Families across the Afrikan world will be finalising their preparations for KWANZAA 6255 (2015) which officially begins on 26/12.  To assist with raising the seasonal vibrations, members of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and their children will descend on the Galaxy Studio to ‘Kwanzaa-ize’ the place through word sounds, chants and songs as well as affirmations of the meaning and importance of KWANZAA to them.

To those that remain sceptical,  it is the case that KWANZAA, since it’s inception in 6206 (1966) has developed a body of features that authenticate it, arguably to a greater extent that some holidays that many more people celebrate with an almost delirious fervour.  KWANZAA harmonizes with nature by being  grounded in actual  harvest festival celebrations – which is then used as a metaphor to cultivating our achievements, including our children.

KWANZAA has it’s own vocabulary based on the Kiswahili language and there is a growing body of literature about the holiday.  For example Amazon lists over 800 titles on KWANZAA (although every effort should be made to purchase Kwanzaa books and items from Kulcha shops), including:  Kwanzaa:  A Celebration of Family, Community & Culture and The African American Holiday of Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community & Culture, both by Maulana Karenga;  Kwanzaa: A Progressive and Uplifting African American Holiday by Haki R. Madhubuti,; and Kwanzaa: Everything You Always Wanted To Know But Didn’t Know Where To Ask by Cedric McClester.

Not surprisingly, a bevvy of KWANZAA SONGS and ANTHEMS have also carried the celebration along.  One of the earliest being the 1978 release by Sweet Honey in The Rock, Seven Principles.  Perhaps the outstanding single set of KWANZAA SONGS is the Seven Principles LP by Kwame Steve Cobb and Chavanduka.  Moreover a wide range of mainstream and underground artists have also recorded KWANZAA SONGS including Teddy Pendergrass, Herbie Hancock, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Sound Sages,.  One of the earliest recorded Kwanzaa songs in the UK was Kwanzaa Song by Pan-African DJ Lujinton and of course there is the reigning Kwanzaa Anthem MATUNDA YA KWANZAA by Othieno.  Tonight, members of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement will be sharing chants from Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka’s vast KWANZAA songbook.

There are fewer films about Kwanzaa but an early effort was The celebration of Kwanzaa : echoes of Africa from 1996, narrated by Dorien Harewood.  To date though, the definite Kwanzaa film is MK Asante Jr’s The Black Candle  from 2008, narrated by Maya Angelou and featuring contributions from Maulana Karenga, Molefi Asante, Chuck D, Dead Prez and Ursula Rucker.

For those detractors who cannot see past Kwazaa’s founder, film maker ‘Alik Shahadah has a fitting riposte:
“Of all the criticism detractors launch at Kwanzaa, it is amazing none of them have a leg to stand on. Most critique is Ad Hominem (against Karenga). But Karenga is not Kwanzaa, when Karenga is dead and gone, the virtues of Kwanzaa will not depend on his personality. The term “Created” is used to detract from its authenticity. But every culture creates, Kwanzaa is just a modern creation.” (1)

(1) Karenga,  Dr. Maulana  & ‘Alik Shahadaha, Why Kwanzaa – The Pan-African Diaspora Holiday.http://www.africanholocaust.net/news_ah/kwanzaa.html

So we ask the question:

What is Kwanzaa and why should you celebrate it?

1.    Will you be attending any Kwanzaa celebrations this year?
2.    Do you own any books on Kwanzaa?
3.    Do you know any Kwanzaa songs?
4.    Does the interim National Afrikan People’s Parliament endorse Kwanzaa ?

Our special guests are:

Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and UNIA-ACL Ambassador for the UK and national co-Chair of the interim National Afrikan People’s Parliament.  Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of over 30 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An Africentric Guide To Excellence. 

Members of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement

Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan