Harawese Rhanea Moore was born on April 5, 1950 in Los Angeles, California.  Somayah made her exit on November 28, 20008. “Harawese” is a combination of  her mother’s name “Louise” and her father’s name “Haraway.”  Louise was a school teacher and Haraway was a Television Repairman and  Electrician. A young 7 year old Harawese took piano lessons from Jazz musician and composer Horace Tapscott.  When she was at Washington High School she was 1st Clarinet  in the school band.  Harawese had “perfect pitch,” meaning she could hear a song and know what key the vocalist sang in. She was a Daddy’s Girl.  Haraway gave his daughter the nick name “Peaches.” When Nina Simone’s song “Four Women” came out in 1966 it is understandable why Haraway Moore claimed this song as his favorite song.

Harawese enrolled into the US Air Force and she took to singing in the Enlisted Airman’s Clubs. Her Military career came to an abrupt end when she gave Blood at an on base Blood Drive.  What she did not know was that she was a carrier of the Sickle Cell gene.  Up until she had given Blood she had never suffered a Sickle Cell Crisis.  She would later find out that the Blood donation DEPLETED HER Fetal Hemoglobin.   Thus, this medical emergency resulted in Harawese Rhanea Moore being granted a Medical Discharge under Honorable Circumstances.

The year was 1969 and Harawese had heard about the Black Panther Party for Self Defense. She joined the BPPSD in August of 1969. One post she filled was the Breakfast Program Coordinator.  It was her participation in the BPP Free Breakfast Program that led her to write the lyrics to “Gun, Gun Pick Up the Gun.” Utilizing the popular song “Louie Louie” by the Kingsmen she sang every morning to the children who frequented the Free Breakfast Program.

In December of 1969 the whole country was on edge.  On December 4, 1969 the Chicago  Chapter of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense was attacked by the Chicago Police Department.   Fred Hampton and Mark Clark were killed.  Four days later the same attack scenario was repeated in Los Angeles on December 8, 1969 when the LAPD SWAT Team attacked the 41st and Central  Headquarters of the Southern California Chapter of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense. It was Peaches who called Kacey Kassem on KFWB News telling the world: “Some body help us. The police are attacking us; trying to kill us over here.”  The shootout which started at 3:30 AM on Dec. 8, 1969 was terminated when Peaches tore a piece of her slip and waved it out the front door. The Panthers were detained and charged with assault upon a police officer, attempted murder of a Peace officer, resisting arrest, possession of illegal weapons and a host of other charges. The outcome found the Panthers innocent of all charges save for one.  The late Wayne Pharr was found guilty of misdemeanor possession of an illegal weapon (a sawed off shotgun). The Judge mused how NO FINGER PRINTS WERE FOUND ON ANY WEAPONS FOUND IN THE PANTHER HQS.

Peaches morphed into Somayah a woman martyred because she refused to give up Islam. Being a Revolutionary Songstress she sang in support of the Iranian Students Association at USC’s Board Auditorium where she sang “Shah Makbar” (Death to the Shah) unknown to her this song enabled her to fulfill prophesy: The last days will witness a Muslim woman sing while playing a stringed instrument. 

In 1980 Somayah wrote and recorded the 45 record: “The Saga of Geronimo Ji Jaga.” In the singing of this song Somayah “sang” into being a vision of what she wished for Elmer ‘Geronimo” Pratt.  The closing refrain of this song very pointedly states: “Just as sure as there is a Hell MAY J. EDGAR HOOVER BURN IN IS FIRE AND BOIL IN IT’S OIL and MAY Geronimo Pratt WALK ON FREE SOIL.” This refrain is repeated three time. And for those who know the story J. Edgar Hoover’s COINTELPRO WAS CLEARLY FOUND OUT TO BE AN ILLEGAL MURDERING CONSPIRACY DESIGNED BY Hoover. Geronimo was found to be the victim of COINTELPRO who was UNJUSTLY IMPRISONED FOR 27 YEARS. Geronimo was freed from prison and given $4.5 million for his unjust imprisonment. Eventually, Geronimo moved to Tanzania where he remarried and started a new life. The key part of “G’s” story is that Elmer Geronimo Ji Jaga Pratt BECAME MAN WITH A VISION WHO SUCCESSFULLY HAD A WELL DRILLED TO PROVIDE SAFE AND DRINKABLE WATER TO HIS ADOPTED COMMUNITY. When Geronimo died he was living and walking on the FREE SOIL of Tanzania JUST AS Somayah had “sung” into reality.

 In the late ‘80s and early 1990s that Somayah and her husband (Jazz Saxophonist Fuasi Khaliq) relocated to Atlanta, Georgia.  It was during the Atlanta Child Murders and her vocal response was “Tie Your Shoes Please” because many of the victims were found with their shoe laces untied.

