Wiki History: Kwanzaa Day One (Umoja)

Kwanzaa Day One: Unity  

Heri za Kwanzaa! (Happy Kwanzaa in Swahili)

Habari Gani! (a Swahili greeting that we use during the 7-days of Kwanzaa)

Welcome back to robinlofton.com! Today, we begin to learn about the celebration of Kwanzaa. As we learned in the last podcast, which was a basic introduction, Kwanzaa is a 7-day celebration of the “first fruits of harvest.” It is a holiday that was created in 1966 by Dr. Ron Karenga to encourage African Americans and Blacks around the world to reconnect with their African roots, traditions, and customs.  In fact, each day of Kwanzaa, which officially begins on December 26, focuses on a particular principle, and has customs and rituals associated with it.

So, why did I say Habari Gani?  Because it is the pan-Africanist greeting (in Swahili) used during the Kwanzaa celebration.  The response is the Swahili word that represents the principle for the day, which for today is Umoja. So, I say again: Habari Gani:

Let’s begin at the beginning: Kwanzaa Day One:

The Principle of Unity

On the first day of Kwanzaa, we focus on Unity or Umoja. (Remember in the introduction to Kwanzaa podcast, I used the English names for each principle but I said that, in these podcasts I would also use the Swahili names.)  So, that was the Swahili word that I used for Unity. Umoja.

Umoja is the first and foundational principle of Kwanzaa. It is the most basic principal of the celebration, tradition and custom. But just because it is the most basic that does not mean that it is simple or easy. It is the foundation upon which the other six principles are built.  If umoja is not understood and followed, then all the other principles and practices will suffer.  In other words, if there is no unity, then the other principles of self-determination, collective work and responsibility, faith and so on can not be realized.

What is meant by umoja (or unity)? 

This is a good question and one whose concept should not be assumed or underrated.

Unity (or umoja) is both the principle AND the practice of togetherness and harmony.  Both parts are necessary: (1) togetherness and (2) harmony.  One without the other is not umoja. In fact, we could even call umoja: harmonious togetherness.  You might have noticed that I said umoja is both principle and practice.  That’s a great observation and a very very important one. Understanding the principle of umoja (unity) is essential but it is not the end of the story. One must also take steps to practice umoja—to practice harmonious togetherness.

You know, I see so many people—especially around the holidays—feeling dread, frustration, or even fear about meeting with their families. Or feeling anxiety while waiting   for their families to arrive to spend the holidays with them. And then families get together but argue, bicker, clash, and criticize over big and small issues and events past and current. That is not Umoja. Yes, they are together. But they are together in an inharmonious environment. Sadly, many people believe that this is the natural way for families to interact even around the holidays. But Kwanzaa takes a different approach: Umoja underlies all the meetings, interactions, and customs. Harmony is essential and accepted. Harmony is the natural way.

The principle of umoja has family as the focal point but it is more. First, let me emphasize that the family is not just the nuclear family but is actually includes the extended family—cousins, aunts, uncles, and different generations like grandparents and great grandparents.  Umoja also includes—and this is really interesting—the ancestors. Those who have come and gone (or lived and died) before us, but were and still are a part of our family, a part of our history.  This is a concept that is very entrenched in African culture but has been largely forgotten in many western cultures.  But our ancestors have played an important role in who were and who we are. The practice of Umoja encourages us to include, remember, and honor them.

Beyond the extended family, Umoja also applies in an even larger sense to society.  It encourages building together, struggling together, acting together, maintaining together—all for mutual benefit.  Unity connects villages, towns, countries, and can even extend to the entire human family. It is an awareness of similarity (and sameness) that gives an identity as a people.

So, I think that you get the concept of Umoja: Togetherness and Harmony.  But “getting it” is only the first step. Remember practice is essential.

Speaking of practice, let’s get back to the practice of Umoja in the celebration of Kwanzaa:

What to do? Gifts, candles, colors

Remember, I mentioned a communal cup in the first podcast on Kwanzaa. Now is your time to bring it out if you haven’t already done so.

The Unity or Umoja cup is called the Kikombe Cha Cup. It represents gravity that pulls and holds everyone together in joy and harmony.  Place the Kikombe Cha Cup where it is central to the family and the family’s activities.

Light the first candle:

On the first day of Kwanzaa, you will light the black candle. The candle (or Kinari) represents and is symbolic of the people.  The lesson is that we light the black candle first to reinforce the value of making our family a priority. Notice that it is in the center of the candelabra.  An African proverb says, “The ruin of a nation begins in the home,” The Unity principle encourages family members and neighbors to respect and care for each other. The candle lighting activity presents one of the best moments for family members to assess their practice around “unity” and make a specific commitment to practice “unity” during the next year.

How to celebrate Umoja:

There are so many different ways that people, families, societies can celebrate Umoja!  You can get creative here and find ways to acknowledge the living family members and remember the members who are no longer with us.

•  Pour a drink for your family members who are present and who are no longer living

•  Set a place at the table for the ancestors or other family members that are not present for whatever reason (for example: living far away, celebrating with another family, etc.)

•  Tell stories about your family--remember your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, significant others

•  Look through pictures of family members and remember past times together (happy times and difficult times)

•  Couples can talk about your history together and the things which you have done together with brings you joy, events that have brought you closer, struggles that you have overcome together or anything that comes to mind for you as a couple.

•  Sing Along-play music and sing together

•  Celebrate Celebrate, Celebrate: family, achievements, the common good,

•  Remember the African Feast (called the Karamu). One of my favorite parts! Make a special meal or just one special dish for the family. This is my day to make sweet potatoes! Or just wait and have the big feast on the 6th day of Kwanzaa (which is also new year’s eve.)

•  Pass the unity cup (the Kikombe Cha) around the table and drink from it. Say something positive, admirable or encouraging about a living or past family member or even yourself. Remember to place the cup back in its place for all the family members to remember its role and importance in holding the family together.

•  Remember that many of these activities can be done for classes, organizations, or any larger group. Umoja extends beyond the family!

Practice Umoja every day. Kwanzaa is only a 7-day celebration but it is meant to remind us of important principles and practices in and for our daily lives.

So, this brings us to the end of the first day of Kwanzaa. You see, it is really a celebration, a festival of joy. This first day is the most important day because it is the foundation for the following days. In fact, if you can only practice one day of Kwanzaa, then make it the Umoja day. And keep practicing it every day.

In the next podcast, we will study Day Two of the Kwanzaa celebration.  It is self-determination or Kujichagulia. Yes, that’s a big word and it is a big concept.  That is the focus for December 27.

Again, I want to thank you for listening to this podcast on Umoja (or Unity) on the first day of Kwanzaa.  Perhaps this concept is new to you, perhaps some of the practices, or maybe just some of the words, but unity is important. And not just for Black people or other peoples of African descent, but for the entire human family. We all share this planet, its resources, and its fate. Togetherness and harmony—umoja--are essential.

Remember that for everyone who listens to this podcast, I will donate $1 to the Association for Study of African American Life & History. This excellent organization helps to keep African culture and history alive, respected, and shared around the world. It is a great representative for the Kwanzaa celebration.  And I want to thank the Kwanzaaguide.com website for its contribution to this podcast. You can visit that website for more ideas and discussion about Kwanzaa.

Finally, please leave your comments, questions, and ideas at robinlofton.com. I enjoy making these podcasts but I also enjoy hearing from my listeners. It’s a great and active community of people who are interested in learning history and learning from history. Umoja is right here too.  Hope to see you there soon at robinlofton.com.

See you next time for Day Two of the Kwanzaa celebration.

Heri za Kwanzaa!