PROLOGUE
“Let us not engage the world hurriedly.
Let us not grasp at the rope of wealth impatiently.
That which should be treated with mature judgment,
Let us not deal with in a state of anger.
When we arrive at a cool place,
Let us rest fully;
Let us give continuous attention to the future;
and let us give deep consideration to the consequences of things.
And this because of our (eventual) passing.”
-ODU IFA: THE ETHICAL TEACHINGS, Translation and Commentary (A Kawaida Interpretation), Dr. Maulana Karenga, Los Angeles: University of Sankore Press, 1999-
1. This writer once heard Dr. Karenga say, while officiating a Kawaida African Centered wedding, to paraphrase, “Certainly all seven of the Nguzo Saba values are important. However, two of the most important are Umoja-Unity and Imani-Faith. Umoja, because you can’t have a common project without unity. Imani, because without faith you can’t sustain it.”
2. Imani-Faith, the Seventh Day of KWANZAA is a day of solemn reflection, commitment, self-evaluation, and recommitment.
3. Although the first six days of KWANZAA ring out the close of the Western Civil Calendar Year, Imani-Faith, the Seventh Day of KWANZAA, occurs on the first day of the new Western Civil Calendar Year. This said KWANZAA as a whole unfolds, to paraphrase Dr. Karenga, “when the edges of two years meet” i.e., old and new.
4. Thus, from the African American Cultural Center/Us’ -LA Official Kwanzaa Web Site, Dr. Karenga writes, under the banner THE DAY OF MEDITATION,
A) “The last day of Kwanzaa is the first day of the new year, January 1.
B) “Historically this has been for African people a time of sober assessment 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 highest cultural values in a special way. Following in this tradition, it is for us then a time to ask and answer soberly and humbly the three Kawaida questions:
C) “Who am I; am I really who I say I am; and am I all I ought to be?
D) “And it is, of necessity, a time to recommit ourselves to our highest ideals, in a word, to the best of what it means to be both African and human in the fullest sense.”
5. Locating the KWANZAA DAY OF MEDITATION, ever more deeply in the ground of African World Culture, Dr. Karenga observes
A) “This Day of Assessment or Day of Meditation is noted in the first-fruits celebration of the Akan by J. B. Danquah. He states that the Akan have one day during the first-fruits harvest in which they simply engage in quiet reflection. ‘The idea on this (day) is to maintain a quiet, humble and calm attitude with regard to oneself and towards one’s neighbors.’ It is thus a good time for reassessment and recommitment on a personal and family level.”
6. It should be noted that the Seventh Day of KWANZAA inevitably serves as a Day of Remembrance of the African Ancestors resourced as “Akwasidae.” As Dr. Karenga notes “And this Day of (African Ancestor) Remembrance may also be a part of the Day of Meditation or more precisely, the Day of Assessment.”
7. To be sure, KWANZAA is a particular African Centered Cultural Holiday. However, it is also a “bringing-good-in-the-world” universal event. This is illustrated by Dr. Karenga’s current Founder’s Message, headed, ‘ANNUAL FOUNDER’S KWANZAA MESSAGE “REIMAGINING AND REMAKING THE WORLD:
A KWANZAA COMMITMENT TO AN INCLUSIVE GOOD”
Los Angeles Sentinel, 12-20-18, p. A1.’ Readable @: LA Sentinel Online OP Ed.
Respectfully submitted: Rev. Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma), Pastor of Reformation African Descent Lutheran Mission Church Chicago/ELCA-ADLA (“Young Barack Obama’s organizing sanctuary & Elim Swedish Lutheran Conservator”) -Englewood Square Chicago’s Black History Chaplain -not for seniors only.
Pastor Washington (Sangoma) is the Convener of the emerging CARTER G. WOODSON MEMORIAL INSTITUTE FOR BLACK CHURCH MINISTRIES AND STUDIES (CGWMI). CGWMI is an initiative of the African American Cultural Center Ministerium of Reformation Black Lutheran Church Chicago/ELCA-ADLA.
Pastor Washington (Sangoma) is also a member of the 2018 formed KAWAIDA WORKGROUP (KW). KW serves as a national editorial body of activist/scholars and and Kawaida advocates self-tasked to write, edit, publish, and promote an anthology tribute (Festshrift) uplifting the activist/scholar life and work of Dr. Maulana Karenga, Creator Kwanzaa, the Nguzo Saba, and Professor and Chair of Africana Studies @ Cal State U-Long Beach.
Updated: Kwanzaa VII 2018, January 1, Imani-Faith, DAY OF MEDITATION- in Celebration of Family, Community and Culture.
In this season of giving, support the best within your own service. Please join one or more categories (Individual, Family, Institutional) of Reformation Church Chicago’s African American Cultural Center Ministerium -doable @:
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