In the mid 1990s period Somayah had relocated once again to Los Angeles. At this time she became involved with Jack Herer’s  (Emperor Wears No Clothes) inspired California campaign to BREAK THE PROHIBITION ON Marijuana. Somayah sang songs on the West L.A. Federal Building lawn, sold Sesame Seed and Avocado Tacos.  The 1996 Proposition 215 Campaign passed with about 56% of the vote. Somayah established Hemp is Hep Sickle Cell Self Help Organization to assist Sickle Cell sufferers with Herbal protocols that used Marijuana, Diet, Acupuncture. Since the BACKBONE of the Medical Marijuana legitimacy was a simple approval or “non-objection to use of Marijuana” as a self medicating patient.  Somayah’s Medical referral Letter. In two sentences THE HEAD OF HEMATOLOGY WROTE AS FOLLOWS:

(Somayah referred to herself as Queen Somayah Kambui and her Doctor respected her and her choice in self treatment for her Sickle Cell Crisis Treatment and Prevention Protocols) the doctor writes:

“I HAVE SEEN Queen break a multi-year addiction to morphine. I have no objection to her use of Marijuana in the treatment of her condition.”

Alan Lichenstine, MD | Chief Medical Officer*
Department of Hematology | West Los Angeles Medical Center 

Lichenstine’s exact title or rank could be different but the contents of the letter were exactly as you see written above. 

LAPD hated this letter because it was signed by a federal officer, head of his department no less. LAPD Detective Arthur McArthur told the Federal police that Somayah had at least $1500 and a “large quantity of Marijuana.” The Feds came, arrested her and confiscated all marijuana they could find. The plants (less than 20 plants) in the back yard were cut and bagged as evidence. The FEDS took her down town to the Federal Lockup on Alameda and the 101 Freeway. The kept the Marijuana and upon booking her in the same Federal Po lice Agency TOOK SOMAYAH BACK HOME. Walked her to her door and before leaving this female officer gave Somayah a hug. The officer expressed remorse for the pain inflicted upon Somayah. She, the same female officer, said something to the affect “I support and admire what you are doing.” 

In 1998 New Yorker Dana Beal launches Million Marijuana March. Somayah, Sickle Cell Self Help et al was Los Angeles Sponsor of the MMM and the Global Marijuana March. The March took place on the first Saturday and Sunday in May. Some cities were successful in hosting 2 days. Fear kept people away. Since the law was written most people simply did not read the law. Those that did read the law generally knew how to engage the police. Over time the police transformed into a greater degree of social accommodation. Each year we would carry a live marijuana plant up Crenshaw Soith to Leimert Park.  We would have a “Smoke In” in Leimert Park. We would have various speakers, Poetry, Songs and other presenters. The Hemperor {Jack Herer) would come, attorney Bruce Margolin was a constant supporter, Nayer Hardin, Underground Railroad Computer Network, Morrie Bey, and Roz (Moorish American Science Temple) and RW Akile of KwanZaa People of Color.

Our first Million Marijuana March took place in 1998. Somayah told me “We need some symbol that will represent our cause.” So that evening I had a dream where I saw people walking on Crenshaw holding Red Marijuana leaves in their hands.  It just so happened I had experience with cutting Kwadinkra symbols out of Styrofoam for Kwanzaa and I had some dense polystyrene stock on hand so I cut seven fingered Marijuana leaves and painted them Red.  There exists stock footage of me carrying a Red Medical Marijuana Leaf as we marched to Parker Center. Some props we fashioned include a larger than life map of Kebulan with a large seven fingered Green Marijuana leaf adhered the map. We would later recognize that our actions actually marked the resurrection of the order of Seshat. The female Ntr Seshat is credited with inventing writing, and she wears in her crown a seven fingered Marijuana leaf. We would later learn that the priest craft from the order of Seshat was tasked each year to survey the farmer’s fields after the river flooded the fields. One of the tools used by the surveyors was a knotted Marijuana rope. Seshat is known as the: Mistress of the House of Books, Keeper of Records, Teacher of Mathematics, the allotment of the Pharaoh’s time to rule. Seshat’s role as the Ntr of writing actually came before Juti and the two of them are the only two Ntr to be associated with writing.  Seshat’s epithet is “She who scrivens.” Seshat and Juti along with Asaru and Ast are amongst the primary Ntr who were the patrons of the Grand Lodge of Taseti Ma’at (Place of Truth/presently known as Deir al Medina). We know so much about Seti Ma’at because of the immense trash pile known as ostraca left from its many years of use as a school and work site. Unlike most towns and villages which grow organically around farming or water Seti Ma’at was a planned community first established by , Amenhotep 1st (1541 – 1520 BCE) to house workers who worked on the nearby tombs found in the Vally of the Kings and Queens respectively.  Amenhotep and his mother Ahmose Nefertari were honored throughout Seti-Ma’at occupation.  The artists, masons and other craftsmen and their families lived and worked at Seti Ma’at were not farmers so their water and food had to be brought in every day.   

