[IMC-bristol] kebele's annual meeting; Sat 31-5-03

[mantxo martinez]

kebele's annual meeting
www.kebele.org

Sat 31st May, 12 noon 
Agenda: café, activities (computer facilities, computer workshops, video nights, benefit gigs, exhibitions, talks and discussions), housing co-op, maintanance, promotion (web-page, fliers, posters), library, political input (publications, information distribution (web, e-mails, publishing), meetings), bike workshop, equipment and investment (sound system, computers, tools, kitchen, projector, etc)and others. 
Kebele is a collective, therefore the assembly is the only forum to decide things together, appart from every other Monday meetings. usually people experience some kind of phobia against meetings, or have other meetings or other things so they can't attend meetings on regular basis. However, many people are involved in one or other way with Kebele, and now and again we need to meet to discuss things, see how we do it better, see what others are doing so they don't drain out, see how we do it together, see what we change. If you want to get involved or if you're already in different ways and want to have a say, come along. 

Please don't hesitate to post suggestions or other things you want to discuss.

ABOUT KEBELE 

The Kebele Kulture Projekt is based in Easton, Bristol and for eight years it has provided a space for the development of radical community politics and international solidarity. This leaflet is in response to the often-asked question: ‘What’s that Kebele place all about?’ 

What ‘Kebele’ actually means 

Kebele means ‘community place’ in Ahmaric, an Ethiopian language. The term is used to refer to the community groups in Ethiopia which organise around issues and needs like justice, education, community decisions, health, etc. 

The Rastafarians who took part in the revolution in Grenada in 1979 also used the term ‘Kebele’ to refer to the community centres in each neighbourhood where – at least in theory – the revolution was based. The revolution in Grenada was defeated in 1983 when the USA invaded this tiny island. 

What Kebele Kulture Project is about 

Kebele is based on anarchist principles of opposing authority and organising collectively. Our opposition to authority means that we are non-hierarchical. We operate through assemblies, in which we discuss and decide on matters relating to the space. Those involved with the Project embrace equality by accepting equal responsibility for the space, and by co-operating to fulfill these responsibilities. 

Kebele’s opposition to authority extends outside our collective: a commitment to oppose all authority is always implicit in any organising that we do against the capitalist system. We believe that the capitalist system not only must be fought, but that it must be replaced by a non-hierarchical alternative. We believe that the imposition of power and control which constitutes authority in human society is also the basis of the system of privilege that constitutes capitalism. We believe capitalism is the root of human, environmental and animal oppression. 

Kebele attempts to empower people and to demonstrate of the potential we have as individuals when we come together in collective organisations without hierarchies and rulers. Kebele refuses to take part in the capitalist system’s games and tricks, which are all dedicated to the common purpose of profit. Kebele acts for the collective and the community. In this way we hope to lay the foundations for the respect, trust and generosity needed to eliminate dependency and oppression in our society. Kebele believes in co-operation as a way of exchanging resources, energy and products instead of money. 


Kebele believes in self-funding as a way of being independent. We refuse charity and funding from institutions – or multinationals – because their aims are to manipulate us into feeling grateful to them, and help to justify their own policies which do not necessarily fit in with our ideals. The funding of charities is something that only happens in the West because resources have been stolen through economic imperialism from somewhere else. 

The History of Kebele 

Kebele was born in September 1995 when the building where the collective is based was squatted by people looking for housing. But residents and their friends who were in need of space for political and community organising soon discovered that space had other possibilities. 

In December 1995 the first community activity happened in the space that is now Kebele: on the anniversary of the execution of martyred Nigerian activist Ken Saro Wiowa, who was assassinated by Shell Oil in collaboration with the Nigerian state, we hosted a visit of a Nigerian Ogoni representative, along with a video showing and food service. 

After this, meetings were organised and anarchists from a wide range got together to discuss the possibilities and responsibilities associated with using the building as a community space. 

Kebele – Food, Fun and Revolt 

The Café, which has become one of the main activities, soon started up with little resources and equipment but with great enthusiasm. It quickly became established and expanded to serving two days a week: Thursdays and Sundays. The café has been a thriving experience of collective cooking and spontaneous popular music. All this was and continues to be done through peoples’ contribution of time and energy. 

>From the beginning we faced the problem of money: our simultaneous opposition to it as an indispensable part of this capitalist oppressive system, at the same time that we needed it to fund our activities and projects. We also wanted to promote vegan food but make it affordable in order not to be elitist. We worked out the way: donations. Donations have made Kebele sustainable, as generally we’ve managed to get back money spent on food, plus some extra money for bills, etc. 

A women’s café took place for a while and is currently in the process of being re-established in order to create an autonomous space where women can meet together and organise independently. 

At the first threat of eviction we started searching for funding and organised fundraising events. This became a regular activity in support of other campaigns, and we have now built up a network of DJs and sound systems, providing music and club cafés for benefits in Bristol and beyond. Kebele has also provided catering at political festivals and gatherings. 

Kebele’s premises have been used by other collectives, and as well as our meetings there have been SCRAPITT’s meetings, the Animal Rights Network, Reclaim the Streets, Palestinian Solidarity Group, Bristol Free Mumia Group, Bristol Prisoners Support Group, Bristle magazine, Earth Circus Network, West Country Activist network... it’s a long list. 

Many groups have used the premises for occasional meetings, including the Hunt Saboteurs, Anarchist Black Cross, Undercurrents, I-Contact, Association of Travellers, the Land is Ours, Bristol Chiapas Group, South West Solidarity Federation, Bristol Anti-Fascist Action, etc. 
www.kebele.org




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