Kwanzaa: Day Three (Ujima)

Hello history lovers and welcome to rememberinghistory.com where we are remembering history and we’re making it.

 

Habari gani, I’m Robin the host and in-house historian at rememberinghistory.com.

 

I’m so glad that you’ve joined us for this great and groundbreaking show that will inspire YOU and your FAMILY with true stories, real experiences, practical lessons, cultural traditions, and fun celebrations—all inspired by African American history and culture. Remember boring stuff is NEVER allowed at the Wiki History podcast show so get ready for exciting stuff today—the third day of our Kwanzaa celebration.

 

So, I’ll bid you the traditional greeting of Kwanzaa in the Swahili language: Habari gani! If you’re just joining us, you’re very welcome but I would strongly urge you to listen to the 3 previous podcasts: the introductory podcast show, the first day of Kwanzaa podcast (called umoja or unity), and the second day of Kwanzaa podcast (called kujichagulia or self-determination).

 

We learned yesterday that self-determination (or kujichagulia) is a commitment to learning about yourself, your history and culture and the practice of your history, culture and just being you. Listening to our podcast show will help so I really recommend it. If you have any questions, please contact us at rememberinghistory.com website or the Wiki History Podcast page on Facebook.

 

Let’s prepare ourselves to begin. Sometimes I take a deep cleansing breath before the celebration begins but I always find some way to quiet and focus myself. Remember Kwanzaa is a celebration but please remember to show respect for the ritual.

 

Day 3: Ujima (collective work and responsibility)

 

Habari gani! Your response: Ujima!

 

Let’s do it again: Habari gani! Ujima!

 

Now please give me the Swahili greeting. (pause) Ujima!

 

Yes, the third day of Kwanzaa is Ujima! It means collective work and responsibility. But what IS collective work and responsbility?

 

Dr. Karenga says that Ujima means “to build and maintain our community together and to make our Brother’s and our sister’s problems, our problems and to solve them together.”

 

Examining ujima (or collective work and responsibility) shows that it is a commitment to active and informed togetherness, particularly on matters of common interest. It is also recognition and respect of the fact that WITHOUT collective work and responsibility, progress is impossible and freedom unthinkable. This makes us think about a collective identity and a collective future.

 

Ujima, as a principle and practice, means that we accept responsibility for (collective responsibility for) our failures and setback as well as our victories and achievements. This shows that African freedom is indivisible. As long as any African is oppressed, exploited, enslaved or wounded, all African people are. Clearly, this rejects the concept of individual freedom. Instead it shows the need for humanism though not an abstract or escapism type of humanism. Ujima supports humanism that begins with commitment to and concern for other human beings.

 

Finally, ujima can be seen in terms of the challenge of culture and history. Labor—on the personal level and collective level—is at the center of history and culture because it is the fundamental way that we create ourselves, define ourselves, develop ourselves and confirm ourselves as people.

 

The challenge that we are faced with is how to restore that which was damaged or destroyed in our history and culture. And we must remember that we are each a cultural representative of our people and have no right to misrepresent them or willfully do less than is demanded of us by our history and culture.

 

Collective work and responsibility remains a strong mindset in the African American community. Yet it is also misunderstood, probably because of the immersion in African American culture in the broader western culture of individualism in the United States. This could also be an example of the destructive effects of slavery.

Not only did African slavery destroyed tens of millions of lives but it also destroyed great cultural achievements, created technological and cultural arrest, thereby eroding and limiting the human possibility that Africa could have offered to the world. This is often forgotten or diminished.

 

There have been groups within the African American community that have lived and operated under the principle of Ujima. The Black Panther Party is a prime example in its internal operations but also in its commitment to uplift the community through various different—and successful—programs. The Nation of Islam also focused and continues to focus on collective work and responsibility in the Black community. These groups and many others within the Black community have shown the strength and commitment to put the collective above the individual, knowing that the individual benefits best in this environment. Also the recognition that progress is impossible with the collective effort is taking hold and staying at the forefront of African American consciousness.

 

For more information, read

 

The Black Panther Party: Service to the People Programs.

