As a necessary component of my
cultural and spiritual development, in 1990 my family
and I embarked upon our inaugural observance of Kwanzaa
in our home. The inspiration for this occurrence was
rooted in my recognizing it as a positive step toward
reinforcing the bonds of familial unity and the
celebration of who we (Africans in America) are as a
people. As we ventured out in this observance my heart
and mind were opened to the importance of the
ritualistic honoring of ourselves as Africans in America
as well as the traditional African values that define
us, develop our character, and guide us on our journey
through life.
That small gathering of family,
friends, and loved-ones served to enhance the spiritual
concepts that are today an essential part of the
celebration. Over time, these gatherings continued to
develop into a time for reflection, introspection, and
recommitment to the ideals of the Nguzo Saba (7
principles) of Kwanzaa. The Nguzo Saba is a basic
framework of African concepts that encompass a universal
appeal and application. Unity grants us an
interconnectedness that reinforces that which is
righteous in our individual efforts; and thus unity
around a common purpose is a necessary aspect of all
endeavors. This is especially true as it relates to the
progress of a group of people.
As time progressed we visualized a
community gathering that used this celebration as a
vehicle for unifying Africans together as an example of
collective spirituality and pride in our shared African
culture and ancestry. The vision and implementation of
a mass Kwanzaa celebration would not be possible without
the utilization of the concepts of the Nguzo Saba. The
primary principle of unity ultimately empowers the group
by way of collectively empowering individuals who then
gather in a chorus of strength and interconnectedness.
I believe that only when we apply
the Nguzo Saba within our individual spirits will we be
able to fully grasp community-wide efforts. For those
who embrace the cultural and spiritual aspects of their
beings the Kwanzaa celebration services as a spiritual
contagion that positively infects that part of our
beings that duly acknowledges that through us the spirit
of our ancestors and the Creator continues to live.
In planning, I realized that this
endeavor would require collective work and
responsibility. Therefore to facilitate the process I
connected with several brothers and sisters who shared
my vision and commitment to work toward the success of
this celebration. As a result of this recognition, the
“Nia” committee was formed and to date remains an
indispensable component in this celebration’s continued
existence. This Kwanzaa celebration as it stands could
not be possible without the unified continuum of shared
work and responsibility that the Nia committee
undertakes.
The committee was aptly named The
Nia Committee to purposefully assume the primary
function of coordinating activities and other essential
tasks relevant to the success of this event. These
functions include contacting and booking special guests,
cultural artists, facilitating the preparation and
serving of food, event cleanup, marketing, and more.
More than 40 years have passed by
since the creation of Kwanzaa by Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga
under the guidance of the spirits that guided his hands
and thoughts. With each year that comes and goes I am
increasingly grateful and inspired by his devotion to
such powerful ideals. Though it has been nearly 20
years since I first experienced Kwanzaa in my home I
continue to look forward to it. It is indeed with
powerful anticipation that I welcome this season.
The fact that in the last seventeen
years it has evolved and expanded into so grand a
celebration is an awesome development in and of itself.
We have been blessed to have been provided with venues
large enough to accommodate its continued growth. We
have yet to have to turn away the growing numbers of
attendees and participants who have shared in the
festivities. We are eternally grateful for those
persons who were instrumental in our gaining access to
the Jackson Park Field House for ten years (1991 –
2001). We are equally thankful for the use of the
facilities at Olive-Harvey College Chicago from 2002 to
the present, while we look forward to this year’s
celebration scheduled for Friday, December 28, 2007 from
4:00pm until 10:00pm.
We extend our invitation to join us
to the African American community and welcome all family
members to come out and commune with us on this sacred
occasion of honoring ourselves and reinforcing the
ideals and principles of the Nguzo Saba.
Click
here for additional
details on the 2007 celebration.
Harambee Na Nguzo Saba
Peace and Blessings
