For this show we will hear from organizers and celebrants from across the Afrikan world including the Motherland, the Caribbean and Europe about how and why they are observing Kwanzaa.
Kwanzaa was created by Maulana Karenga of the Us organisation in 1966 as a modern incarnation of a “first fruits” celebration, also known as new yam festivals. However, its antecedents can be seen in various observances on the Afrikan continent, even dating back to ancient times. These include Pert-en-Min in Kemet, the Zulu celebration of Umkhosi, Incwala (Matabele), Inxwala (Thonga), Lama (Lovedu), Thegula (Ashanti), Afahye/dwira (Yoruba). (1)
Additional aspects of these ceremonies include ingathering, reverence, commemoration, recommittment and celebration. (2) Conceptually, these elements are at the core of Kwanzaa. Instead of the harvesting of crops, the city dwellers of the Us organisation advanced the idea of our achievements being the conceptual crop that we sowed, tilled and reaped. In the context of the Black Power era of 1960s Kwanzaa’s origins, the achievements related efforts in service of our liberation.
From these origins the story of Kwanzaa is one of fairly rapid growth throughout the Afrikan community but its adoption by the Hip-Hop community in the late 1980s and early 1990s inspired a period of significant proliferation. (3) But it was Afrikans in the corporate sector that also helped push Kwanzaa to mainstream prominence when they successfully lobbied the USA postal service to commission a Kwanzaa postage stamp that was illustrated by artist Synthia Saint James and released in 1997. (4)
It’s ironic that some of the most persistent resistance to Kwanzaa has come from sections of the activist community that focuses on issues such as the circumstances around Maulana Karenga’s 1971 conviction and imprisonment as well as the conflict between the Us organisation and the Black Panther Party for Self-Defence. But some of this criticism can be selective in its emphasis on the scope and impact of the USA governments counter intelligence programme (COINTELPRO) against the Black liberation movement and its well documented attempts to ignite and exacerbate tensions between Us and the BPP. (5)
However, the influence of this school of thought should not be over-estimated. Indeed, activist Obi Egbuna Jr (son of one of the founders of the Black Power Movement in the UK) lamented on Afrika Speaks a year ago the fact that Maulana Karenga has been reduced to his stand off with the second Black Panther Party for Self Defence. Crucially, as an indication of how many have moved beyond the created contention, he added that activists coming from Black Panther backgrounds encourage their children to be part of different Kwanzaa events., of which there “massive celebrations all over the USA.” (6)
Similarly, a writer, organizer and educator (University of the West Indies) Ajamu Nangwaya asserts “Why you need to do Kwanzaa,” where he highlights the “misconceptions and propaganda” and exhorts us to “not to be selective and inconsistent with respect to the ethical or moral standards that we apply to celebratory events in society.” (7)
From its early days when it was regarded as an “African-American” celebration Kwanzaa has continued the spread – internationally. In the UK the Pan-African Congress Movement have been organising community Kwanzaa celebrations since at least the early 1980s, while the Bristol-based John Lynch Afrikan Education Programme will be hosting it’s 26th consecutive Kwanzaa later this month. Further growth is evidenced in MK Asante’s award winning film on Kwanzaa, The Black Candle, featuring celebrations in France. In that country this year, Association Maisha Kwanzaa will be joined by Nation Kamit for festivities on January 1st.
Taking things full circle Kwanzaa has also returned home with the observance growing in popularity across the continent, particularly in western and southern Afrika. In fact Ebukhosini Solutions in collaboration with Dorkay, Umoja Urban Culture and community partners will be hosting its 17th annual Kwanzaa celebration in Azania (South Africa) on December 26th.
