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Akinyemi and Mariel Blake, master and mistress of Monday’s ceremony, and DaraMonifah Cooper, founder of KWANZAA365, worked together to teach the history of Kwanzaa, its principles and how it is practiced in different parts of the world.
Kwanzaa was started in California in 1966 by African-American scholar Maulana Karenga as a time to reflect on family, community and culture. “His purpose was to create specific practices that would strengthen the family’s foundation,” Cooper said.
Celebrated from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1, the holiday is centered around Nguzu Saba, which is Swahili for seven principles.
Kwanzaa’s seven principles are Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination). Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith). Each day’s celebration relates to the principle of that day, and a candle is lit in honor of the principle.
The name Kwanzaa came from the Swahili phrase “Matunda Ya Kwanzaa,” which means “first fruits of the harvest.” Many African countries hold harvest celebrations, and Karenga wanted to honor that tradition in America.
Gifts are also given during Kwanzaa, and Cooper explained that the gifts are educational or creative, such as books, musical instruments, or handmade jewelry and crafts. “Usually you give a gift a day, something heartfelt, with the intent of instilling pride, faith and unity,” Cooper said.
The teaching efforts by Cooper and the Blakes were a perfect example of Kwanzaa’s principle of Ujima, or collective work and responsibility, the theme of Kwanzaa’a third day of celebration.
Children were encouraged to ask questions about the seven principles, the Swahili language and the meaning of the seven Adinkra symbols that originated in Ghana and adorn each of the seven principles.
According to Cooper, the symbols can be found in gates and fences throughout the territory due to the fact that a large number of Virgin Islanders are originally from Ghana.
Quite a few of the 25 children at the library were already familiar with Kwanzaa. Shaleah Roberts, who attends the Yvonne E. Milliner-Bowsky Elementary School, said she learned all about Kwanzaa in school.
The children were also encouraged to play one of the many instruments provided by Cooper. They laughed and sang while banging on goatskin drums and playing the balafon, an instrument similar to the xylophone that is made with wood and calabash.
Although Kwanzaa is a pan-African holiday, Cooper stressed the fact that Kwanzaa is now celebrated by many different nationalities because the principles of Kwanzaa can strengthen any community.
“We need to pass on traditions and values that aren’t being passed on right now,” Cooper stressed.
In honor of the principle of Ujima, Cooper is also putting together a grass-roots business and services/bartering directory. Due to the hard economic times, bartering has become popular on the mainland, and Cooper hopes it will catch on in the territory.
Anyone interested in signing up for Cooper’s business and services directory can pick up an application at the SPLURGE/KWANZAA365 headquarters located at 32 Norre Gade, Suite 2.
The weeklong Kwanzaa celebration continues tomorrow with a “Village Karamu” feast and a film screening of “The Black Candle” from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Banana Leaf Bistro. The cost is $10 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under.
PEACEGreetings and Happy Holidays to All!
As we are in the middle of the Kwanzaa Season, I'd just like to thank everyone for coming out to all the events and making them successful thus far. There are still a few more to experience including tonight's dinner at the Banana Leaf Bistro; a drum circle tomorrow evening at the Lindberg Bay Park Gazeebo; the Creativity Day activities (drumming, African dance, arts and crafts, mendhi and body painting); Hatha Yoga Sun Salutations on Brewers Beach (6am/6pm); and the Kwanzaa Potluck on Brewers... so share the word and come on out!
Asante Sana (Thank you) & Enjoy your holidays!
DaraMonifah, Founding Manager of KWANZAA365, Inc.
For more information, call us at (340) 473-6659, come by our headquarters at SPLURGE (right across the street from Zora's) or visit us online at http://www.KWANZAA365.org
It is truly amazing what people won't tell you about Kwanzaa, mainly because if they did, no sensible person would be within 100 feet of this thing.
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For example, Cooper is quoted as observing that, "Kwanzaa was started in California in 1966 by African-American scholar Maulana Karenga as a time to reflect on family, community and culture. “His purpose was to create specific practices that would strengthen the family’s foundation,”
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Here's what Cooper won't tell you about Karenga. He became a black nationalist at UCLA and formed his group, the United Slaves (US) ostensibly because the Marxist Black Panthers were not radical enough for him. The rival groups took to carrying guns on the UCLA campus, which culminated in the gang-style slaying of two Black Panthers (Al Carter and John Huggins). Two of Karenga’s confederates (George and Larry Stiner) were convicted of these murders.
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In 1971, Karenga was himself convicted of felonious assault and false imprisonment for torturing two women. A 5/14/1971 piece in the Los Angeles Times reported the trial testimony thus: "Deborah Jones, who once was given the Swahili title of an African queen, said she and Gail Davis were whipped with an electrical cord and beaten with a karate baton after being ordered to remove their clothes. She testified that a hot soldering iron was placed in Miss Davis' mouth and placed against Miss Davis' face and that one of her own big toes was tightened in a vise. Karenga, head of US, also put detergent and running hoses in their mouths, she said." The following day, Karenga allegedly told the women that “Vietnamese torture is nothing compared to what I know.”
