Kwanzaa observances end

Jan 03, 2017 News

Kwanzaa is an African cultural holiday. Celebrated from December 26, through January 1, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahil.
Kwanzaa was initially put into motion by Dr. Maulana Karenga, in 1966.
Kwanzaa builds on the five fundamental activities of Continental African “first fruit” celebrations: ingathering; reverence; commemoration; recommitment; and celebration.
It is a time of gathering for family and community, coming together where people can renew and reinforce bonds between them. Kwanzaa is a time of special reverence for the Creator and creation, both a thanksgiving for the earth and a recommitment to protect and preserve it.
– a time of special reverence for the creator and creation in thanks and respect for the blessings, bountifulness and beauty of creation;
– a time for commemoration of the past in pursuit of its lessons and in honor of its models of human excellence, our ancestors;
– a time of recommitment to our highest cultural ideals in our ongoing effort to always bring forth the best of African cultural thought and practice; and
– a time for celebration of the Good – the good of life and of existence itself, the good of family, community and culture, the good of the awesome and the ordinary, in a word the good of the divine, natural and social.
The Principals of Kwanzaa are: 1. Umoja/Unity. 2.Kujichagulia/ Self-Determination. 3. Ujima/Collective work and responsibility. 4. Ujama/Cooperative Economics. 5. Nia/Purpose. 6. Kuumba/Creativity 7. Imani/Faith
Preparing for Kwanzaa
Before December 26, the first day of Kwanzaa, the day of Umoja or Unity, the entire house is cleaned. The home is then dressed in the colours of red, green and black. African motifs are often displayed along with other cultural articles.
The Kwanzaa table or corner is set up in the home. The table consists of the Kwanzaa symbols. First the straw mat is laid. On this mat rests the other symbols and articles. The candleholder with the seven candles is then placed on the mat, along with the bowl of fruits and ears of corn. Any other product which the family has produced during the year can also be displayed.
On the morning of December 26, the entire family gathers around the Kwanzaa table. Libations are offered to the creator and ancestors. The family then discusses failures and achievements in fostering unity in the family and community over the past year.
The candle of Umoja is then lit. It is important that the children and elders participate in the ceremony with the view of bridging the generational gap, thus continuing the tradition. If anyone has exemplified this principle during the previous year, Zwadis or gifts are given.
This ceremony is repeated with each principle being the center of discussing for the next seven days.
History of Kwanzaa in Guyana
Kwanzaa was introduced in Guyana in the 1970s. However, it did not become part of the African-Guyanese cultural calendar until 1992 when the newly formed African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) revived the celebration and held its first observance.
It was held at several venues but is now held at ACDA’s Development Complex on Thomas Lands.

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