Kwanzaa celebrates African heritage

     By Ray Parker
     View staff writer
      A couple of years ago, a colleague of Sheneva Styles abruptly left a Kwanzaa party, afraid he was compromising his Christian beliefs.
      Styles tried to convince him Kwanzaa isn't based on religious principles.
      "It means a rededication to my African heritage; a recommitment to goals," Styles said. "It's a celebration of us as a people and our history. It's not religious or political, just cultural. It is simply a time of reaffirming African-American people, their ancestors and culture."
      Kwanzaa was founded in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, who was chairman of the Black Studies Department at Long Beach State University. Karenga wanted to create an alternative to the commercialism of Christmas for blacks bursting with newfound racial pride.
      The name Kwanzaa and the seven principles highlighted Dec. 26 through Jan. 1 are from the Kiswahili language. Kwanzaa means "first fruits" and is taken from African feast traditions celebrating new crops.
      But the Kwanzaa holiday launched by Karenga doesn't have African roots and is not celebrated in Africa.
      Karenga's intent was to shift the focus from Christmas trees and expensive gifts to something more meaningful for blacks, Styles said.
      "That's why unity, self-determination, purpose, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics and faith are tenets of Kwanzaa vs. Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Styles said. "Now many African-Americans embrace both Christmas for its religious meaning and Kwanzaa for its cultural spirit without any conflict."
      Each day of Kwanzaa, a candle is lighted on the kinara, a seven-branched candlestick, and a Kwanzaa principle is recited.
      The first day's principle is umoja, or unity, which stresses the importance of togetherness for the family and the community.
      The West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd., celebrates Kwanzaa each year with ceremonial libation, a keynote speaker, a unity festival with songs, dance and poetry, and African cuisine.
      "This is a time of year of focus and re-evaluation," said Ellis Rice, cultural activities director for the center. "It's an extension of New Year's resolutions: How am I practicing unity, self-determination and setting goals?"
      The second day's principle is kujichagulia, or self-determination, which requires participants to define common interests and make decisions in the best interest of family and community.
      The next principle is ujima, or collective work and responsibility, which reminds participants of their obligation to the past, present and future and that they have a role to play in the community, society and world.
      The fourth day is set aside for ujamaa, or cooperative economics, which emphasizes collective economic strength and encourages everyone to meet common needs through mutual support.
      The principle of nia, or purpose, is celebrated next and encourages introspection and setting personal goals beneficial to the community. The West Las Vegas Library celebrated this principle by making zawadi, or handcrafted gifts.
      While gift-giving is a part of the Kwanzaa celebration, presents, or zawadi, are usually handcrafted and designed to be symbolic or educational, Styles said.
      The sixth day's principle is kuumba, or creativity, which stresses the use of creative energies to build and maintain a strong and vibrant community.
      On New Year's Day, imani, or faith, is celebrated, which focuses on honoring the best traditions, drawing on the best within and striving for a higher level of life for humankind by affirming self-worth and confidence.
      Styles said it's best to get started early and make a checklist for the following items: a kinara (candle holder); mkeka (place mat preferably made of straw); mazao (fruits and vegetables); vibunzi (ears of corn to reflect the number of children in the household); kikombe cha umoja (communal unity cup); mishumaa saba (seven candles, one black, three red and three green); and zwaidi (gifts that are enriching).
      It's important the kinara not be confused with the menorah, Styles said.
      "The kinara holds seven candles to reflect the seven principles which are the foundation of Kwanzaa," she said, "while the menorah is a Jewish religious symbol that holds (nine) candles.
      "The Kwanzaa candles are three colors: black, red and green. Black represents the face of our people, red the blood our people shed, and green represents hope and the color of the motherland."