In his 2023 annual founder’s message, Dr Maulana Karenga the creator of Kwanzaa, which is a seven-day celebration of family, community and culture, reminded us of the origins and purpose of the holiday:

“Kwanzaa was conceived and born in the womb, work, and transformative struggles of the Black Freedom Movement. And thus, its essential message and meaning was shaped and shared not only in sankofa initiatives of cultural retrieval, of the best of our views, values, and practices as African peoples.

It was also shaped by that defining decade of fierce strivings and struggles for freedom, justice and associated goods waged by Africans and other peoples of color all over the world in the 1960s. Kwanzaa thus came into being, grounded itself and grew as an act of freedom, an instrument of freedom, a celebration of freedom and a practice of freedom.” (1)

Its immediate concern was to address the “key crisis in black life… the cultural crisis in views and especially, values. ”Thus Kwanzaa is intrinsically linked with the notion of freedom, the like of which was articulated by the likes of Marcus Mosiah Garvey decades earlier: (2)

“No race is free until it has a strong nation of its own; its own system of government and its own order of society. Never give up this idea. Let no one persuade you against it. It is the only protection for your generation and your race.” (3)

Some may query how a mere holiday is linked to freedom and sovereignty. Bro. Tafadzwa ShakaRa Mbandaka in his message Kwanzaa: Restoring Afrikan Cultural Sovereignty, delivered at Alkebu-Lan Shumira on December 1st of this year referenced Baba Ishakamusa Barashango, when he emphasised that holidays are the institutionalised celebrations of the thoughts & ideas of a particular philosophical worldview and their celebration establishes and helps to maintain a strong emotional and cultural bond between the celebrant and that what they are celebrating. (4)

This clearly manifests itself most effectively when particular holiday is well resourced, especially at the national and/or institutional level. In these instances the holiday is renedered virtually unavoidable.

Kwanzaa arguably lacks these national and institutional facets – yet has managed to grow as one of the most enduring legacies of the Black Power era, truly Pan-Afrikan in scope and observed by millions globally,. (5)

The challenge is to discern the extent to which celebrants proactively agitate for sovereignty. One initiative has been provided by Mama Marimba Ani. She has used the concept of Kujitawala to reinterpret the Nguzo Saba, the seven principles of Kwanzaa in the context of Afrikan sovereignty. For example, Umoja (Unity) is defined as “To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race,” is interpreted as “the Pan-Afrikanist Vision of Afrikan people throughout the world joining forces to fight for Afrikan Sovereignty and to build an Afrikan World Order” under Kujitawala. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): “To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together” is UJAMAA (“familyhood”): “Creating economic cooperatives based on the concept of Afrikan familyhood, interdependence, interrelationship, and village and national unity.” (6)

(1) Dr. Maulana Karenga (23/12/23) Kwanzaa, Freedom, Justice and Peace: Principles and Practices For A New World. https://lasentinel.net/kwanzaa-freedom-justice-and-peace-principles-and-practices-for-a-new-world.html
(2) Dr. Maulana Karenga (1982) Introduction To Black Studies. Kawaida Publications. p. 133
(3) Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka (Ed) (2009) Mosiah Daily Affirmations. Soul Force Promotions. p. 21
(4) Tafadzwa ShakaRa Mbandaka (01/12/24) Kwanzaa: Restoring Afrikan Cultural Sovereignty. Alkebu-Lan Shumira
(5) Loretta Fisher (13/01/22) Kwanzaa, Black Power and socialism. https://springmag.ca/kwanzaa-black-power-and-socialism
(6) Melanie McFarland (25/12/92) Kwanzaa Is A Time Of Reflection. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-12-25-9204270266-story.html; Mama Marimba Ani (26/12/18) Kujitiwala: An Afrikan Sovereignist interpretation of the Nguzo Saba. https://kamaurashid.com/kujitiwala-an-afrikan-sovereignist-interpretation-of-the-nguzo-saba

So tonight we ask the question:

Can Kwanzaa help us restore Cultural Sovereignty?

1) Is Kwanzaa one of the most enduring legacies of the Black Power era? If so why?
2) How has Kwazaa grown without national and institutional facets ?
3) Do most Kwanzaa celebrants regard it as a “practice of freedom”?
4) Will the Kujitawala reinterpretation help re-focus the observance?

Our Special Guests:

Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of over 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.

Bro. ShakaRa Mbandaka: the son of Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka, Father, Partner, Universal Afrikan Nationalist, Organiser, Spoken Word Activist, Writer, Cultural Scientist, Educator, Sema Tawi and graduate of the UNIA-ACL’s Course In Afrikan Philosophy (ShakaRaSpeaks.com). Bro. ShakaRa is also director of Kimbunga Media, the UK’s number 1 conscious platform (https://kimbungamedia.com/).

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