THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 28, 1994 TAG: 9412280454
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ESTHER DISKIN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 119 lines
They call upon the spirits of African ancestors with the rattle of the ``shekre,'' a shaker made from a gourd covered with beads and string.
They pound the ``djembe'' and ``ju ju'' drums, creating the exuberant march that heralds an important African ceremony.
The parade of children and adults circles the auditorium at the Hunton YMCA, capturing the audience's attention with the heart-stopping rhythms of Africa.
It's Kwanzaa time.
Across Hampton Roads and the nation, African Americans are gathering to celebrate Kwanzaa, a weeklong festival which honors African ancestors and traditions. The holiday, celebrated by an estimated 13 million people in the United States, was created in 1966 by activist Maulana Ron Karenga, a professor of black studies at California State University.
Kwanzaa, which starts annually on Dec. 26 and ends on Jan. 1, is organized around seven principles, promoting unity and pride in the black community.
For Ahmed Lateef, who plays the drums at several Kwanzaa events in Hampton Roads, the African drumbeat sums up the essence of the holiday. ``All the principles come into play in the drumming,'' he said. ``You have to hold that rhythm. You have to play together, right in time, right to the last drop. Unity. That's what it is.''
Unity is the first principle of Kwanzaa, and it is a guiding light connecting many of the other concepts that shape the holiday. Celebrants talk about working together to foster black-owned businesses and solve social problems in their community.
During the holiday, African Americans seek to build that unity through a celebration of their African roots, rather than their history in America, which begins with slavery.
Many at Tuesday's celebration said that the pain of that slave history makes it important for African Americans to reach back to a more distant, but more uplifting, past.
``We had many strengths, our African ancestors made many contributions to civilization,'' said Barbara Alexander, who began celebrating Kwanzaa locally 26 years ago with a small circle of friends. ``Through slavery, we lost touch with what made them able to to do those things. We feel we can reclaim it.''
Brett Hewitt, who had a table stand to sell books about black history, said he believes that the problems of black youth - particularly black men - are fostered by a sense of history which begins in degradation.
``If you don't know who you are, you can't have self-esteem,'' he said. ``The only thing they teach us is slavery. It belittles us, it makes you think you are less than you are.''
For Ouida Johnson, a mother of three, Kwanzaa is a welcome alternative to the commercialism of Christmas. Since Kwanzaa is cultural, rather than religious, many African Americans celebrate both holidays.
But when Johnson's oldest daughter, Mariyam, was born five years ago, Johnson and her husband stopped celebrating Christmas and focused on teaching their children the ethics and history tied to Kwanzaa.
They decorate the house in the colors of green, red and black. The children make small gifts and drawings, and cut out stencils in the shape of Africa. Each night, the family gathers to light the seven candles which represent the seven principles of the holiday.
She reads them books about African heroes. ``When you teach children that they are descended from slaves, they think, `What did we do to deserve this?' '' she said. ``When you teach African history, there is a lot about kings and queens. We owned land and businesses. It is a proud history.'' MEMO: WHAT IS KWANZAA?
Kwanzaa, an African-American cultural holiday loosely based on
African harvest festivals, lasts from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.
The holiday is celebrated with music, feasting and ritual, including
the lighting of a candelabra, known as a ``kinara.'' Seven principles -
referred to as the Swahili words ``Nguzo Saba'' - are emphasized
throughout the holiday to promote unity, awareness and pride within the
black community.
THE PRINCIPLES OF KWANZAA:
Dec. 26, Umoja (unity): to strive for and maintain unity in the
family, community, nation and race.
Dec. 27, Kujichagulia (self-determination): to determine our destiny
as individuals, families and communities.
Dec. 28, Ujima (collective work and responsibility): to build and
maintain our community together and work for the common good.
Dec. 29, Ujamaa (cooperative economics): to build and maintain
black-owned stores and businesses and to profit from them together.
Dec. 30, Nia (purpose): to develop a common goal that will create a
strong, proud family and community.
Dec. 31, Kuumba (creativity): to develop and use one's talents to
improve the family and community.
Jan. 1, Imani (faith): to believe in self, family and community in
order to overcome adversity.
KWANZAA EVENTS
Wednesday: Ujima ``Collective Work'' Kwanzaa Celebration. Jerusalem
Baptist Church, 718 Tidewater Drive, Norfolk. 6 p.m. Feast to follow
ceremony. Special guest, Diana Chappell-Lewis. Free to public.
Information: 622-7669.
Thursday: Ujamma ``Cooperative Economics'' Observance. Indian River
High School, 2301 Dunbarton Drive, Chesapeake. 6 p.m. Free to public.
Information: 623-4910.
Friday: Nia ``Purpose'' Annual Capital City Kwanzaa Festival. Arthur
Ashe Center, 3001 North Blvd., Richmond. 5 p.m. to midnight. Tickets $7
adults, $3 for children. Music, food, dance and craft-making for
children. Information: 1-804-644-3900.
Sunday: Imani ``Faith'' Celebration. UB and US Books and Things, 912
Pembroke Avenue, Hampton. Films and videos on Kwanzaa showing all day,
student play at 3 p.m. Free to public. Information: 723-2696. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos by Joseph John Kotlowski, Staff
Left, Dwayne Durant, right, pounds on a djembe as he leads the group
``Black Uhuru Drummers'' in an Ebo song. At left is Essence
Barnwell, 8.
Below, Arkia Brown, 8, stands in front of a banner depicting a
kinara (the candle holder), mazao (fruits and vegetables), muhindi
(corn), and a kikombe cha umoja (unity cup) and other items that are
symbolic in Kwanzaa, the weeklong celebration that honors African
ancestors and traditions.
by CNB