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Yes indeed, what a fine scholar and role model Mr. Karenga is.
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As for the holiday itself, the entire thing is a poorly researched event. The words employed in the celebration are from the Swahili language. This language is spoken on the east side of the African continent. Where did West Indian and mainland US slaves come from? Yep: primarily the west side, thousands of miles away. It is difficult to grasp just how the incorporation of Swahili into Kwanzaa rituals could have any possible connection to the vast majority of observing Virgin Islanders. The inclusion of Japanese into Kwanzaa would make about as much sense, especially to the African forefathers of modern day Virgin Islanders.
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Further, Kwanzaa is pitched as a harvest celebration, yet harvest season begins in September for West Africa and ends about the time of the winter solstice. How can you have a “first fruit” ritual when there are no fruits to be harvested this time of year?
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But Kwanzaa’s greatest offense is that its origins are manifestly racist and un-American. While its proponents have toned down their rhetoric of late, Kwanzaa remains unabashedly exclusionary along racial lines.
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In the late 1990’s, the African-American group Project 21 condemned Kwanzaa as racially divisive, pro-violence, and against the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
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Project 21 member James Coleman, a former multi-year celebrant of Kwanzaa and a former Black Panther, quoted the official Kwanzaa Information Center at that time: "red, or the blood, stands as the top of all things. We lost our land through blood; and we cannot gain it except through blood. We must redeem our lives through the blood. Without the shedding of blood there can be no redemption of this race..." The Kwanzaa Information Center added that the flag "has become the symbol of devotion for African people in America to establish an independent African nation on the North American Continent."
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Happy Kwanzaa, everyone! Or not.
PEACEGreetings All,
To ignore an attempt at a slap is never to have felt it in the first place, for ignorance toward positive intent often leads to misinterpretation and mal-intended reactionary behavior.
I was told that someone responded to this story and that I should check it out immediately. So I did. If anyone has any questions concerning anything was was mentioned, please feel free to contact me and I will be happy to explain or direct you to someone more knowledgeable than myself to clarify any misconceptions.
I will respond in the way that I have already to someone else for the week (and occasionally when someone brings up some of the history of members of the organization and history of Kwanzaa). This is no worse than other reactionary statements that have been posed in all the years of past to such sad instances of someone "simply missing he point." It is pointless to go into the issues of people within an organization when the globally understood overall intent is to carry out the mission of why the organization was intended in the first place. This is how we remain stagnant in our efforts to assist humanity... due to un-reconcilable personal differences that get in the way of progress.
I shall not waste time in rebuttal, but blissful ignorance soon becomes obviously an embarrassment. Negative sarcasm is sometimes such a waste of energy.
I am well aware of the issues surrounding Karenga and as such always make reference to the organization (US)that has collectively institutionalized Kwanzaa instead of solely calling out his name alone. Unfortunately, that part of my statement is not usually publicized as many are only familiar with his name and can't seem to separate the man from the mission or the messenger from the message.
Happy Holidays to all whatever they may be, as if the intent is analogous to peace and goodwill to men (and women and children), then we are all in the same boat, sailing on the same river... headed to and fro the same ocean where we fundamentally are all one.
...and now, my response:
There seems to be much division created in the realization of our human faults (especially as nasty and as negatively egotistical as some of them can be), but sometimes I've seen that unity can be brought with our recognizing them as necessary parts of our experience(s) and realistically working on them together as I've experienced for myself... but I'm just a 'youngsta,' so what do I know. I know this is easier conceptualized than done because of various invisible factors, but I can at least dream can't I?.
Tell me more elders, tell me mo'
It must be about time that we open that dusty ol' door
But before you do, from the mouth of a babe, let it now be said
They'll be no good once their voices are dead
Their research covered in the blood of their personal choices of skin tones and sexual preferences
Will no longer be available to be used as our historical references
And their wisdom long compiled and collected,
will then have to be re-resurrected
Keeping us back even further than we are
Is that what you wish??? for us to have to go back that far?
I truly know not, for time is speeding up and we can't afford to be slowing down
So please do... Continue; speak the truth, cause even in their frivolous little lies, the Restoration of Ma'at (balance, reciprocity, order...) shall still be found.
I humbly stand by, listening and watching; waiting for my turn
Knowing that with patience, under, over and inner-standing, our time will eventually/soon come around
And when it does, I pray that I would've studied well
For I know, as the fruits of your labor we can either stink or set sail
Tell me more elders, tell me mo'
Well-braced with the strength, wisdom and balanced laws of Ma'at, it's time that we burn down that dusty ol' door
~DaraMonifah
For all those who needed to be reminded that good things can come from people who do bad and vice versa.
DaraMonifah Cooper
www.KWANZAA365.org