As a small crowd gathered Sunday in Buddhoe Park to observe the first day of Kwanzaa, organizer Etherero Akinshegun’s eyes lit up as he spoke about the importance of keeping the tradition alive.
Akinshegun began the ceremony with a traditional libation statement, while a drum processional played lightly in the background. The libation – or ritual pouring of a drink as an offering to a god or spirit in memory to those who have died – was focused on health, nutrition, growth, and family union.
“We are trying to keep the celebration and traditions open,” he said after the pouring.
Akinshegun, who brought the holiday to St. Croix in 1982, attended the very first Kwanzaa event that Maulana Karenga organized in California in 1966. He said he wanted to teach Virgin Islanders about the institution and family building festival, and consider the Kwanzaa principles : unity (umoja), self-determination (kujichagulia), collective responsibility (ujima), cooperative economics (ujamaa), purpose (nia), creativity (kuumba), and faith (imani), as universal, non-secular, and extremely important to live by.
The drums, which are typically played before and after an event, are a central part of African culture and heritage, and Akil Andrews and Adrian Edwards were thrilled to play for this year’s Kwanzaa.
“The drums should be played in a polyrhythmic style, and they signify harmony, in which every person has a place in the community. So if a beat is off, the whole community is off,” Edwards said.
After the processional, the group broke out to participate in the various workshops that were centered on this year’s theme of health and nutrition. René Edwards taught face-painting and gave kids colorful cheeks; Rudy O’Reilly, a trained botanist, centered on edible and poisonous bushes of St. Croix; and Beverly Edney gave the crowd a healthy breakfast sample of blended items. Sylvia Brady gave a workshop on the art of jewelry-making, and had numerous beautiful pieces for sale, as well as some items from her new line, “St. Croix Apothecary.”
One of the most popular workshops was taught by Ras Ajamu, who was selling coconut oil and books on the health benefits of the oil. He gave a 20-minute overview of the numerous positive effects that coconut oil can bring to the body, and answered questions and gave samples of the oil to members of the crowd.
After the workshops, Akinshegun gathered the crowd to speak about the symbols of Kwanzaa and form a unity circle, which was followed by a blessing and participants were invited to join in and enjoy a delicious community feast. A community drum circle closed the event.
