BFSA APL Caucus Presents: KWANZAA

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BFSA APL Caucus PresentsKWANZAA

• Introduced By
• Wayne Bethea

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Inspiration for Kwanzaa

• Celebration of harvest of the first fruits
• Very important part of African cultures
• African harvest celebrations typically occurred
  in late December
• Core components
• Gathering
• Reverence
• Commemoration
• Recommitment
• Celebration

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Origins of Kwanzaa

• African American Celebration
• African traditions and American customs
• Created on December 26, 1966
• Created by Dr. Maulana Karenga
• Celebrated from December 26th January 1st

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Seven Symbols of Kwanzaa

• Mazao Fruits and Vegatables
• Mkeka Straw Mat
• Kinara Candle Holder
• Vibunzi Corn
• Zawadi Gifts
• Kikombe Cha Umoja Unity Cup
• Mishumbaa Saba Seven Candles

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Nguzo Saba(Seven Principles)

• Umoja Unity
• Kujichagulia Self Determination
• Ujima Collective Work and Responsibility
• Ujamaa Cooperative Economics
• Nia Purpose
• Kuumba Creativity
• Imani Faith
• Karenga Minimum set of principles by which
  Black people must live in order to begin to
  rescue and reconstruct our history and lives.

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Umoja - Unity

• The importance of striving for and maintaining
  unity in the family, community, nation and race

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Kujichagulia Self Determination

• Knowing who we are and our role in our community
  as we journey through life
• To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for
  ourselves and speak for ourselves

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Ujima Collective Work and Responsibility

• We must build and maintain our communities
• We must solve problems together (as we did in the
  past)

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Ujamaa Cooperative Economics

• Build and maintain businesses using our
  collective economic strength to fill mutually the
  needs of our comminities

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Nia - Purpose

• We must have pride in ourselves and our ancestry
  so we can look within ourselves to build and plan
  for the total community

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Kuumba - Creativity

• Using our individual and collective talents,
  keeping our home and our community clean and
  beuatiful

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Imani - Faith

• Believing in our people, our parents, our
  teachers, and our leaders by honoring and
  remembering the best of our history

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Shared Experiences

• Public Celebrations
• Annual celebration in Richmond, VA (CC)
• Celebrations on college campuses
• Celebrations at churches
• BFSA Kwanzaa celebration
• Family Celebrations
• Immediate family
• Extended family
• Close Friends and community members

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Shared Experiences (cont.)

• Town Hall meetings
• Family meetings
• Conversation very important
• Teaching our children very important

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Happy Kwanzaa!!

• Kwanzaa yenu iwe na heri!