Kwanzaa Celebrates Unity, Culture & Community
[Written by Mwalimu Melodye Micere Van Putten]
Kwanzaa started as an African American holiday created in 1966 by African American scholar and philosopher, Dr. Maulana Karenga [1941- ]. Dr. Karenga created Kwanzaa as a practical tool to assist people of African descent to identify and embrace values that our ancestors used towards our own empowerment.
This significant cultural observation has been practiced by conscious people worldwide for over 50 years. As a unique, culturally rooted celebration, it has become a Pan-African holiday and an important time of reflection and rededication to building community.
Kwanzaa is a Swahili word that means “First Fruits” and is celebrated from December 26 through January 1. The holiday celebrates cultural values from our ancestors’ traditional history. Kwanzaa is not a “black Christmas,” even as there is a spiritual component inherent in its celebration. In fact, Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday; it is cultural and is observed by Black people of all faiths.
To be clear, Kwanzaa was created to encourage us to work together and use our gifts and talents to our community’s benefit. The understanding, implementation, and celebration of Umoja [Unity], Kujichagulia [Self-Determination], Ujima [Collective Work and Responsibility], Ujamaa [Cooperative Economics], Nia [Purpose], Kuumba [Creativity] and Imani [Faith] empowers us, reknitting ourselves to ourselves and will result in a strong, vibrant community. Without a doubt, if these cultural values are implemented daily, the Nguzo Saba will help Black people grow in ways desperately needed today.
The cultural enrichment programme Ashay is an example of utilizing the principles of Kwanzaa as a foundational component for cultural grounding. Ashay’s purpose and intention is to assist us in mining the lessons of our global history for practical application today. Over the past decade the collective Ashay Community of adults and children have celebrated this cultural holiday with a communal feast and cultural programme, consisting of poetry, dance, a children’s contribution, candle lighting and a Kwanzaa lesson.
That tradition continues on December 7th from noon to 3 pm at Treehouse! Kwanzaa is an important reminder to think about one’s goals personally and collectively and how to grow them for our community’s empowerment. It is also a time to purposefully think about how we can empower our community with our time, money, resources, etc. This is practicing the principles of Kwanzaa at its best!
I continue to be blessed and humbled to know Dr. Karenga as one of my jangas [mentors]. His work continues to inspire, inform, and shape my thinking and work in the implementation of consciousness for forty years and counting! In the spirit of Kwanzaa, Ashay seeks to assist us in reconnecting ourselves to ourselves, rebuilding the bonds of community – healing, trust, care, and cooperation with the expectation to thrive. Kwanzaa is another necessary step in the process of community development. Kwanzaa belongs to us!
Mwalimu Melodye Mîcere Van Putten is an educator, poet, and creator of Ashay Programmes International. She is also the author of 19 books.
Unity? With homophobia and racism? LMFAO
Racism? She is not denying people jobs or legislating things, its just her story…to many time’s we get racism and our own opinions mixed up, and we all have our prejudices right?