What is Kwanzaa?

[Guest guest]

What is Kwanzaa?

 

Why do we need it?

 

This is a question that is asked by many people.

 

Kwanzaa is a celebration of our cultural heritage and

is the birth child of Dr. Maulena Karenga. The first

Kwanzaa was celebrated in Los Angeles by Dr Karenga,

his family and friends in December of 1966. Since we

have learned that the number seven is divine is it any

wonder that Kwanzaa is based on seven principles.

 

The first of these is Umoja (Unity) unity of the

family, nation and race. Kujichagulia

(self-determination) is the second principle. Knowing

who we are and our role in the community. The third is

Ujima (collective work and responsibility). Problem

solving and the maintaining of our community and our

family. Fourth is Ujamaa (cooperative economics). The

building and maintaining of our businesses to fill the

mutual need of the community. Fifth is Nia( purpose).

Looking within ourselves. Having pride in ourselves

and our ancestry. Sixth is Kuumba (creativity). Using

our individual talents to maintain and beautify our

home and community. The seventh principle is Imani

(faith). Believing in ourselves our family unit and

using our history to better plan for our future.

 

Kwanzaa was born in the sixties when black folks were

striving for our roots and wanting to be recognized.

Our pursuit of black culture is the nucleus of Kwanzaa

and takes us back to our roots which are in Africa.

The spiritual aspects of Kwanzaa are an effort to get

away from the over commercialization of the Christian

holiday Christmas and Santa Claus. Blacks are

searching for identity and Kwanzaa is the natural

choice.

 

For Kwanzaa even the table is set with seven symbols

The candleholder (Kinara) is handmade, carved of wood.

Mishumaa saba (the seven candles) are placed in the

candleholder. The candle holder is the centerpiece of

the table and is set on a mkeka (placemat) and

surrounded by the other symbols. Mazao (fruits, nuts

and vegetables) mushindi (ears of corn), kimombe cha

umoja (communal cup of unity) and zawadi (gifts).

 

The gifts (zawzadi) that are given are supposed to be

naturally grown or hand made. These presents are to be

meaningful and to encourage growth,

self-determination, community pride and success. We

exchange the gifts with members of our immediate

family and children are the focal point of this part

of the Kwanzaa celebration. The acceptance of the gift

implies a moral obligation to fulfull the promise of

the gift and view the parent as a positive role model.

 

 

Many of us strive to make Kwanzaa a year long affair.

Often after enjoying the spiritual aspects of the

celebration people are encouraged to start coops, time

shares and other things that can benefit and bring

unity into the community.

 

Kwanzaa is a personal celebration that should be

shared. To get full benefit of the communal aspects of

the event it is recommended that two or more people

observe the occasion together. Many people who are

looking for a way of establishing their own family

customs are setting time aside for the evening of

December 26th to observe the seven principles.

" Kwanzaa yenu iwe na heri. " May y'alls Kwanzaa be

with happiness !

 

THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES:

 

UNITY To strive for and maintain unity in the family,

community, nation and race.

 

SELF-DETERMINATION To define ourselves, name

ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for

ourselves instead of being defined, named, created for

and spoken for by others.

 

COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY To build and

maintain our community together, and make our sisters'

and brothers' problems our problems and to solve them

together.

 

COORPERATIVE ECONOMICS To build and maintain our own

shops, stores, and other businesses and to profit from

them together.

 

PURPOSE To make our collective vocation the building

and development of our community in order to restore

our people to their traditional greatness.

 

CREATIVITY To always do as much as we can, in the way

we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful

and beneficial than we inherited it.

 

FAITH With all our heart, believe in our people, our

parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the

righteousness and victory of our struggle.

 

 

 

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Language is an expression of thought. Everytime you speak, your mind is on

Parade Exodus 20:8-11 & Hebrews 4:9

 

 

 

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