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Kwanzaa is a non-religious, culturally-centered celebration that observes ancient Swahili principles to affirm, heal, unify, and empower communities of color and conscience. Kwanzaa was originally created and launched by Dr. Maulana Karenga, civil rights activist, cultural educator, and community leader in response to the lack of a national holiday to honor African history, principles, and values. Forty years after its founding, Kwanzaa is observed and practiced by millions of people of all races and religious backgrounds around the world.
The Denver Kwanzaa Committee organizes one of the largest Kwanzaa events in America. Activities are held over a seven-day period beginning Dec. 26, the day after Christmas, and continuing until Jan. 1, New Year’s Day. The theme for this year’s Kwanzaa events is, "We are Family."
One of the primary organizers and founders of Kwanzaa in Denver, Opalanga Pugh, shares the committee’s thoughts in selecting "family" as the theme for this year’s event.
"The committee selected the theme, "We are Family," in an attempt to shine light on what we as African Americans have learned in terms of what it means to be human, to find our identity, primary values of love, and discipline and primary worldview. The African proverbs say that, "The strength or the ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people." Thus, exploring our origins will help us understand the sources of our pain. We also want to consider family in the larger sense i.e., extended family and family of choice."
Dr. Karenga clearly had family in mind when he crafted the principles for Kwanzaa. He designed the Kwanzaa principles so they could be observed by families and communities, as each principle can be applied to and benefit both the family and the community as a whole. Dr. Karenga also understood that the concept of family speaks to collectivism versus individualism. Individualism is the primary value of Western societies. Collectivism, however, is what traditional African societies are based in. Collectivism honors the village and the individual. In a collective, members view each other’s trials and challenges as their own and recognize how individual challenges are representative of what will eventually face the entire village.
Pugh refers to the writing of best-selling author Bebe Moore Campbell in her essay "Black Must Be Beautiful Again," who wrote, "The new millennium calls for a new movement, a revolution of the spirit. The demonstrations we hold now must be personal and emotional. The marches we attend must be in our minds. We must campaign for self-love and healing as though our lives were at stake. They are. African Americans must address the challenge of loving ourselves with the courage of Rosa, Martin, Malcolm, and Fannie Lou, rolling up our sleeves to do the hard emotional work within our families, within our neighborhoods and with our friends, in our churches and while we're waiting in barbershops and at the beauty parlor."
Pugh and Organizing Committee member Thedora Jackson, encourage a historic turnout in this year’s Kwanzaa activities. Brother Jeff Fard who has been a major supporter and organizer of Kwanzaa reminds us with his words of the importance of doing our work: "If not now, when? If not us, who?"
Observing Kwanzaa
Each day of Kwanzaa represents a specific principle and value. Kwanzaa observers are encouraged to plan daily activities which include the entire family that center around that day’s principle. Using a non-religious altar as the center of activities and specific items as physical representatives of the principles of Kwanzaa, in correlation with the appropriate day, families and communities can enjoy the benefits of Kwanzaa.
Kwanzaa Symbols
Mazao-Fruit (The Crops)
These are symbolic of African harvest celebrations and of the rewards of productive and collective labor.
Mkeka-Straw Mat (The Mat)
This is symbolic of our tradition and history and therefore, the foundation on which we build.
Kinara (The Candle Holder)
This is symbolic of our roots, Africa.
Muhindi (The Corn)
This is symbolic of our children and our future which they embody.
Mishumaa Saba (The Seven Candles)
These are symbolic of the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles, the 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. Candles are red, black and green and are lit in a specific order.
Kikombe cha Umoja (The Unity Cup)
This is symbolic of the foundational principle and practice of unity which makes all else possible.
Zawadi (The Gifts)
These are symbolic of the labor and love of parents and the commitments made and kept by the children
Kwanzaa Meditation
On the seventh and last day, which is always on Jan. 1, Kwanzaa observers are encouraged to spend the day at home in quiet meditation and contemplation of the year to come and how they will incorporate Kwanzaa principles into their daily lives. The below suggested meditation is an excerpt taken from the book Odu Ifa: The Ethical Teachings written by Karenga. It comes from the sacred teachings of the West African Yoruba tribe. The wisdom of this teaching is called Eji Ogbe:
Let us not engage the world hurriedly.
Let us not grasp at the rope of wealth impatiently.
That which should be treated with mature judgment,
Let us not deal with in a state of anger.
When we arrive at a cool place,
Let us rest fully;
Let us give continual attention to the future;
and let us give deep consideration to the consequences of things.
And this is because of our (eventual) passing.
| | Kwanzaa Principles: Nguzo Saba
Observers should contemplate how each principle applies to their family and subsequently to the community. Activities should lend to the cultivation of the specific energy related to each principle.
Umoja (Unity)
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from
them together.
Nia (Purpose)
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
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.
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
For more information about Kwanzaa, visit the web site of the creator and founder of Kwanzaa at www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org.
