By Ronald W. Weathersby
Kwanzaa is an African-American cultural holiday observed from Dec. 26 – Jan. 1. The celebration was created by Dr. Maulana (Ronald) Karenga in 1966 after the Watts riots in Los Angeles.
Karenga wanted to bring African-Americans together as a community. The founder of US, a cultural organization, began to research African first fruit or harvest celebrations. He combined aspects from several celebrations from the Ashanti and Zulu cultures. Karenga said his goal was to “give Blacks an alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and their history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society.
During the early years of Kwanzaa, Karenga said that it was meant to be an alternative to Christmas.
However, as Kwanzaa gained mainstream adherents, Karenga altered his position so that practicing Christians would not be alienated. Later he declared that, “Kwanzaa was not created to give people an alternative to their own religion or religious holiday.”
Today many African-Americans celebrate Kwanzaa in addition to Christmas and over the years Kwanzaa has become a holiday observed by people of various ethnic and religious backgrounds. It is estimated that today approximately 18 million people worldwide observe the holiday.
Kwanzaa is a seven-day holiday with seven principles and seven symbols. The Kinara holds seven symbolic candles. A central black candle is flanked by three red candles and three green candles. The black candle is lit on the first night of Kwanzaa. An additional candle is lit on each succeeding night, until all seven candles are burning.
Each day of the celebration focuses on one of seven principles (“Nguzo Saba”). The name, “Kwanzaa,” is taken from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits.”
The seven Kwanzaa principles (Nguzo Saba) are:
1. Unity (Umoja): To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
2. Self-determination (Kujichagulia): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
3. Collective Work and Responsibility (Ujima): To build and maintain our community together and to make our Brother’s and sister’s problems, our problems and to solve them together.
4. Cooperative Economics (Ujamaa): To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them.
5. Purpose (Nia): To make as our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
6. Creativity (Kuumba): To do always as much as we can, in the way that we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful than when we inherited it.
7. Faith (Imani): To believe with all our hearts in our parents, our teachers, our leaders, our people and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
In addition to the seven Kwanzaa Principles there are also the seven Symbols of Kwanzaa. Each of these symbols represents the values of the African culture and is used to reinforce one’s commitment to community, family and unity.
They are:
1. The Crops (Mazao): These are symbolic of African harvest celebrations and of the rewards of productive and collective labor.
2. The Mat (Mkeka): This is symbolic of our tradition and history and therefore, the foundation on which we build.
3. The Candle Holder (Kinara): This is symbolic of our roots, our parent people — continental Africans.
4. The Corn (Muhindi): This is symbolic of our children and our future which they embody.
5.The Seven Candles (Mishumaa Saba): These are symbolic of the Seven Principles, the matrix and minimum set of values which African people are urged to live by in order to rescue and reconstruct their lives in their own image and according to their own needs.
6. The Unity Cup (Kikombe cha Umoja): This is symbolic of the foundational principle and practice of unity which makes all else possible.
7. The Gifts (Zawadi): These are symbolic of the labor and love of parents and the commitments made and kept by the children.”
Although most families celebrate the holiday in their own way many celebrations include song, dance, African drums and storytelling. On each of the seven nights the family gathers and one of the candles on the Kinara, then the principle of the day is discussed.
The general greeting for each day of Kwanzaa is Habari Gani? Swahili for “What’s the News?” It is usually answered by “Umoja” or unity. Many families also decorate their homes with objects of art; colorful African kente cloth. Children are central to Kwanzaa ceremonies as well as a tribute to ancestors. Libations are shared, generally with a Unity Cup passed around to all celebrants.
Kwanzaa events in Nashville this year include the 31st Annual Kwanzaa Celebration hosted by the African-American Cultural Alliance Habari Gani? Umoja which will be held from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday, December 27th at St. Luke Church, 2008 28th Avenue North. On Saturday, December 29th the Nashville Uhuru Reunion Concert will be held beginning at 5 p.m. at the Carter-Lawrence Elementary School located at 1118 12th Avenue South. On Sunday, December 29th from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. there will be an Ujamaa Business Network and Book Signing at Alkebu-Lan Bookstore, 2732 Jefferson Street. All activities are free to the public.
Individuals and families who are interested in purchasing items to celebrate Kwanzaa can find everything they need at Alkebu-Lan Bookstore.