July 14th 2025 is the 84th Earthstrong of Dr Maulana Karenga, founder of the Us Organization that celebrates its 60th anniversary on September 7th this year and the creator of Kwanzaa and the Kawaida Theory out of which it comes.
The seven-day celebration of Kwanzaa is one of the most enduring legacies of the Black Power era of the 1960s. Kwanzaa is based around the Nguzo Saba, seven life principles, Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination); Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility); Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics); Nia (Purpose); Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith). Collectively that are seen as:
“Essential standards of personal and social excellence directed toward building and sustaining moral community, and strengthening and maintaining the community’s capacity to define, defend and develop its interests in the most positive and productive sense. In addition to being standards of excellence, the Nguzo Saba are also categories of priorities and categories of human possibilities. As categories of priorities, they tell us some of the most important things in our lives, identifying a key set of views, values and practices which we should, even must, put first in our personal and social life. And as categories of possibilities, the Nguzo Saba, offer us a set of principles which encourage thought and practice which help define, develop and enhance our humanity in the context of community and the world.” (1)
The context out of which it was created was to address the “key crisis in black life… the cultural crisis in views and especially, values” that some of the other organisations were less inclined address, sometimes due to adherence to various economic philosophies. (2)
Arguably, the crisis exists in the present, given the range of challenges that continue to beset our community, with attempts to unite often hindered by infiltration, sabotage of even indifference. In spite of the recuurence of these tendencies, the capacity to call perpetrators to account is still lacking. (3)
Yet, one area we do see the values of the Nguzo Saba manifest is the Pan-Afrikan Sports and Culture Day (PASCD), recently won by the Alkebu-Lan Academy of Excellence. Its very existence is an act of Umoja. It is rooted in the sixty-year plus legacy of the Saturday School Movement, a resolute example of Kujichagulia. The confluence of organsations and individuals that come together to plan and execute the event is a vivid illustration of Ujima. Ujamaa can be seen in the event being funded wholly by the community as well providing opportunities for enterprise through stalls. The fact that PASCD has been a springboard for initiatives like the Pan-Afrikan People’s Parliament, a nationbuilding endeavour, shows real Nia. The event itself allows our children’s Kuumba to flourish and our Imani that they will have a bright future is our sacred mission towards our liberation.
As Dr Karenga asserts:
“African liberation is not only a world-encompassing project, but also a living practice of our daily lives. It is about the way we live our lives, do our work and wage our struggles to resist oppression, build and push our lives forward and achieve freedom, secure justice and expand the struggle for good in and for the world. Since the 1960s, our organization Us has taught that our struggle is a dual one: a struggle to be ourselves and to free ourselves. And we know we cannot free ourselves if we don’t be ourselves, but we can only be ourselves if we fully free ourselves. This is why we argued then and now that the quality of our lives and the success of our liberation struggle depend upon our waging cultural revolution within and political revolution without, resulting in the radical reconception and reconstruction of self, society and the world.” (4)
(1) Dr. Maulana Karenga (28/02/24) The Chair’s Message. https://www.us-organization.org/30th/ppp.html
(2) Dr. Maulana Karenga (1982) Introduction To Black Studies. Kawaida Publications. p. 133
(3) Black Equity Organisation (26/09/22) State of Black Britain Report. https://blackequityorg.com/state-of-black-britain-report/; Patrick Butler (09/04/23) Britain ‘not close to being a racially just society’, finds two-year research project. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/09/britain-not-close-to-being-a-racially-just-society-finds-two-year-research-project; iNAPP Council of Elders (15/05/15) Statement From iNAPP Council of Elders. https://web.archive.org/web/20150515165628/http://www.inapp.org.uk/; Claudius Adisa Steven (2019) The Evolution Ideas And Practices Among African-Centred Organisations In The UK 1975-2015 in Hakim Adi (Ed) Black British History: New Perspectives. Zed Books. p. 159.
(4) Dr. Maulana Karenga (25/05/22) African Liberation Day and the Nguzo Saba: Principles and Practices for Liberating Struggle. https://ibw21.org/commentary/dr-maulana-karenga/african-liberation-day-and-the-nguzo-saba/
we ask the question:
Karenga at 84: Where is the Black Value System?
1) How do we assess Maulana Karenga’s value to the Black world?
2) What practical measures can we take to institute a Black Value System?
3) Why are we unable to call those who violate the value system to account?
4) Is PASCD really a symbol of the Nguzo Saba?
Our Special Guest:
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 almost 40 years standing and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.
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