FAMBRO BASKS IN ELECTION

Rathael Fambro was glad to see Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress win the election in South Africa.

Just weeks before the election, Fambro was in Kampala, Uganda, and watched a live, satellite link with the new South African leader, who encouraged the 7th Pan-African Congress to continue its work and to hope for the best in his troubled country.

"Everyone at the conference was euphoric as we listened to Mandela speak," he said. "We all quietly wished that peace would continue up to and through the election."

Fambro was given the opportunity to attend the seven-day conference in Uganda after writing to the United Nations, submitting a speech topic and paper he wished to present to the nearly 3,000 member Congress.

"I was honored when I received word that I had been chosen to attend an event of that magnitude," he said. "I have been active in preserving the history of the African peoples for several years. I really hoped I would be included in this conference."

In fact, Fambro has been asked to attend a youth-wing of the Pan-African Congress next year.

"This congress would consist of college-age people," he said. "It is that age group that we feel we must reach, for progress to continue."

Pan-African congresses, which traditionally have been comprised of black people living in nations other than Africa, are designed as a forum to discuss the social, political and economic future of black nations and people worldwide. A number of cultural events, such as plays, ethnic dances and poetry readings also make up the conference.

At this year's conference, Fambro read a paper and led a discussion on the economic and political unification of African people.

"To most people -- white or black -- Africa is a very foreign country," he said. "The educational system today does not teach much about the history of Africa, other than its roots in slavery.

"Black people are now starting to recognize their past glory and are beginning to preserve their own rich history from the days before slave-traders set foot on the continent," he said.

Fambro is doing just that at his business, Ethiopian Ocean Books and Artifacts, 1030 Broadway, where he sells books purporting the victories and conquests of the African people.

At the close of this year's congress, Some of the people attending went to South Africa to assist with the election. Fambro said he wanted to go, but ran out of vacation time and had to return home to his wife, Tonya, and sons, Rathael II and Rashad.

But that doesn't mean Fambro wasn't watching the progress and results of the election closely.

"It makes me feel real good to see that everyone was able to vote and that the majority of the people voted for the ANC and Mandela," he said. "I think the new Congress will be fair to all races and treat everyone equally.

"There will be some discord from right-wing black and white groups, but I don't think they can stop what's going on down there," he said. "Everyone is too upbeat, too optimistic about the future of not only South Africa, but the African nation and black peoples all over the world."