Page 25 - Florida Sentinel 12-16-16 Online Edition

Kwanzaa
How It Benefits A Community
Mishumaa Saba are the seven candles: three red, three green, and one black. The black candle symbolizes Umoja (unity), the basis of success, and is lit on Decem- ber 26.
The three green candles, represent Nia, Ujima, and Imani, are placed to the right of the Umoja candle.
The three red candles, represent Kujichagulia, Ujamaa, and Kuumba, are placed to the left of it.
During Kwanzaa, one candle, representing one principle, is lit each day.
The number of candles burning indicates the princi- ple that is being celebrated.
Mishumaa Saba’s
symbolic colors represent the colors of the flag, (bendara) red, black, and green, which was created by Marcus Garvey.
Kinara: The Candle- holder --- The Kinara is the center of the Kwanzaa setting and represents the original stalk from which we came: our ancestry. The Ki- nara can be shape – straight lines, semicircles, or spirals – as long as the seven candles are separate and distinct,
similar to the design of the candelabra.
The Kinara symbolizes the ancestors, who were once earth bound; understand the problems of human life; and are willing to protect their progeny from danger, evil, and mistakes. In African fes- tivals the ancestors are re- membered and honored. The Mishumaa Saba are placed in the Kinara.
Kikombe Cha Umoja:
The Unity Cup --- the Kikombe Cha Umoja is a special cup that is used to perform the libation (tam- biko) ritual during the Karamu feast on the sixth day of Kwanzaa.
During the Karamu feast,
the Kikombe Cha Umoja is passed to family member and guests, who drink from it to promote unity. Then, the eldest person present pours the libation (tambiko), usu- ally water, juice, or wine, in the direction of the four winds – north, south, east, and west – to honor the an- cestors.
The eldest family mem- ber then asks the gods and ancestors to share in the fes- tivities and, in return, to bless all the people who are not at the gathering. After asking for this blessing, the elder pours the libation on the ground and the group says “Amen.”
Zawadi: Gifts --- When we celebrate Imani on the seventh day of Kwanzaa, we give meaningful Zawadi (gifts) to encourage growth, self-determination, achieve- ment, and success.
Gifts are exchanged, es- pecially with the children, to promote or reward accom- plishments and commit- ments kept, as well as with guests.
Handmade gifts are en- couraged to promote self-de- termination, purpose, and creativity and to avoid the chaos of shopping.
A family may spend the year making Kinaras or may create cards, dolls, or Mkekas to give to their guests. Accepting a gift im- plies a moral obligation to fulfill the promise of the gift; it obliges the recipient to fol- low the training of the host. The gift cements social rela- tionships, allowing the re- ceiver to share the duties and the rights of a family mem- ber. Accepting a gift makes the receiver part of the family and promotes Umoja.
Colors Of The Flag
The colors also represent African gods. Red is the color of Shango, the Yoruba god of fire, thunder, and light- ning, who lives in the clouds and sends down his thunder- bolt whenever he is angry or offended. It also represents the struggle for self-determi- nation and freedom by peo- ple of color.
Black represents the peo- ple, the earth, the source of life, representing hope, cre- ativity, and faith and denot- ing messages and the opening and closing of doors.
Green represents the earth that sustains our lives and provides hope, divina- tion, employment, and the fruits of the harvest.
The Day of Meditation
The last day of Kwanzaa is the first day of the new year, 1 January. Historically, this has been for African peo- ple a time of sober assess- ment of things done and things to do, of self-reflection and reflection on the life and future of the people, and of recommitment to their high- est cultural values in a spe- cial way.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 13-B