Somayah was harassed by LAPD at the height of her ability to grow and develop Medical Marijuana as a viable business model. The authorities were frightened of her that flew helicopters over her home, bugged her phone and destroyed her crops.  She prevented from living a life relatively at ease by the intrusions of LAPD operatives. The stealing of her crops negatively impacted upon her life. Still Somayah sent health packages all over the country. Her treatments were applied to children as well as adults. Hemp is Hep and Sickle Cell Self Help proved that Marijuana was a viable medical tool in the treatment of Sickle Cell Anemia.  We can only speculate but had the police left her alone she could have survived much longer then her 58 years. (Birth April 5, 1950 to November 28th 2008). She had two children Angilina Hunt and Mark Lumumba Hunt. Somayah wrote songs that expressed the freedom aspirations of Weusi people. She was a Nationalist to her hear.  Her songs were timely and purposeful. Gun, Gun Pick up the Gun, was a Black Panther Party anthem, “Tie Your Shoes Please”  addressed the fact that during the Atlanta Child Murders many of the victims were found with their shoe laces untied, “Black Belt Symphony” was a song called for the establishment of a Black nation,  “The Saga of Geronimo Ji Jaga” launched the Free Geronimo Pratt Movement, “Nigga Man” was honoring the relationship between Black men and women, “Brotherman” was song about Black men fighting white peoples wars, “Hey Mr. D.A.” was a free the holy herb song about Marijuana and former L.A. District Attorney Steve Cooley. “ Oppression is not a Culture” is a song sung at the Vision Theater for Winnie Mandela. Somayah sang this song in the Sesothu language of South Africa with clicks and all.  Somayah wrote and copyrighted the music for Assata Shakur’s poem “Carry it On. ” Somayah copyrighted the music for “Carry It On” to protect the interest of Assata Shakur who was living in exile in Cuba.

I took Somayah to the West Los Angeles V.A. Hospital many times. Having Sickle Cell Anemia meant that her trips to the hospital were generally dealing with managing her pain.  She described her pain as somewhat akin to a tooth ache that simply never goes away. Crisis are triggered by stress and /or other episodes that reduce the flow of Oxygen.  With that trigger the cells change from round donut shape to “Sickled shaped Cells that have a tendency to form clots in the veins. The only treatment is pain managing with Morphine, an addictive substance.

 Somayah had developed a strain of her own called Nigritian Kief. Nigritian Kief helped patients manage their pain without having to resort o an Opiate.  Her research trials in Sickle Cell  were held throughout the country by telephone and email, snail mail.  Somayah advised families in how to use Marijuana as a medicine.  Smoking Herb, Pain Relief, Butter, Popcorn, Edibles with additional herbal support. Sickle Cell patients  and other patients suffering with open skin lesions were able to heal their wounds with Hemp oil pressed with our own oil press.  

Marijuana was actually ours from the ancient of time.  In truth our use of Yamba, or Toq, goes far back to the most ancient of time. Seshat, the Keeper of Books, Her epithet is “She who Scrivens” was a patron of the Scribe. She is known for mathematics and having invented writing. Seshat wears in her crown a stylized seven fingered Yamba leaf, bracketed between two horns or reverse crescent moons. Since it was priests from this order of Seshat that surveyed the fields after the annual river inundation the knotted rope was made of Yamba fiber knotted intervals every mnswt [(Meh-nis-wit) Royal Kmt  {Egyptian} Cubit or 20.6” to  20.8”. Up until the early 2000s all texts about Seshat referred to the leaf as a flower, a palm leaf,  a star or any number of suggestions but no one saw it for what it actually was until our posts during and after the successful campaign to make Medical Marijuana legal. Our revelation as to what the importance of Sheshat. Once we identified Hemp we were supported in our assertion when it was discovered the rope used to survey the fields was and bags Hemp is Hep.  

In summary, Harawese Rhanea Peaches Somayah Shurumi Moore-Kambui-Khaliq was: a revolutionary songstress, a spiritualist, a Musician, a Black Panther activist, a combat survivor, an advocate for nation hood, and finally she held up the Blood Stained Banner to liberate Political Prisoners and  Make Marijuana legal.  Somayah  had he ability to speak actions into existence. But, as she would say she was Humble Bumble with her gift.