For this show we will hear from organizers and celebrants from across the Afrikan world including the USA, UK, the Caribbean and the Motherland, 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. 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 celebrations of Umkhosi, Incwala (Matabele), Inxwala (Thonga), Lama (Lovedu), Thegula (Ashanti), Afahye/dwira (Yoruba). (1)
Additional aspects of these ceremonies include ingathering, reverence, commemoration, recommitment 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 sought to address the “culture crisis” of views and values in service of our liberation. (3)
From these origins the story of Kwanzaa is one of fairly rapid growth throughout the Afrikan community but its adoption by cultural artists like Mtume, Haki Madhubiti, Amiri Baraka and Sweet Honey In The Rock and later elements of the Hip-Hop community such as Public Enemy, Dead Prez and Black Star inspired a period of significant proliferation. (4) Afrikans in the corporate sector 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 in 1997. (5) The 1997 film The Celebration of Kwanzaa: Echoes Of Africa, also helped spread the word and this was underscored a decade or so later with the release of MK Asante’s award winning documentary The Black Candle.
From its early days when it was regarded as an “African-American” celebration Kwanzaa has continued the spread – internationally particularly in the UK, Caribbean and even in the Motherland. Indeed, writer, organizer and educator Ajamu Nangwaya asserts: “Why you need to do Kwanzaa,” where he challenges the “misconceptions and propaganda” against it and exhorts us “not to be selective and inconsistent with respect to the ethical or moral standards that we apply to celebratory events in society.” (6) He adds:
“The principles of Kwanzaa ought to inform the organizing and institution-building work that are carried out to emancipate the people from the various forms of oppression. Therefore, the most compelling thing about Kwanzaa and its foundational principles is the expectation that they should direct the lives and activities of Afrikans on a daily basis. The holiday period of Kwanzaa becomes the moment for stocktaking, (re)assessment, celebration, recalibration, and recommitment to the goals and objectives of Afrikan liberation.” (7)
KWANZAA UK EVENTS 2022
UMOJA (Unity) 26th Dec (1st day)
Pan-African Congress Movement (PACM)
5pm to 8pm – Online via Zoom
Info/Stalls 07510 249 828
UJIMA (Collective Work & Responsibility) 28th Dec (3rd day)
Afruika Bantu Saturday School
4pm-8pm, St Martin’s Community Centre, Abbots Park, Upper Tulse Hill, SW2 3QB. Recommended donations on entry – £5 under 20 FREE. Info/stalls: 07903 012 757 / Email: Abssgb17@gmail.com
Harambee Organisation of Black Unity
Kwanzaa Workshop, 10am-4pm, Marcus Garvey Centre 97-99 Linwood Road Birmingham B21 9JH. £5.98. For more information and to book: https://OBUKwanzaa.eventbrite.co.uk.
PACM/African-Caribbean Self Help Organization
6pm-10pm, Upstairs Auditorium Legacy Centre of Excellence, 144 Potters Lane, Birmingham, B6 4UU. FREE (contributions welcome). Info: 07939 241 650.
NIA (Purpose) 30th Dec (5th day)
John Lynch Afrikan Education Programme
2pm to 10pm, Malcolm X Community Centre, 141 City Road, Bristol BS2 8YH
Rebirth Of The Griot
6pm-10pm, Tottenham Community Sports Centre, N17 8AD, Entry: Donation (Children FREE). Info: 07985 229 269/07950 253 240.
PACM
6.30pm-10pm, Heritage Centre, Clifford Street, Wolverhampton, WV6 0AA, FREE (contributions welcome). Info: 07546 952 955.
(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) Maulana Karenga (1982) Introduction To Black Studies. Kawaida Publications. p. 133
(4) 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
(5) 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.
(6) Ajamu Nangwaya (24/12/14) Why you need to do Kwanzaa. https://mediacoop.ca/blog/ajamu-nangwaya/32540
(7) Ibid.
we ask the question:
KWANZAA: Why should we celebrate? Pt. 2
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:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centered Education Consultant. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of nearly 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.
Sis. Nkechi Taifa: is an activist, organiser and award-winning attorney. She is Founder, Principal and CEO of The Taifa Group LLC, a social enterprise firm whose mission is to advance justice. She is also a founding member of N’COBRA, the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America. Sis. Nkechi, has been an elementary school teacher at NationHouse Watoto School from 1977-1980, and as founder and director of a Saturday School for youth during the 1970s. and the author of children books for, Shining Legacy, The Adventures of Kojo and Ama and Three Tales of Wisdom. Her best-seller memoir, Black Power Black Lawyer: My Audacious Quest for Justice was published in 2020 and her latest book Reparations on Fire will be launched at a Kwanzaa/Birthday celebration on December 29th 2022 (https://mailchi.mp/thetaifagroup/nkechi-taifas-birthday-kwanzaa-book-launch-celebration?e=aalbc).
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 (https://www.facebook.com/ebukhosinisolutions/)
Sis. Kenya Malinke Mansaray: is the co-founder and chairwoman of the Black Star Action Network International (BSANI). She is also a social entrepreneur, international organizer, women’s empowerment activist and holistic healer. In addition to her contributions to BSANI she serves as the International Ambassador for Gullah Nation of North America (GNONA) and lady president of Peters-Blyden-Johnson UNIA-ACL Freetown Division #717. (http://bsani.org/)
Chief Foday Ajamu Mansaray: is the founder and executive director of the Black Star Action Network International (BSANI) and has dedicated 20 years of his life as a community activist and international organizer to the cause of Pan-Afrikan unity, liberation and economic emancipation for Afrika and Afrikan people; those at home and throughout the diaspora. He repatriated to Sierra Leone in 2013 where his notable work the launching of an annual “Be Clean Campaign” to address the sanitation and hygiene dilemma in the country’s capital city and draw attention to the scarcity of portable water. Foday is also a Paramount Chief of the Gullah Nation of North America (GNONA) and President of the Peters-Blyden-Johnson UNIA-ACL Freetown Division #717. He believes in balanced gendered leadership and that is integral to overall struggle. (http://bsani.org/)
Bro. Leachim Tufani Semaj: is based in Kingston Jamaica and is a Quantum Transformation Psychologist and award-winning teacher. He is also a Motivational and Keynote Speaker, Creative Thinker and Problem Solver. Presenter and facilitator for Change Management, Leadership Training, Strategic Planning Retreats, Organizational Restructuring, Cultural and Work/Values Alignment, Work/Life Balance, Corporate Coaching and Demystifying complex concepts that impact people’s lives. A unique ability to impact persons at all levels of education and competence.
Bro. Imani Nassor: is a senior member of the Pan-African Congress Movement, an organization largely regarded as brining Kwanzaa to the UK and who are organizing events in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and online this year..
Bro. Andre Skepple: is an alumni of the Pan African Youth Organisation and is currently a CEO of a Tec company in North London. He prides himself in having a young Africans as part of his team and applying the principles of Kwanzaa in his daily life. Bro. will be participating in the Afruika Bantu Saturday School CommunityKwanzaa on December 28th.