2014 fundraising appeal for Sam Mbah

In mid 2014, Jura Books coordinated a fundraising appeal for Nigerian anarchist Sam Mbah. Together with the gobal anarchist community we successfully raised over $3,800 (US$3,500) for Sam, which Jura transferred to him via international bank transfer.

We have been in touch with Sam as he travelled to India in order to undergo the medical procedure, and returned to Nigeria to recover. We’re pleased to report that the procedure seems to have gone well and Sam is recovering, although slowly.

Sam has asked us to send his thanks and best wishes to all comrades who contributed to the fundraising appeal.

Sam writes...

At the start of the appeal, Sam wrote:
“I continue to lose weight and experience general body weakness as a consequence of my heart condition. In the past three months, I have been working  to raise funds from friends and family, to be able to undertake a trip to India where I am billed to undergo heart surgery to replace the defective valves. So far, I have been able to raise US$15,000 out of the US$25,000 required for the trip, expected at the beginning of July this year. The amount covers my medical expenses as well as the round trip. I am still working to raise the outstanding balance and I wish to appeal to you and fellow comrades to assist me in raising part of it. No amount will be too big or too small. My appreciation goes to all our comrades around the world. Thank you all.”

Half way through the fundraising appeal, just before he went to get the operation, Sam wrote:
“My morale is boosted by the realisation that there are comrades and friends in distant places who are willing to contribute to arresting the situation before it deteriorates further. My family and I are gratified indeed.”

After returning from the operation, Sam wrote:
“So glad to be able to get in touch with you again. I have been back to Nigeria since 15th August after spending four weeks plus in Mumbai India. Since my return, I can say thus far from the position of a medical layman that the  procedure is holding, although at a very high cost indeed. But you must understand that the road to my full recovery is bound to be a slow and painful process. Kindly bring this to the attention of our friends and comrades who would otherwise want to enter into active correspondence with me. I hope to be fit enough by the end of September and then I can maintain regular communication with friends and comrades. Thank you so much.”

Thanks and congrats to all donors

Jura would like to extend special thanks to AK Press (who publicised the fundraising appeal), and to See Sharp Press for their effort in bringing Sam’s book royalties forward and continuing to negotiate publishing projects on his behalf.

Also well done to Brisbane Solidarity Network, and to the musicians who played at the Jura fundraising party: Clinic 13, Phil Linrage, Camilla Hill and Hence Therefore. Also to those who baked, came and donated at the party.

And thanks to all donors all over the world! (Amounts below are in US$ and in some cases have been slightly reduced by Paypal fees):

• Australia: Jura Books ($349), Brisbane Solidarity Network ($322), CP ($460), JK ($110), WT ($110), MV ($90), BL ($92), JK ($90), RS ($46), NA ($37), TOC ($22), SC ($22), PS ($9).
• Austria: SB ($44).
• Brazil: BPA ($13).
• Canada: JB ($89), MT ($22), KPB ($4).
• Germany: SB ($17), TM ($11).
• New Zealand Aotearoa: KM ($44).
• Poland: TB ($44).
• Sweden: MN ($13)
• UK: AD ($162), UG ($89), ST ($26), GC ($17), AS ($9).
• USA: See Sharp Press ($575), JK ($145), AK ($100), JJ ($96), Workers Solidarity Alliance ($72), BC ($52), EH ($50), AG ($50), LA ($34), MK ($24), SD ($24), AA ($19), LW ($19), MM ($19), ZZH ($10), JM ($9), JM ($5).

Sam Mbah is an anarchist author and activist from Nigeria. Jura has been in contact with Sam for some years. Jeremy, from the Jura Collective, spent time with him in 2012, interviewing him and setting up his blog. 

Jeremy writes, "When I was in Nigeria in 2012, I sought out Sam Mbah and spent a couple of weeks getting to know him. Since then I’ve been in regular phone and email contact with him. He is an amazingly inspiring person. A veteran activist who was part of a (successful) movement against a dictatorship and who helped to build a 1,000-member anarchist organisation. Sam is also an anthropologist whose research on traditional African societies and their anarchistic elements is of great importance. His book ‘African Anarchism’ is excellent, and he hopes to publish more in the future. He is a beacon for anarchism in West Africa - a significant part of the world where anarchism could and should grow significantly."

Sam is now one of a small number of prominent anarchists in Nigeria - the third most populous English-speaking country in the world. He is of great significance to our global community.