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OUR TIME PRESS January 3-9, 2019
VOL. 23 NO. 1
An Enriching Kwanzaa Event with its Creator
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abari Ghani? (What’s the News?) Ujamaa! On the fourth day of Kwanzaa, falling this year on December 29th, Cooperative Economics, the fourth principle of the Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles), was exemplified with a family of vendors, community and the annual address by the creator of Kwanzaa. The 52nd Annual Kwanzaa Celebration was held at I.S. 258 at 141 Macon Street in Brooklyn, NY. Over 500 people attended the cultural event in which Dr. Maulana Karenga, the creator of Kwanzaa, of the Nguzo Saba and Kawaida, Professor & Chair of the Department of Africana Studies at California State University-Long Beach, was in attendance, though under the weather. Attendees were greeted by host members of NAKO, the New York Chapter of the National Association of Kawaida Organizations and by International African Arts Festival organizers upon entry. As they entered the auditorium, guests were welcomed by the soundtrack of Sweet Honey in the Rock singing the Seven Principles song. Dr. Segun Shabaka, Chair of NAKO and of IAAF, gave an educational PowerPoint
By Melanie S. Lewis
Presentation of the Nguzo Saba soon thereafter. Starting with the Ancient Origins which he said, “Builds on the five fundamental activities of Continental African ‘first fruit’ celebrations. In gathering of the people, reverence for the Creator and creation, commemoration of the past, recommitment to our highest values and celebration of the good.” “Modern Origins: Build on the emphasis in the Black Freedom Movement on commitment to African consciousness and culture, social justice, self-determination, cooperative practices and struggle.” Dr. Shabaka recited this history before going deeper into the symbols and the Seven Principles for all to read in unison. Dr. Shabaka then explained, “The symbols seen on the setups for Kwanzaa tables: Mazao (Crops), Mkeka (The Mat), Kinara (The Candle Holder), Muhindi (The Corn), Mishumaa Saba (The Seven Candles), kikombe cha Umoja (The Unity Cup) and Zawadi (The Gifts).” This is the display we see of the table with the fruits and candles on how to use them to celebrate. He explained that the principles should be a daily practice studied all year round.
The Donald Smith Quartet was up next with the sounds of jazz. A full set of keys, guitar, drums and trumpet was followed by the African drums and African dance performance of Asase Yaa African Dance. The community is so familiar with the celebration. One attendee wasn’t feeling well, yet expressed that she’d came out for spiritual energy. The Vice Chair of NAKO further explained the symbols as she lit the first four candles leading to the present day and ended with a libation honoring the ancestors. This ritual was followed by the introduction of Dr. Karenga by Dr. Shabaka. Dr. Karenga greeted the audience in Swahili and continued by delivering excerpts of his Annual Founder’s Kwanzaa Message, “Reimagining and Remaking the World: A Kwanzaa Commitment to an Inclusive Good,” which can be found in its entirety online at officialkwanzaawebsite,org. “As we celebrate, we must celebrate in struggle,” he said. And Kwanzaa is a celebration of freedom, of the free space we have created to honor ourselves, to remember, reflect and recommit ourselves. It is a celebration
Photo: Nathaniel Adams
An African drums and African dance performance by Asase Yaa African Dance.
Photo: Nathaniel Adams
The Donald Smith Quartet brought the spirit of Kuumba (creativity)
Photo: Nathaniel Adams
Dr. Maulana Karenga, creator of Kwanzaa, at the celebration of the 52nd Anniversary of Kwanzaa held by the National Association of Kawaida Organizations (NAKO) and the International African Arts Festival (IAAFESTIVAL) of hearts and minds free from self-doubt, self-denial, self-condemnation and self-mutilation, and open to experiencing and embracing a liberated and uplifted spirit of specialness, rooted in and raised up by the shared and sacred good of being African in and for the world. Dr. Karenga further explained, “The family is how we have become conscious of ourselves. We are a world historical people. Out of our family and community comes culture. There is no place we can turn more important than our culture. What does it mean to be African? It has to be more than color. It is not an event. Kwanzaa is more than Dec. 26-Jan. 1. It’s a celebration of all the good. A festival of harvest. At its basic is a celebration of family and culture first.” Dr. Karenga spoke to areas of concern and need in the community. Social media was one of the areas of distraction of which he commented, going from “megabytes to terabytes.” If we’re so focused on being mad at people on social media, we don’t focus on the real people we need to be mad at. He also spoke to the readiness of any changes in the world and how it would affect the community. “What does it mean for us if China was the new government? We need to know all the languages,” Dr. Karenga said. “How do you carve free space in the midst of unfreedom? Are you studying like Harriet Tubman did? The white man does meteorology, we watch the weather.” Dr. Karenga continued, “What does it mean to be in these times? We are to remember, reflect and recommit ourselves to our values. Our ancestors are mirrors by which we measure ourselves. When we honor these we honor ourselves. He paraphrased Ossie Davis in the eulogy of Malcolm X: “Say what is good, but also say what is right.” “We free ourselves when we start to be ourselves. What would the world look like if we fully realized ourselves? Our model is our ancestors. We are to free ourselves from the cultural dominant. Free space to honor, reflect and free from self-doubt. Whatever we do we must do together as Black men and women.” Dr. Karenga ended by reaffirming the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa with the audience as the commitment for an inclusive good.