417-255-1717 • PO Box 1028 • Maryland Heights, MO 63043 • e-mail Peace in this World through Friendship

Our Objectives The Africa-American Friendship Society (A.A.F.S.) is a general not-for-profit organization with 501(c)(3) designation. The Africa-American Friendship Society was officially inaugurated April 25, 1992, under the name of Nigerian-American Friendship Society. The name change occurred in order to accommodate the growing number of African members from countries such as Cameroons, Sierre Leone, Zaire, Haiti and Jamaica.

The "Weaving Lady" Gateway Monument of City of Akwete.

Mother with sick child at AAFS free clinic in Akwete.

The purpose of the organization is to promote and develop mutual cooperation and cultural awareness between the residents of the United States, the African Continent and the World at large; to record, preserve and promote an awareness of the cultural heritage of Africa among the people of the United States of America and the World at large; friendship with Africans, citizens of the United States of America and the World at large; to design, develop and conduct educational and social programs; to improve the quality of life and promote the economic development of the residents of the continent of Africa; to promote closer ties between the people of Africa, the United States of America, and the World at large.

Information About Dr. Ekeke

Dr. Ekeke was born Chukwuemeka Moses Olufemi Ekeke, in the historic Yoruba city of Ile-Ife, in (what was) Western Nigeria, to Dick and Selinah Ekeke, at the Seventh-Day Adventist's hospital.

He attended Howard University, where he pursued pre-med education with a major in zoology and a minor in chemistry, was on the Dean's List, and secured an academic scholarship. He was accepted to attend Loma Linda University, California, in 1974 and graduated from there with a Doctor of Medicine degree. During his stay at Loma Linda University, Dr. Ekeke was the President of the African Students Association of Loma Linda University. His responsibilities included-- keeping Africans together and focused on their goals and purposes at Loma Linda University and to promote and foster the good image of Africa.

Dr. Ekeke treating Chiefs of village near Port Hartcourt in Shell Petroleum organized free clinic.

Dr. Ekeke then moved on to do an internship and residency in general surgery in Ohio and the District of Columbia, respectively.

Dr. Ekeke practiced in the economically depressed city of East St. Louis, Illinois for 10 years. He then moved on to do solely contractual emergency medicine.

During his stay in Missouri, Dr. Ekeke founded the Africa-American Friendship Society-- whose main purpose is to promote mutual cooperation between the people of the United States and the African people (in general) and the Nigerian people (in particular).

His love for Nigeria knows no bounds, as can be seen in the emotion he shows when he engages in topics that pertain to this great country from which he hails. Presently, he is the Chairman of the Africa-American Friendship Society, based and registered in both Nigeria and the United States of America.

The motivating drive behind the AAFS and its activities can be understood by looking into the mind of its founder, Dr. Emeka Moses Ekeke, in his own words:

As I was growing up, I learned a lot from my parents who instilled into me the understanding of the virtues of selfless service to humanity. As a young lad (like most kids I know) I grew up watching my father (a nurse) work selflessly, diligently and hard, serving the sick and needy on a meager missionary salary, raising 10 children and sending them all to Christian boarding academies, with his wife (my dear mother) by his side doing farm work and selling food stuffs to make ends meet. My parents instilled into me and my siblings the spirit of service to humanity. I was taught that man was created in God's image and therefore should be respected and treated as such. I also learned the need to help those less fortunate than the rest of us.

As a result, I took after what profession I thought could most help me achieve or carry out this goal-- the medical profession. Along the way, I had embraced certain principles in life, (some of them innate in me and others adopted) as my life evolved. These, I have adopted, as the guiding principles, philosophies and ideals of this great organization, the Africa-American Friendship Society.

In a speech I made on December 22, 1997 during a presentation, I concluded, by letting my audience know that

"The quality of a man is measured by how low he stoops to elevate his fellow human beings to the highest height attainable in life."

 

Then on January 14, 2000, I spoke to my audience in Kennett, MO (Akwete's 1ST Sister City in the USA)

"The most common thing in life we all share is our differences; and this is one commonality we all can use to build a lasting trust on, for the rest of our lives, rather than as an excuse for division and distrust."

 

Also, on July 18, 1998, speaking to an audience in St. Louis, MO, I let them understand that they do not have forever to make a difference in the world. I stated in my concluding admonition,

"I shall pass through this world but once; any good therefore that I can, I do; or kindness I can show, let me show it now. Let me not defer or neglect it; for Life being a one way path, I may never pass through this way again."

 

In short, I believe that we all have only one opportunity to do it right the first time around, and we may never have another opportunity or the opportunity of a lifetime to try again. And of course having said all these, I know we all need the strength, desire and will that only God Almighty can give us. As such, I have (over the years) understood we can try but can not do it all; and that is why I have always embraced the Serenity Prayer composed by Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr, of the Union Theological Seminary of New York City, in 1932 as the ending of a prayer we all share as we journey through life in this difficult and unique planet, called Earth. The prayer says:

"God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And the Wisdom to know the difference."

I hope and pray that in all that we do, that God the Father guides His image "man" to become the beneficiary of all these. Amen.

I hope that you share in my dream, hope and aspirations to make this world a better place to be and live in, with love, hope and peace. Please support us through your kind donations, and prayers. Send your inquiries and donations to :

Africa-American Friendship Society
PO Box 1028
Maryland Heights, MO 63043
email: davidson@aafs-usa.org

In conclusion, I would like you to understand the concept of service to others as explicitly laid down by Joe Clark, the former principal of Eastside High School, Patterson, New Jersey, and the inspiration behind the movie "Lean on Me", speaking in his convocation to the 2001 graduating class of Livingston College of Rutgers University.

"What you do for yourself, you take to the graveyard. What you do for others will live on in perpetuity."

 

I choose the latter. What is your choice?