Memorial tribute for NY Panther 21 political exile Michael "Cetewayo" Tabor

Saturday March 12 from 2:00pm - 5:00pm
The City College Of New York-Harlem Campus
W.138th Street (Bet. Amsterdam & Convent Aves)
Media Hall Room 5-100 (NAC) Building
Special Cultural Presentations by Spiritchild & The Impact Repertory Theatre
Bj710nyc@gmail.com, Panthershepcat@aol.com, (212) 650-5008
. . .

Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2011 12:01:43 -0500
From: "nycjericho@gmail.com"
Subject: Memorial Tribute for Cetewayo 3/12/2011 at CCNY Harlem NY

The New York State Chapter Of The Black Panther
Party Comrades, Friends & Family Of Michael
"Cetewayo" Tabor

Invite you to

The Memorial Tribute For NY Panther 21
Political Exile Michael "Cetewayo" Tabor
Saturday March 12, 2011 2:00pm - 5:00pm
The City College Of New York-Harlem Campus
W.138th Street (Bet. Amsterdam & Convent Aves)
Media Hall Room 5-100 (NAC) Building
Special Cultural Presentations by
Spiritchild &
The Impact Repertory Theatre
Contact B.J. or Bro. Shep
At: Bj710nyc@gmail.com or Panthershepcat@aol.com (212) 650-5008

Michael "Cetewayo" Tabor was born in Harlem on
December 13, 1946, to Grace Hunter and Michael
Tabor, Sr.He attended the St. Aloysius Roman
Catholic School on West 132nd Street and Harlem's
Rice High School where he excelled in both academics
and varsity athletics.

Tabor joined the Black Panther Party in 1969 and
took the name Cetewayo, a 19th century Zulu
Warrior King. It was during that time that he
wrote an insightful pamphlet on drug addiction
called "Capitalism Plus Dope Equals Genocide."
According to former members, Tabor was one of the
more well known of the spokespersons for the
Panther Party and was admired for his deep
baritone voice and charismatic personality.

He was among a group of 21 members of the New
York Chapter of the Panthers that was indicted in
April of 1969 for conspiracy to commit
coordinated attacks on New York City Police
precincts and department stores. In February of
1971, while out on bail, Tabor flew to Algiers,
Algeria in fear of his life due to the illegal
FBI COINTELPRO induced internal conflicts that
were developing within the Black Panther Party.
Several months later all 21 defendants were acquitted of all charges.

Tabor arrived in Algiers with his new wife,
fellow Black Panther Party member Connie Mathews,
who had been the group's International
Coordinator. They became part of the
International Section of the Black Party led by
Eldridge Cleaver. For a time, the Panthers were
guests of the Algerian Government, but were
eventually expelled from the country.

In 1972 Tabor moved to Lusaka, Zambia, on a
writing assignment for the Paris-based
Africa-Asia magazine in order to cover the
African liberation movements based there. He
would remain in Lusaka for the next 38 years.
After the death of his wife, Connie Mathews, he
married Zambian national, Priscilla Matanda.
Tabor became a popular and respected figure in
Lusaka and continued writing on politics and
culture for various publications. His distinctive
voice allowed him to transition into radio and
for many years he hosted programs that featured
jazz, African and world music on several Lusaka radio stations.