KWANZAA 2012: 7 DAY CELEBRATION BEGINS TODAY (1554 hits)

The seven-day festival of Kwanzaa, which celebrates African-American heritage and culture, runs from Wednesday, Dec. 26, to Tuesday, Jan. 1.

Noted on the official Kwanzaa Web site are remarks by founder Maulana Karenga, professor and chair of Africana studies at California State University in Long Beach. He also is the chair of The Organization Us and the National Association of Kawaida Organizations (NAKO).

Karenga notes that the African-American and Pan-African holiday is celebrated by millions throughout the world, bringing a "cultural message" that "speaks to the best of what it means to be African and human in the fullest sense."

The founder's messsage notes as well that the holiday is a time of appreciative remembrance, sustained reflection and self-conscious recommitment. The aim is to honor ancestral legacy, to uphold moral and cultural values and to hold fast to the ancient African ethical mandate found in the Odu Ifa, which is to "constantly bring good in the world and not let any good be lost," according to Karenga.

According to History.com:
•Kwanzaa was first celebrated Dec. 26, 1966.
•"Kwanzaa" comes from the Swahili phrase, "matudna ya kwanza," which means, "first fruits."
•Each family celebrated Kwanzaa in its own way, with celebrations often including "songs and dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading and a large traditional meal."
•"On each of the seven nights, the family gathers and a child lights one of the candles on the Kinara (candleholder), then one of the seven principles is discussed."
•The seven principles (in Swahili, the "Nguzo Saba") are values of African culture that "contribute to building and reinforcing community among African-Americans."

The Seven Principles (Nguzo Saba) of Kwanzaa are:

Umoja (oo-MOH-jah): Unity
Success starts with Unity. Unity of family, community, nation and race.

•
Kujichagulia (koo-jee-chah-goo-LEE-ah): Self-Determination
To be responsible for ourselves. To create your own destiny.

•
Ujima (oo-JEE-mah): Collective work and responsibility
To build and maintain your community together. To work together to help one another within your community.

•
Ujamaa (oo-jah-MAH): Collective economics
To build, maintain, and support our own stores, establishments, and businesses.

•
Nia (NEE-ah): Purpose
To restore African American people to their traditional greatness. To be responsible to Those Who Came Before (our ancestors) and to Those Who Will Follow (our descendants).

•
Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah): Creativity
Using creativity and imagination to make your communities better than what you inherited.

•
Imani (ee-MAH-nee): Faith
Believing in our people, our families, our educators, our leaders, and the righteousness of the African American struggle.

Posted By: Siebra Muhammad
Wednesday, December 26th 2012 at 12:08PM
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