Understanding The Meaning Of Kwanzaa

Miami FL

31 December, 2020

9:18 AM

Description

the Miami Times Miami Times Staff Report Dec 30, 2020 We are approaching the end of Kwanzaa, an annual celebration of Black culture held from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually held on the sixth day. It was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, and based on harvest festival traditions from various parts of Africa. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza," which means "first fruits" in Swahili. Each family celebrates Kwanzaa in its own way, but celebrations often include songs and dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading and a large traditional meal. On each of the holiday's seven nights, families gather and a child typically lights one of the candles on the kinara (candleholder), then one of Kwanzaa's seven principles is discussed. The principles, called the "Nguzo Saba" ("seven principles" in Swahili) are values of African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing community. Kwanzaa also has seven basic symbols which represent values and concepts reflective of African culture. Those symbols include a collection of fruits, nuts and vegetables; a straw or cloth placemat; an ear of corn; seven candles; the candleholder; the unity cup; and gifts, distributed on the seventh day. The candle-lighting ceremony each evening provides the opportunity to discuss Kwanzaa's meaning. On the first night, the black candle in the center of the kinara is lit and the principle of umoja/unity is discussed. One candle is lit each evening and the appropriate principle is discussed. The seven principles of Kwanzaa The seven principles, or "Nguzo Saba," are a set of ideals created by Karenga. Each day of Kwanzaa emphasizes a different one. Unity: Umoja (oo-MO-jah) To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race. Self-determination: Kujichagulia (koo-gee-cha-goo-LEE-yah) To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves. Collective Work and Responsibility: Ujima (oo-GEE-mah) To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and to solve them together. Cooperative Economics: Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah) To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses, and to profit from them together. Purpose: Nia (nee-YAH) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community, in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. Creativity: Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) To do always 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: Imani (ee-MAH-nee) To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. The Miami Times is the largest Black-owned newspaper in the south serving Miami's Black community since 1923. The award-winning weekly is frequently recognized as the best Black newspaper in the country by the National Newspaper Publishers Association.