Principle of Kwanzaa

UMOJA: So let's treat them one by one. What you've been anticipating for. 😁

The first of the seven PRINCIPLES of Kwanzaa: ★ UMOJA (Unity): To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race. This fosters trust in the African community and encourages us to live in the oneness of making Africa a better place and the world at large.

About the SYMBOLS of Kwanzaa: The first of the seven symbols is: ★ Mazao (the crops) — fruits, nuts, and vegetables. It symbolizes work and the basis of the holiday. Mazao represents the historical foundation for Kwanzaa: the gathering of people, patterned after African harvest festivals, where joy, sharing, unity, and thanksgiving are the fruits of collective planning and work.

Since the family is the basic social and economic center of every civilization, Kwanzaa celebrations bond family members and reaffirm their commitment and responsibility to each other. In Africa, families may have included several generations of nuclear families and distant relatives. Ancient Africans didn’t care how large the family was, but there was only one leader — the oldest male of the strongest group. For this reason, an entire village may have been composed of one family.

The family was part of a tribe that shared customs, cultural traditions, and political unity, supposedly descended from common ancestors. Tribal laws provided continuity and identity, determining value systems, customs, and rules encompassing birth, adolescence, marriage, parenthood, maturity, and death. Through personal sacrifice and hard work, farmers sowed seeds that brought forth new plant life to feed the people and animals of the earth. To demonstrate their Mazao, Kwanzaa celebrants place nuts, fruit, and vegetables on the mkeka to represent work.

PS: Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, but a cultural one with an inherent spiritual quality. Africans of all faiths celebrate Kwanzaa — Muslims, Christians, Black Hebrews, Jews, Buddhists, Baha’i, Hindus, and those who follow ancient traditions of Maat, Yoruba, Ashanti, Dogon, etc. Africa has beautiful core values, isn’t it?

Tomorrow, we’ll explore the next SYMBOL and PRINCIPLE: 2nd Principle: Kujichagulia 2nd Symbol: Mkeka

Have you learnt something? Tell me in the comment box. 😊

-He-Benny
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