By:  Ellis                                             S.R. No. 744
    1-1                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-2        WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
    1-3  welcome Dr. Theophile Obenga, world-renowned scholar from the
    1-4  central African country of the Congo, who is visiting Texas on
    1-5  April 22, 1995; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, Dr. Obenga is the honored guest of the Ta-Seti
    1-7  African Historical Society at Texas Southern University School of
    1-8  Education in Houston and will speak on the Ancient African Value
    1-9  System; and
   1-10        WHEREAS, Dr. Obenga's lecture topic will be Maat, one of
   1-11  the world's earliest known moral codes governing human behavior;
   1-12  one of Maat's ancient translations embraces the seven cardinal
   1-13  virtues of Truth, Justice, Propriety, Harmony, Balance, Reciprocity,
   1-14  and Order; and
   1-15        WHEREAS, The program will benefit Dr. Obenga's work to
   1-16  develop the Cheikh Anta Diop Institute of Egyptology on the African
   1-17  continent where students from around the world can receive training
   1-18  in all disciplines from an African-centered perspective; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, An expert linguist, philosopher, and author,
   1-20  Dr. Obenga is the former minister of foreign affairs of the Congo
   1-21  and is presently in the United States serving as a Visiting Professor
   1-22  at Temple University in the Department of African American Studies;
   1-23  he is well known in international scholastic circles for his joint
    2-1  presentation with Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop at a colloquium sponsored by
    2-2  the United Nations in 1974 in Cairo, Egypt, that centered around
    2-3  the African origin of Ancient Egypt; and
    2-4        WHEREAS, Born in Brazzaville, Congo, Dr. Obenga is Professor
    2-5  of Ancient History and Egyptian language at the University Marien
    2-6  Ngouabi in Brazzaville and is the author of 16 books; he received
    2-7  a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Bordeaux,
    2-8  France, a master's degree in education from the University of
    2-9  Pittsburgh in the United States, and a master's degree in history
   2-10  from the University of Paris, Sorbonne; he continued his advanced
   2-11  studies in France and Switzerland before completing his doctoral
   2-12  degree in arts and the humanities at Montpellier University in
   2-13  France; and
   2-14        WHEREAS, Recognized for his exceptional leadership and
   2-15  accomplishments, Dr. Obenga has served in several important
   2-16  governmental and cultural posts and is held in the highest
   2-17  esteem by his countrymen; now, therefore, be it
   2-18        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
   2-19  74th Legislature, hereby recognize Dr. Theophile Obenga and
   2-20  extend best wishes to him for a most rewarding and profitable
   2-21  visit to Texas; and, be it further
   2-22        RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
   2-23  this distinguished visitor as a memento of his journey to the
   2-24  Lone Star State.
   2-25                               ______________________________________
    3-1                                       President of the Senate
    3-2                                    I hereby certify that the above
    3-3                               Resolution was adopted by the Senate
    3-4                               on April 20, 1995.
    3-5                               ______________________________________
    3-6                                       Secretary of the Senate
    3-7                               ______________________________________
    3-8                                        Member, Texas Senate