The book discusses the different and revolutionary social programs started and operated by the Black Panther Party. Its Free Breakfast Program served as a model for national programs. Other initiatives included free clinics, grocery giveaways, school and education programs, senior programs, and legal aid programs. These programs addressed the persistent social and economic injustices in the United States. This is a great introduction to the social injustices but also shows that people, working and planning together, can make huge progress.

 

Let’s end the discussion about collective work and responsibility and move to the next step in the Kwanzaa celebration.

 

It is now time to light the green candle farthest to the right.

 

It is now time to hear a Kwanzaa story about collective work and responsibility.

 

The Great Drum 

The lion sent out a message for all the animals to come to a very special meeting. 

Messengers went far and wide to spread the news of this meeting. As soon as the animals heard the message, they hurried right away to the council circle. It was about three weeks before they were all gathered. The lion was very disappointed. 

"We have got to find a way to get everyone together more quickly!" shouted the lion. 

Anansi had an idea. "What we need," he explained, "Is a great drum, one that can be heard all over the forest. When the great drum is sounded, everyone will know right away and come swiftly to meetings." 

Everyone agreed that this was a fine idea. The animals were divided into groups, each group taking on a different part in the construction of the drum. The first group cut down a large tree. 

The second group trimmed off all the branches. The next group hollowed out the tree. 

Then sculptors worked to decorate the drum. They worked hard through many days. On their way home at the end of each day, they would sing; 

Life is labor,
We are tired and hot,
We work so hard,
Because we work for our people.

Everyone worked except the monkey. While the others labored, he found a nice shady spot to hide and eat berries all day long. 

When they were on their way back to the village, Monkey would join them as though he had been working with them all along. 

Monkey sang:

Life is labor,
I am tired and hot,
I work so hard,
Because I work for my people.

Anansi watched and knew exactly what Monkey was doing, but Anansi said nothing. 

When the Great Drum was finished, it had to be brought to the council circle. The problem was that the Drum was very heavy and no one wanted to carry it. It was then that 

Anansi spoke up. 

"Since no one wants to carry the Great Drum and we have all worked so hard already, I suggest that the laziest person among us carry the Drum." 

All the animals thought this was a good plan. Each of them looked around, trying to think who among them was laziest. Who hadn't they seen working? First one looked at Monkey, then another and soon all eyes rested on the monkey. 

Monkey stepped out into the center of the circle and announced, "I just want to make one thing perfectly clear. I will not carry that drum!" 

All the animals laughed. Anansi said, "No one mentioned your name, Monkey. All we said was that the laziest person should carry the Drum." 

People were wondering to themselves, who was laziest among them. But the monkey did not have to wonder. He knew very well who was laziest. He came forward and made it clear when he spoke. 

So it was agreed that the monkey had to carry the Great Drum to the council circle. The end.

 

 

 

 

If you like, you can discuss this story and what it meant to you. No pressure or demands. This is a time of sharing for those who wish to share. And a time of listening for those who prefer to listen.

Now let’s fill and pass the unity cup (kikomba cha umoja). Everyone take a sip.

Pause and reflect on the concept of ujima (collective work and responsibility) and how you can work together with others to resolve problems. Of course, this is just a suggestion. Ujima has many layers and any of them can give cause for reflection.

Then blow out the candle.

This concludes Day 3 of the Kwanzaa celebration.

I just want to thank my son Benjamin Eshu Bumpus for providing this story about collective work and responsibility. This story was written by Eshu who is an accomplished storyteller and expert on Kwanzaa. You might know that storytelling has strong roots in African culture as a method of teaching and transforming as well as entertainment. Eshu has a website called www.folktales.net. I am so grateful that he has agreed to allow us to present his stories on this Wiki history podcast.

Thank you for participating in Day 3 of Kwanzaa with us. Remember to visit us on our Facebook page called Wiki History if you need more information or want to share your Kwanzaa experiences with us.

We hope to see you tomorrow at rememberinghistory.com where we are remembering history and we’re making it. Kwanzaa yenu iwe na heri. (Kwanzaa YEH-Noo ee-wah nah heh-REE). Happy Kwanzaa!