"The Burning Sands"
The Burning Sands, where the weary fall by the wayside. It is here that we will answer some of those questions regarding a time-honored and traditional phrase and aspect of fraternities and sororities. It is only when we understand the past that we can truly understand the present!
Why do we, NUPEs, travel across the "Burning Sands"? That has been a question that has puzzled not only non-members of Greek-Lettered organizations, but members as well. Very few members of these organizations have a clear understanding of the "journey across the arid sands of the desert", known to many of us as the journey of the weary traveler. This brings us back to the desert, or wilderness. For those of us who are NUPEs, what does this have to do with us? Well, for one thing, when a person lives a life of sin, he is constantly faced with temptations of the flesh. The "burning sands" represents those trials and tribulations that we are constantly faced with in our daily lives. The practice of "crossing the sands" represents our triumph over the temptations of the flesh, when we must rely on the assistance of another to successfully make it across this burning sands (“for my strength is made perfect in weakness..." -The Bible). For those of us who are not members, you too cross burning sands daily.
A journey across the burning sands of Africa....
Thus when one first began on this path of self transformation one was said to "die" in an effort to shed one's self of his/her former life. Selected teachers/elders took one through the rituals which may have lasted days, weeks, months, or years. During this period secrecy was a must. And the initiate was taught as much by obtaining a new secret name, handshake, passwords and the like which would help him/her along his/her journey. The rituals were of a mental and physical nature. Various tasks and obstacles were put in front of the initiated in an effort to strengthen his/her resolve. Thus was the initiate expected to overcome struggle ("BE STRONG, for we are not hear to play, to dream to drift . . . " -NUPE History), overcome fear ("Fear, Fear is a mind killer, I must not fear . . ." - NUPE History), remain steadfast in his/her goal ("Inviktus: I am the master of my fate, I am the Kaptain of my soul" -NUPE history), find understanding ("We the Willing" -NUPE History), experience triumph and earn the right of manhood/womanhood ("There are many things in this world I don't understand, but I must learn to take it like a man" -NUPE lesson), societal acceptance ("Train" -NUPE History), spiritual salvation ("As I cry to the Lord...what Kan MAN do to me?"), etc.
It is from these great and ancient sacred and secret societies that the NUPEs were founded. For though the letters used were Greek, the founders of Kappa understood well their African lineage and origins. Thus the letters masked an even deeper meaning rooted in Africa itself.