Kwanzaa 2005 - Dec. 26-Jan. 1
We Are Family In 2006
Below is a listing of Kwanzaa events for this year's celebration.
UMOJA (Unity)
Monday, Dec. 26
First Night Kwanzaa
2 to 4 p.m. – Family Kwanzaa: Ford Warren Library
6 p.m. – Libation-Grand Kinara Lighting: Zona’s, 26th Ave. & Welton St.
Sponsor: Brother Jeff’s Cultural Center & Café (Info: 303-297-8823)
Pamoja Parade – Drumming to Cleo Parker-Robinson Dance, 119 Park Ave. West
7 to 9 p.m. – Ceremony Circle of Wisdom Awards: CPRD, 119 Park Ave. West.
KUJICHAGULIA (Self Determination)
Tuesday, Dec. 27
2 - 4 p.m. – Family Kwanzaa: Pauline Robinson Library, 5575 E. 33rd Ave. (303-370-1530), Edu-tainment: Crafts/food. The Asego family
6 - 9 p.m. – Libation-Grand Kinara Lighting: Zona’s, 26th Ave. and Welton St., Auraria BSA/James P. Beckwourth Mountain Club/The Links (Info: 303-388-4430)
Family Kwanzaa: Stiles Heritage Center, 2607 Glenarm Pl. (Info: 303-294-0597) Epworth Methodist Church, Pastor King Harris.
UJIMA (Collective Work)
Wednesday, Dec. 28
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. – Elders Celebration: Zion Senior Center 5151 E. 33rd Ave., Black Hands Drummers & Dancers. Lunch $2.50. Contact Margaret McCaskill, 303-333- 5746.
2 - 4 p.m. Family Kwanzaa: Ford Warren Library 2825 High Street. (Info: 303-294-0907)
6 p.m. – Libation-Grand Kinara Lighting: Zona’s, 26th & Welton St., African American Leadership Institute/AAFANTE Tribes
7 - 9 p.m. – Family AAFANTE Tribe Celebration, Brother Jeff’s Cultural Center
UJAMAA (Cooperative Economics)
Thursday, Dec. 29
3 - 5 p.m. Family Kwanzaa: Montbello Library 12955 Albrook Drive. (Info: 303-373-0767)
Edu-tainment, food, crafts.
4 p.m. – Youth ages 12-17: Brother Jeff’s Cultural Center & Café, 2836 Welton St., Sponsor: Deborah Fard (Info: 303-297-0823)
6 p.m. – Libation-Grand Kinara Lighting: Zona’s, 26th Ave. & Welton St., Black United Fund of Colorado
6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Community Kwanzaa: Held at Brother Jeffs Cultural Center & Café 2836 Welton St. in Denver. Hosted by The Colorado Institute for Indigenous Cultural Studies, Community Supporters and Ile Ori Ogbe Egun: Temple of the Enlightened Path. Theme is: "How Our Ancestors Survived: Sustaining Cultural Organizations, Community & Family Through the Principle of Ujamaa." (Info: Iya Ta’Shia Asanti at 303-799-0506 or write to sacreddoorwoman@aol.com.)
NIA (Purpose)
Friday, Dec. 30
2 - 4 p.m. Family Kwanzaa: Blair Caldwell African American Research Library - 2401 Welton St. (Info: Contance 720-865-2401). Enjoy a Ghanain dancer and songs and stories by Denver Griot Opalanga Pugh. Edu-tainment, food, crafts.
6 p.m. – Libation-Grand Kinara Lighting, Zona’s 26th Ave. & Welton St., Links-Mama Tish (Info: 303-988-0062); Africa Men-Cadrec (Info: 303-860-7848); Future Adults of Colorado-Duvall (Info: 303-340-2682)
Community Kwanzaa – 8 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. Adults (21+) Hosted by Café Nuba – It’s Hot and It’s Black at The Walnut Room, 3131 Walnut St. Denver. Admission is $10 at the door. Smoke/censor-free, Jambalaya Sistah Drum Ensemble and various poets, speakers and performers. Info at www.panafricanarts.org or call Liz Andrews at 303-298-8188.
KUUMBA (Creativity)
Saturday, Dec. 31
11 a.m. - 3 p.m. – Sankofa Arts Collective: Having a Hand Made Life, Adult crafts.
6 p.m. – Libation-Grand Kinara Lighting: Zona’s 26th Ave. & Welton St., Fire Station #3. Charlie Drennan (Info: 303-839-2109)
5 - 9 p.m. – Big Dance (Finale): Zion Senior Center, 5151 E. 33rd Ave.
Admission: Love offering (Info: 303-333-5746). Heritage Drum & Dance, Joda & Friends, Starchild, Spritualist Project.
IMANI (Faith)
Sunday, Jan. 1
Rest And Contemplation
Families and Community should observe rest and contemplation and reflect on how principles can be observed with their family and communities throughout the year. |
