Kwanzaa flag share the same colours as Marcus Garvey's UNIA

The colours of Kwanzaa are black, red and green; black for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future and hope that comes from their struggle. Therefore there is one black candle, three red and three green candles. These are the mishumaa saba (the seven candles) and they represent the seven principles. The black candle represents the first principle Umoja (unity) and is placed in the centre of the kinara. The red candles represent the principles of Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujamaa (cooperative economics) and Kuumba (creativity) and are placed to the left of the black candle. The green candles represent the principles of Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Nia (purpose) and Imani (faith) and are placed to the right of the black candle. The black candle is lit first on the first day of the celebration. And the remaining candles are lit afterwards from left to right on the following days. This procedure is to indicate that the people come first, then the struggle and then the hope that comes from the struggle.

And then the mazao (crops), and ears of corn are also placed on the mkeka. At least two ears of corn are placed down on the mat regardless of whether there are children in the immediate family or not for the children of the community belong to all of us and every adult in African tradition is considered an immediate or social parent. Next the kikombe cha umoja (the Unity cup) is then placed on the mkeka (mat). It is used to pour tambiko (libation) to the ancestors in remembrance and honour of those who paved the path down which we walk and who taught us the good, the Tamshi  and the beautiful in life. Then African art objects and books on the life and culture of African people are also placed on or next to the mat to symbolize our commitment to heritage and learning.

What is Kwanzaa? Why do we celebrate?   And is this holiday too deeply rooted in African culture that only African Americans can or should celebrate?

Have any of these questions crossed your mind?  If so, let’s blabb about it….

Just as a point of historical reference, during the 1960′s African Americans began reaching back to tie the lost cultural roots of traditional African communities embracing self awareness and empowerment…thus founding Kwanzaa, which is the only nationally celebrated, native, non religious or political African American holiday.

The Kwanzaa holiday is observed from December 26th through January 1st and its’ focus is to pay tribute to the rich cultural roots of the People of the African Diaspora. It is strongly rooted in cultural awareness and it reinforces personal growth and achievements.  Kwanzaa is now a 45 year old celebration and tradition yet the principles are still relevant to African Americans today; particularly young African American children.

The principles are:

1. Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
3. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems, and to solve them together.
4. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
5. Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
6. Kuumba (Creativity): 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.
7. Imani (Faith): To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

With this celebration commencing at the last week of the year, it allows us the opportunity to reflect and re-affirm our goals, add some clarity or tweak our perspectives and/or re-define, but performing the traditional ceremony is where I struggle…Many African Americans are still “ignorant” to African tribal and cultural traditions.  It is piece of culture that is 10 times removed and not easy to plug back in… I realize that one of the very purposes of this celebration is to continuously introduce, reinforce and cultivate an appreciation for African culture through these principles, but when many African Americans speak of celebrating Kwanzaa (in the true spirit upon which is was found) it feels like lip service to a culture and traditions we really don’t fully understand and/or appreciate.

But in every effort to be the all around culturally in-tune African American family, you go out and buy all the necessary items, invite your friends and family over, recite the principles, light the candles, spread the kente clothe and exchange the gifts……

Is practicing this celebration really preserving African communitarian values?  Or are we just going through the motions at home or in public for the sake of saying we celebrated Kwanzaa and on January 2nd we forget we lit those (7) candles?

So I ask this question, giving all do respect to Dr. Maulana Karenga, is Kwanzaa too deeply rooted in African culture?  Is the way in which we celebrate and honor the principles relatable (we agree that they are relevant) 45 years later?   Should the Kwanzaa celebration be redefined to keep the principles of Kwanzaa relevant and consistent  in our daily lives after January 1st?

What do you think?  Blabb Back…