The Celebration of Kwanzaa: Day 6 (Kuumba)

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 and I’m so glad that you’ve come back for this great and groundbreaking show. We’ve been doing something a bit different from our usual podcast show when we talk about different issues affecting the African American community, and discuss the great contributions of African Americans to their communities, the country and world. Today is a very special day because we are continuing with our celebration of Kwanzaa! We are already on day six of this uplifting and inspirational celebration. Today we will focus on the concept of Kuumba, which means creativity.

 

I’ll begin—as usual--by bidding you the traditional greeting of Kwanzaa in the Swahili language: Habari gani! If you’re just joining us, you’re very glad to have you with us and I would strongly urge you to listen to the 6 previous podcasts shows.

 

We learned yesterday that Nia or finding and living your purpose is founded on knowing your historical and cultural identity. And that your purpose should be a goal that contributes something great to your community or the world. It must be something larger than yourself and larger than the pursuit of money. I think of it as a “magnificent obsession.” If you haven’t heard the previous Kwanzaa podcasts, I strongly recommend that you do so. If you have any questions, please contact us at rememberinghistory.com website or the Wiki History Podcast page on Facebook. Stay with us today—everyone is welcome around the Kwanzaa mat (the mkeka)—but please take time to listen to the previous shows.

 

Let’s prepare ourselves to begin to Kwanzaa celebration for the sixth day. Sometimes I take a deep cleansing breath before the celebration begins to quiet and focus myself. Perhaps you want to stand and do a few stretching movements. Just take a moment to get centered and ready to begin the celebration. Remember Kwanzaa IS a celebration but please also show respect for this solemn ritual.

 

Day 6: Kuumba (creativity)

 

Habari gani! Your response: Kuumba!

 

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

 

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

 

The 6th day of Kwanzaa falls on December 31st and it is an extra special day! As it is New Year’s Eve, the day is an especially festive day because it marks the last day of the calendar year.

 

On this special final day of the year, the home is specially decorated with traditional Kwanzaa colors of black, red and green. Special dishes are made for the family and guests. On December 31, families and communities hold a karamu which is a special feast, including readings, remembrances and a festive meal. The karamu feast may consist of traditional African dishes, as well as those featuring ingredients that Africans brought to the United States...sesame seeds, peanuts, sweet potatoes, collard greens and spicy sauces, for example. This celebration may be held at a home, church or community center.

 

The sixth day of Kwanzaa is Kuumba! Again, it means creativity. Everyone has a different vision of creativity so let’s ask what does creativity mean in the context of Kwanzaa?

 

Dr. Karenga thought of Kuumba as always doing as much as we can in the way that we can in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than when we inherited it.

 

Kuumba follows logically from the principle of Nia. (Nia means purpose which we discussed it yesterday). Kuumba is the commitment to expressing your creativity within the context of your purpose (your magnificent obsession). It is the commitment to leave the community and your world in a better position than when you came into them.

 

This principle was deeply rooted in ancient Egyptian culture. Creativity was considered both an original act of the Creator (or God) and a restorative act of God. There was a spiritual and ethical commitment and obligation to constantly renew and restore the legacy of the ancestors and the great works of history.

This was considered as Ma’at, which we discussed in the first day of Kwanzaa called Umoja or unity. Each pharaoh saw his or her reign as a reaffirmation and renewal of the good, the beautiful and the right.

 

Creativity is viewed much differently in modern western culture, including African American culture. In that context, it is viewed as a method of personal and individual expression. Perhaps the missing element is the Nia, which links creativity to a larger purpose serving humanity. However, Kuumba is rooted in African philosophy and, therefore, is a part of African American heritage. Regaining and reconnecting with our historical and cultural identity is an essential step toward expressing our Kuumba and finding our Nia. These principles are, indeed, closely connected, both being dependent on learning and teaching African (and African American) history, culture and traditions.

 

For more information, return to the resources on purpose by WEB Dubois and Franz Fanon.

 

Now let’s prepare to light the Kwanzaa candles:

 

1. First, the Black candle (in the middle) is lit.
2. Next we will light the red candle then a green candle.
3. Then another red candle then a green candle.
4. Finally we end with a red candle.

 

Take a moment to enjoy the beautifully lit candleholder (the kinara).

 

Not let’s read a story about the concept of Kuumba.

 

Just a short note. This story involves a *Griot (Pronounced Gree-Oh). A griot is a name for the traditional Storyteller and Historian in parts of West Africa. Let’s begin:

 

Anansi Writes a Song

A lion named Simba was ruler of a small kingdom called Korro. A traveling griot* came to his village to give a performance. He played the Kora and sang stories about great men and women and the deeds they'd done. He sang about things going on all across the wide world. The king and everyone around enjoyed the music very much.

When he was finished, the bard asked king Simba for a small token in exchange for his performance.

Simba went into a rage! "You dare ask me for a gift!? You should be honored to have me listen! You should give me a gift!"

Simba was so angry that he ordered his servants to give the griot fifty lashes.

The griot returned home and told his friends what happened to him at King Simba's court. They were shocked and angry to hear of the meanness of the king.

Anansi was among the friends of this griot and he decided to write a song to let everyone know how they felt about Simba.

It went like this.

Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
He is fat and very flabby.
Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
He's a fool whose mane is shabby.
Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
his face is ugly, his teeth are few.
Simba the Lion, king of Korro,

He wrote the song with a very catchy tune and people all over the countryside began to sing it. Women sang it while they were cleaning clothes at the river. Children sang it during their games. Men sang it while digging yams. It was heard at dances and festivals. Soon it was known all over Africa.

When the king heard the song, he sent for the griot he had mistreated and asked him, "Who has written this song about me?"

"It was Anansi who wrote the song, but everyone sings it," responded the griot.

"I will give you much money if you tell him to stop the song." Simba promised.

But the griot refused saying, " A thing once it is done cannot be undone. You did not have to have me beaten, but you did. And now you cannot undo it. Anansi did not have to write the song, but he did. Now the song is alive among the people. It cannot be taken back."

Anansi's song about Simba is still sung to this day.

Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
He is fat and very flabby.
Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
He's a fool whose mane is shabby.
Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
his face is ugly, his teeth are few.
Simba the Lion, king of Korro.

The End.

KUUMBA — Creativity

 

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 Kuumba (creativity) and how you can bring more beauty and benefit to your world in your own special or unique way. Try to think of your special gifts and how they can be used to uplift humanity.

Then blow out the candles.

This concludes Day 6 of the Kwanzaa celebration.

Again I want to thank Eshu Bumpus for providing this story about creativity. 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.

Thank you for participating in Day 6 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!