K
Deee her 16-21, 1990
MICHIGAN CITIZEN
P 11
anzaa unveiled at
AAH
By Derrick c. Le
SI!dlWriUr
You know, I've heard a lot
about Kwanzaa but I never
new what the deal was with
it, until I went down to tbe
Museum of African American
Hi tory (MAAH) last Wed­
ne day.
The University Cultural
Center was hosting it's 18th
- annual Noel Night and just
about every institution in the
area was hosting orne type
of holiday event.
When I arrived at the
MAAH I got myself a prime
spot.
There were about. 250
people gathered around to ee
the ceremony, mostly parent
ith their children, and
cur:ious onlookers like
my elf.
Before st rting off the
ceremony, we were enter­
tai ned by the Art of Motion
Dance Troupe, who per­
formed African and modern
dance steps. The young
women wore very colorful
Afric n co tume , and per­
formed their step most
lavi hly and with much ener-
gy. They were accompanied
by drummer playing tradi­
tional African drum .
The audience was very
much alive during the dance,
and e nthu ia tically par­
ticipated with the dancers
during call and re p�nse.
AFTER THE DANCE,
Abdul Rahem and his wife
Aba Yomi, dres ed in tradi­
tional African costume,
began explaining the celebra­
tion of Kwanzaa.
The word Kwanzaa means
"First Fruit." The ritual i
based on age-old African har­
vest celebrations which tradi­
tionally took place near the
end and the beginning of the
year.
Kwanzaa i a seven' day
celebration lasting from
December 26 thru January 1.
At harvest celebrations
African peoples' gathered
together to celebrate the har­
vest and rejoice in their com­
munities collective efforts.
In 1965 Dr. Ron Karenga
created Kwanzaa for African
Americans after observing
various harvest celebrations
throughout the African con-
tinent. He borrowed much of
the symbols and terminology
from African traditions and
applied it to the African
American experience to cre­
ate something distinctive for
Us to celebrate.
The celebration is meant
to help Black Americans
develop a greater ense of
unity, identity, and purpo e.
The Mlsbumaa S b (the
seven candles), three red
c ndles symbolizing the
blood of African people 'and
our struggles, three green
candles symbolizing the
struggles after the struggles
and the realization of our
dreams, one black candle rep­
resenting the Black man and
his family;
Klkomba Cb Umoj (the
unity cup), used for pouring
libations to invite the ances­
tors to enjoy the celebration
and combine the community.
in a household. guests are in­
vited to sip from the cup also;
Zawadi (gifts), given on
the last day of Kwanzaa on
the basis of merit.
The ritual calls for light­
ing one candle a day for each
day of Kwanzaa.
(creativ ty). lmani (faith).
The last day of Kwanzaa,
Imani, i when libation are
poured, gift are given, and
you can ake a big dinner for
your family and friends.
Kwanzaa is not a
retiglous holiday, it is it cul­
tural ho iday to bring Blacks
closer t gether, so that we
can sha in a common bond
based o� our experience here
in America, and call on the
cultural egacy of the mother­
land.
Me bers of teArt of
otion D ee Troupe
performl I durin t e
Museum of Africa
A eric n History'
Kwanza celebr tion la t
Wednesd y. (Photo by
Derrick C. Lew).
Whol Ie'
R an
African
Import.
S d.
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ADA S
EST
CHILD
DEVELOP ENT
FACIUTY
A TABLE WAS in the
room, and on the table were
the even basic Kwanzaa
symbols. A Mkek (mat),
symbolizing the foundation
o( African values and prin­
ciples. It was pointed out by
Aba Yomi that African
peoples 'are born on mats,
sleep on mats, and are l�d to
rest on mats. All the other
ymbols stood on the mat:
A Klnara (candle holder),
symbolizing the continent of
Africa;
Vlbunzl (ears of corn),
symbolizing children in the
household, children who
have l�ft, and potential
children;
M zao (crops), repre­
senting the bounty of the
earth;
THE DAYS OF Kwanzaa
are called the Seven Prin­
ciples. From December 26 to
January 1 the days are called
Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia
(self-determination), Ujima
(collective work and respon­
sjbitity), Ujamaa (coopera­
tive economics), Nia
(purpose), Kuumba
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