Kwanzaa: A celebration of principles

It was 1966 when Dr. Maulana Karenga, a lecturer in ethics and African studies at California State University in Long Beach, put forth the idea of Kwanzaa, a seven-day observance (from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1) based on the African concept of Kawaida, a Swahili word for a cooperative, ethics-based philosophy.
It was to be an ongoing reinforcement of traditional ideals, promoting community, self reliance and hope in the African-American community during one its most challenging periods, said Rev. D. Mildred Middlebrooks, pastor of Rising Zion Baptist Church in Fairfield.
“Think of the world then,” she said. “Dr. King was still living and people were struggling for their rights. It was in this environment that Kwanzaa became a way to reinforce some of the principles that we need to always keep right in front of us.”
Through a Web site devoted to Kwanzaa, http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org, Karenga, the director of the African American Cultural Center in Los Angeles, tells us that Kwanzaa is an “ancient and living cultural tradition which reflects the best of African thought.” Karenga still tours widely to promote the holiday, said the Center’s Assistant Director Chimbuko Tembo. She explained the seven principles and why they continue to be inspiring and relevant today.
“There’s Umoja, or unity,” she said. The principles, or Ngubo Saba, are Swahili terms. “We’ve all seen what we can accomplish when we work together. You can’t over-emphasize the importance of a common goal.”
The second principle is Kujichagulia or self determination.
“That’s the ability to define ourselves and speak for ourselves,” she said.
Ujima, or collective work and responsibility, is the notion “that we think of our brothers’ and sisters’ problems as our own and try to work out solutions together,” Tembo said. “Also that we are responsible for building and preserving our own communities.”
Ujamaa, or cooperative economics, encourages the formation and support of small businesses, Tembo said.
“To follow this principle, you would patronize businesses in your own community — particularly those owned by African-Americans — rather than huge chain stores.”
Nia, or purpose, is the principle that asks people to concentrate continuously on building our community, Tembo said.
Kuumba, or creativity, is the fifth principle: “Whether it’s your school, your church, even a playground, you need to leave it more beautiful than it was,” she said, and Imani, or faith, “means to always believe in the worth of our people and our heritage.”
Rev. Andrea Cornett-Scott, pastor of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Staunton, has found a way to bring these abstract principles to life. Scott also serves as the associate vice president for Student Affairs and a member of the religion department faculty at Mary Baldwin College.
She assigns one of the seven principles to each first-year African-American student.
“Sometimes there’s a pattern,” she said. “For instance, I usually assign the VWIL (Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership) students the principle of umoja, or unity. And usually the PEG (Program for the Exceptionally Gifted) students get the principle of kuumba, or creativity.” The students work on projects related to their principle, and make a presentation during Mary Baldwin’s Kwanzaa celebration.
“We do it in January, since the school is closed during the traditional Kwanza seven-day period,” she said.
At the yearly observance, the seniors talk about their principle, and first-year students with the same principle interpret it in a creative way.
“We try to use traditional African-American ways of expression,” Cornett-Scott said. “For instance, it might be spoken-word, dance, song or stepping. But whatever it is, it will reflect the individual principle.”
The yearly observance, which includes traditional African food as well as the performing arts, is also a rite of passage for the first-year students and recognition of the progress of the seniors, Cornett-Scott said.
“It also promotes friendships through the four years. The students with the same principles know each other and keep in touch as they find ways to understand and follow them.”
Kwanzaa as traditionally celebrated is also a harvest festival, observed at the end of the agricultural year. Cornett-Scott believes the harvest theme of Kwanzaa is especially appropriate for the college setting.
“I like to think of the first-year students as our harvest,” she said. The popularity of Mary Baldwin’s yearly observance has grown over the years.
“We’ve had to change to larger venues three times,” she said. “People are bursting out the doors.”
In Waynesboro, Kwanzaa is less well known.
“I think I was the only one who observed it,” said Augustine Bellamy, the founder of Waynesboro’s African-American museum.
“I just don’t know much about it,” said Beulah Spellman, pastor of Stuarts Draft Beulah Baptist Church. “I don’t condemn it at all. We just celebrate Christmas very joyfully.”
Cornett-Scott observed that most Kwanza celebrations she knows of in Staunton take place at home.
“I have many friends who observe it,” she said. “It’s mostly just with their families, not through the churches.”
She mentioned that Mary Baldwin College educates students and encourages celebration of all meaningful observances, whether Christian, Jewish, Islamic or community based.
Tembo observed the celebration of Kwanzaa was never meant to replace Christmas; only to give African Americans something uniquely appropriate to their heritage.
“I think these values are timeless,” she said.
Middlebrooks agrees.
“Unity, self-determination, faith – certainly, these are things we all need to take ownership of.”
Mary Baldwin College in Staunton will celebrate Kwanzaa at 6 p.m. Jan. 24 in the Lida B. Hunt Dining Room. For more information, call 887-7000.