Kwanzaa UK events 2018
Umoja 26th Dec (1st day)
4pm to 10pm – African Caribbean Cultural Centre
9 Clarendon Road, Hornsey, London N8 0DJ
Free entry (contributions welcomed) – Info/Stalls 07415482167/07956052821
Kujichagulia 27th Dec (2nd day)
3pm to 8pm – Per Ankh Community Enterprise
Leeds West Indian Centre, Laycock Place, Leeds, LS7 3AJ
Free food – Entry: £5 – under 16 free – Info/Stalls 07974611667
Ujima 28th Dec (3rd day)
7pm until late – Nubian Heritage
Heritage Centre, Clifford Street, Wolverhampton WV6 0AA
Free entry (contributions welcomed) – Info/Stalls 07956447576/07546952955
5:30pm to 10pm – Leicester Kwanzaa Group
Leicester African Caribbean Centre, Maidstone Road, Leicester LE2 0UA
Free entry (ticketed event) – Info/Stalls 07827317952
Ujamaa 29th Dec (4th day)
6pm to 10pm – Soho Community Centre,
48 Chapel street, Handsworth, Birmingham B21 0PA
Free Entry (contributions welcomed) – Info/Stalls 07940709311/01215542747
4pm-8pm – Afruika Bantu Saturday School (ABSS)
St. Martins Community Centre, Abbots Road, London SW2 3PW
Adults: £3 donation. Children Free – Info/Stalls: 07486 388587
2pm to 10pm – John Lynch Afrikan Education Programme
Bristol Kwanzaa Symposium and Karamu – Free entry (contributions welcomed)
Malcolm X Community Centre, 141 City Road, Bristol BS2 8YH
Imani 1st Jan (7th day)
Tue 1st Jan 5pm to 10pm – West Indian Centre,
74 Carmoor Road, Manchester M13 0FB
Free entry (contributions welcome) – Info/Stalls: 07481467027
(1) Dr Maulana Karenga (2002) Kwanzaa : A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture. University of Sankore Press. p. 17-8
(2) Karenga. p. 18
(3) David Greene and Gene Demby (01/01/13) Significance Of Kwanzaa Changes Over The Years. https://www.npr.org/2013/01/01/168388526/significances-of-kwanzaa-changes-over-the-years
Gene Demby (27/12/17) Happy Kwanzaa! The holiday brought to you by the FBI .http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2017-12-27.html
(4) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Voice Of Africa Radio (21/12/09) Kwanzaa – Is there still a culture crisis? Interview with Dr. Maulana Karenga. Show No. 168.
(5) US Senate, Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities (“Church Committee”) (23/04/76) Final Report – Book III: Supplementary Detailed Staff Reports on Intelligence Activities and the Rights of Americans. https://sites.google.com/site/cointelprodocs/the-fbi-s-covert-action-program-to-destroy-the-black-panther-party
(6) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (11/12/17) What Will Our Children Inherit from Us? https://www.mixcloud.com/AfrikaSpeaks/what-will-our-children-inherit-from-us-afrika-speaks-111217/
(7) Ajamu Nangwaya (21/01/15) Why you need to do Kwanzaa. https://www.pambazuka.org/governance/why-you-need-do-kwanzaa
we ask the question:
How has Kwanzaa grown internationally?
1) Will you be attending Kwanzaa events this year?
2) When was Kwanzaa first celebrated in your region?
3) How did it start there?
4) How does Kwanzaa harmonise with local activism?
Our Special Guests:
Baba Tifase John Somorin Howell: is the head of Ile Ifa ati Orisa (an IFA ORISA shrine in Barbados) who undertook revolutionary training with the all African People’s Revolutionary Party and regards himself as faithful student of warrior grand master teachers such as Kwame Ture, Dr. Ben, Dr. Clarke and Dr. Tony Martin’s works on our beloved the Honourable Marcus Garvey. He advocates holding and uplifting our women in high esteem.
Baba Buntu (Amani Olubanjo Buntu): founder and Executive Director of Ebukhosini Solutions a community development capacity building organisation based in Azania (South Africa), specialising in cultural events, education, training, production, management and social entrepreneurship.
Bro. Abiola Sow: is a pan-africanist from Ivory Coast living in France. He is a member of Nation Kamit, a pan-africanist organization started in France in 2014, focusing on afrocentric spirituality, education and economy.
Ifágúnwà Tèmítópé: is a youth reparations activist and organiser based in Nigeria.