True2Soul Network

KWANZAA Day 7: IMANI (Faith)

“To believe with all our hearts in our people and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.”

Blessings on this last day of Kwanzaa! May we all move forward into this New Year with Faith in ourselves and the world (IMANI), Creativity (KUUMBA), Purpose (NIA), Support of one another (UJAMAA), Collaboration (UJIMA), Self-Determination (KUJICHAGULIA) and Unity (UMOJA). Peace and Blessings ❤

Happy New Year!!! ❤🥳❤

KWANZAA Day 6: KUUMBA (Creativity)

“To do always as much as we can to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.”

KWANZAA Day 5: NIA (Purpose)

To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to our traditional greatness.

KWANZAA Day 4: UJAMAA (Cooperative Economics)

“To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.”

KWANZAA Day 3: UJIMA (Collective Work and Responsibility)

"To build and maintain our community together and make our community problems our problems and to solve them together."

Happy Kwanzaa! (December 26 - January 1) Each year I share this on FB. Celebration, Gathering, Reverence, Commemoration and Recommitment are significant values that are central to this holiday ritual. Yesterday’s principle was: UMOJA (Unity), and today’s: KUJICHAGULIA (Self-Determination)

***FAMILY IS WHAT WE CHOOSE TO MAKE IT.***

Kwanzaa is comprised of seven universal principles (nguzo saba) which are described using the Kiswahili words you see below and serve as a reminder for me as I share the celebration with you.

Day 1-UNITY (Umoja)
Day 2-SELF-DETERMINATION (Kujichagulia)
Day 3-WORKING TOGETHER (Ujima)
Day 4-SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER (Ujamma)
Day 5-PURPOSE (Nia)
Day 6-CREATIVITY (Kuumba)
Day 7-FAITH IN OURSELVES AND THE WORLD (Imani)

Kwanzaa is a celebration of life from 26 December to 1 January, that is steeped in rich tradition. Dr. Maulana Karenga, an American educator and activist, founded Kwanzaa in 1966 as a ritual to reaffirm and restore African heritage and culture. The creation of Kwanzaa was also a response to the commercialism of Christmas. Dr. Karenga derived the word "kwanzaa" from the KiSwahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning "first fruits". KiSwahili is the common language of the Great Lakes region of East Africa, and one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa.

Elements of Kwanzaa include:

- CANDLE HOLDER (kinara), which reminds believers in the ancestral origins in one of 55 African countries.
- SEVEN CANDLES (mishumaa saba) which remind participants of the Kwanzaa principles and the colours in flags of African liberation movements (Candle colours: 3 red, 1 black & 3 green).
- SYMBOLS:
- Crops (mzao) which represents the historical roots of African-Americans in agriculture and also the reward for collective labor.
- Mat (mkeka) which lays the foundation for self- actualization.
- Corn/maize (muhindi) which signifies children and the hope associated in the younger generation.
- Gifts (Zawadi) which represent commitments of the parents for the children.
- Unity cup (Kkimbe cha Umoja) which is used to pour libations to the ancestors.

You can learn more from Dr. Karenga's book - Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture (https://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/books-and-products.html).

💌

To love you through all brokenness ❤️‍🩹 #reels #repost #deep #emotions #love