollege of Education, WarriWarri, Delta StateActiveBakassiUniversity of Cross River StateCalabar, Cross River StateActiveBarkin KadaKaduna PolytechnicKaduna, Kaduna StateActiveBenikrukruRivers State UniversityPort Harcourt, Rivers StateActiveBermuda 1University of Nigeria, Nsukka CampusNsukka, Enugu StateActiveBermuda 2University of Nigeria, Enugu CampusEnugu, Enugu StateActiveBiafraAkanu Ibiam Federal PolytechnicUnwana, Ebonyi StateActiveDamissaAhmadu Bello UniversityZaria, Kaduna StateActiveEgbesuNiger Delta University, Yenagoa CampusYenagoa, Bayelsa StateActiveEkambaUyo City PolytechnicUyo, Akwa Ibom StateActiveEkpeAbia State PolytechnicAba, Abia StateActiveEkumenyiFederal College of AgricultureIshiagwu, Ebonyi StateActiveEl-KanemiBenue State PolytechnicOkpokwu, Benue StateActiveElukuLagos State University of Science and TechnologyIkorodu, Lagos StateActiveEse-OviaBenin PolytechnicBenin City, Edo StateActiveEti-oniOsun State College of TechnologyEsa-Oke, Osun StateActiveEti-OsaYaba College of TechnologyLagos, Lagos StateActiveEwekokoLagos State UniversityOjo, Lagos StateActiveFuta Jallon 2University of Benin, Ekenwan CampusBenin City, Edo StateActiveGwadanaFederal Polytechnic NasarawaNasarawa, Nasarawa State ActiveGwaram Federal University Duste (FUD)Duste, Jigawa StateActiveIdi OgunFederal Polytechnic, OffaOffa, Kwara StateActiveIfi 1University of Agriculture, MakurdiMakurdi, Benue StateActiveIfi 2Benue State UniversityMakurdi, Benue StateActiveIgbosereFederal College of Fisheries and Marine TechnologyVictoria Island, Lagos StateActiveIgogoRufus Giwa PolytechnicOwo, Ondo StateActiveIkengaFederal Polytechnic, NekedeNekede, Owerri WestActiveIkogosiFederal University of Technology AkureAkure, Ondo StateActiveIkogosi 1Adeyemi College of EducationOndo, Ondo StateActiveIkoroMichael Okpara University of AgricultureUmudike, Abia StateActiveIkpitanFederal College of Education Technical, EkiadolorBenin City, Edo StateActiveInikpi DragonFederal Polytechnic, IdahIdah, Kogi StateActiveKalakutaFederal Polytechnic, OkoOko, Anambra StateActiveKanem BornuAuchi PolytechnicAuchi, Edo StateActiveKanta BakassiUniversity of Cross River State, Calabar CampusCalabar, Cross River StateActiveKanta BenikrukruKenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa PolytechnicBori City, Rivers StateActiveKanta EthiopiaDelta State University, AbrakaAbraka, Delta StateActiveKanta OkeminiMadonna University, Okija CampusOkija, Anambra StateActiveKatangaAbia State UniversityUturu, Abia StateActiveKenneth KaundaImo State UniversityOwerri, Imo StateActiveKilimanjaroEnugu State University of Science and TechnologyEnugu, Enugu StateActiveKirijiUniversity of LagosLagos, Lagos StateActiveKofinaNuhu Bamalli PolytechnicZaria Kaduna StateActiveKomaModibbo Adama Federal University of Technology, YolaGirei, Adamawa StateActiveKudetiThe Polytechnic, IbadanIbadan, Oyo StateActiveKudeti 2Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, EruwaEruwa, Oyo StateActiveLake AlorDelta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-UkuOgwashi-Uku, Delta StateActiveLake ChadUniversity of MaiduguriMaiduguri, Borno StateActiveLimpopoBendel State College of AgricultureAnwai, Bendel StateInactiveMount PattiFederal University LokojaLokoja, Kogi StateActiveMoriquaUniversity of CalabarCalabar, Cross River StateActiveNaragutaFederal University of Technology, OwerriOwerri, Imo StateActiveObantaOlabisi Onabanjo UniversityAgo-Iwoye, Ogun StateActiveOduduAkwa Ibom State PolytechnicIkot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom StateActiveOduduwaObafemi Awolowo UniversityIle-Ife,Osun StateOfuobiFederal College of Education (Technical), AsabaAsaba, Delta StateActiveOgbuideChukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu UniversityUli, Anambra StateActiveOgoniAbubakar Tafawa Balewa UniversityBauchi, Bauchi StateActiveOgunpaUniversity of IbadanIbadan, Oyo StateActiveOkemejeOsun State Polytechnic Iree, Osun StateActiveOkeminiUniversity of Port HarcourtPort HarcourtActiveOke-OviaEdo State College of Agriculture IguoriakhiIguoriakhi, Edo StateActiveOloibiriFederal University of Petroleum ResourcesEffurun, Delta StateActiveOlumoMoshood Abiola PolytechnicAbeokuta, Ogun StateActiveOmambalaChukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam CampusIgbariam, Anambra StateActiveOroonaFederal Polytechnic, IlaroIlaro, Ogun StateActiveQuaHeritage PolytechnicEket, Akwa Ibom StateActiveRiver BenueNasarawa State UniversityKeffi, Nasarawa StateActiveRocky OlotaFederal Polytechnic, Ado-EkitiAdo-Ekiti, Ekiti StateActiveRwandaRamat PolytechnicMaiduguri, Borno StateActiveSaharaUsuman Danfodiyo UniversitySokoto, Sokoto StateActiveSanagaIgbinedion University, OkadaOkada, Edo StateActiveSancta IkaUniversity of Delta, Agbor CampusAgbor, Delta StateActiveSardaunaFederal Polytechnic, MubiMubi, Adamawa StateActiveShangoUniversity of UyoUyo, Akwa Ibom StateActiveShiroroFederal University of TechnologyMinna, Niger StateActiveSomaliaUniversity of AbujaAbujaActiveSounLadoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso, Oyo StateActiveSowetoEbonyi State UniversityAbakaliki, Ebonyi StateActiveSub DamissaBayero University KanoKano, Kano StateActiveSub EtiosaFederal College of Education (Technical), AkokaAkoka, Lagos StateActiveSwem KaragbeFidei Polytechnic, GbokoGboko, Benue StateActiveTakurukuRev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, MakurdiMakurdi, Benue StateActiveUdiAmbrose Alli UniversityEkpoma, Edo StateActiveZambeziNnamdi Azikiwe UniversityAwka, Anambra StateActiveZaramaUniversity of JosJos, Plateau StateActiveZobiUniversity of IlorinIlorin, Kwara StateActiveZumaDorben PolytechnicGaram, Niger StateActivezazahuKaduna State University Kaduna, Kaduna StateActive
See also Confraternities in Nigeria List of confraternities in Nigeria
References
External links
NBM of Africa official website