Treasures of the African Diaspora

BY ZAKIYYAH ALI

Ras Ben:

Sharing Intimate Awareness of Universal Energies

They invoke and evoke the mystery of our culture and history: our past and future. Throughout the Diaspora, African Treasures stand in living witness to the eternal greatness of the originators of universal life. The featured African Treasure of KIZA’s Winter Edition started his life journey in Washington, DC, and has for the past 30 years or so, called Philadelphia his home. He is my dear friend, teacher and pointer of the way: Brother Ras Ben.

When you know a person for 30+ years, you grow together in some ways, learn from each other and share many people, places and things. Knowing and learning from Ras Ben has truly enlightened me, along with countless others, to first, the global African treasure of crystals. In fact, most likely, my first meeting of the brother was at an event where he was selling crystals. I would have seen him walking in wisdom, conveying astounding knowledge of stones from the earth. This Earthkeeper’s knowledge can be viewed on YouTube and consumed from the pages of his six books.

Rocks of Ages (2002), Rocks of Ages: Anu Edition (2008), 5G Wellness 101 (2018), Great Mystery Philadelphia (2018), Free Your Mound & Your Mind Will Follow (2018), Knowledge of the Nommo (2021).

History is not always as it is read, written and taught. In reading, observing and listening to Brother Ras Ben over the years, my thirst for history has grown. He covers mind-opening subjects include under- … I mean overstanding the true, real meaning of “Philadelphia” (not the city of brother love), the design of Ben Franklin Parkway, the historical meaning of the Caldwell Artworks, the story of native American peoples who were Philadelphia’s first inhabitants—all these stories are revealed, interpreted and explained by Brother Ras Ben.

In his books, Rocks of Ages and Rocks of Ages: Anu Edition, Ras Ben takes us on a journey into the Earth, into the spirits and more. His vast breadth of intimate knowledge comes from ra/search, meditation and intense focus. When Ras Ben comes upon treasures, secrets and mysteries of stones, he goes all the way in. His knowledge and works with the stones cover a wide range—healing, guidance, comfort, protection and wealth, to name a few.

The stones are infused with mineral properties from the Earth, which are available for our use. Having a guide helps. Ras Ben has been mine. He tells the story of an urban artmagic—Philadelphia: the city and the name. We are programmed, taught and we’ve read that Philadelphia is the city of brotherly love. No, no. Wrong. Ra/search done by my brother exposes the deeper spiritual and mystic meaning of the name and the city. If you have ever visited Philadelphia and traveled along the Parkway, which is lined with huge statues, sculptures and museums, I’m sure you have wondered the meaning of them. In the book, Great Mystery Philadelphia, the brother explains.

Each of his books has been a family affair, with his life partner, Mama Kim, embracing the work as proofreader, co/ra-searcher, typist and more. The graphic design is provided by the business of one of his daughters. Brother Ras Ben is the father of seven children—two daughters and five sons. He and Mama Kim have been married for over 35 years.

Husband, father, grandfather, teacher, writer, lecturer, traveler, craftsman and more, Ras Ben wraps his crystals in copper and conjures ankh wands and other magical devices. I ask you to watch him in his many years of sharing on YouTube. Just reading a few of the titles his many talks can open one’s mind to new cosmic potentials:

UFOs | History of Philadelphia | Sacred Landmarks and Their Meanings

Secret of Mounds. | Crystal Magic | 5G

Ben Franklin | William Penn | Historical Timelines

Chief Tananend, the Patron Saint of the United States

40th Parallel Meaning and Tours Across the United States

Philadelphia and Isitreal | The Books of Enoch

Galastic Bloodline and the High Beams of the Gods | The Dogon People’s Cosmology

Humble, respectful, resourceful, talented, hardworking, caring: Brother Ras Ben walks in loving, intimate connection with his family, his Earth and his cosmos.