Kwanzaa a celebration of African roots, values

BANGOR – Looking around at a roomful of people from various cultures and religions all gathered for one celebration, James Varner couldn’t help but smile.

It was last Sunday evening at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Park Street, and a group – including Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and a few who were unaffiliated – was on hand to learn more about Kwanzaa, a self-styled nonreligious holiday that celebrates African-American culture.

“In 1992, when we started this program in Maine, we’d only have about five or eight people come,” said Varner, president of the Greater Bangor Area NAACP. “But now, tonight, we have, well, there has to be more than 100 people here. People in Maine are hungry for diversity.”

Kwanzaa was conceived and developed by Maulana Ron Karenga, a black studies professor at California State University in Long Beach. With the aid of numerous civil rights leaders and community members, he helped develop the celebration, which was first marked on Dec. 26, 1966.

Originating from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” or “first fruits,” Kwanzaa is rooted in the first harvest celebrations practiced in various African cultures. It is celebrated from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. Each day focuses on one of seven principles: Umoja (Unity); Kujichagulia (Self-Determination); Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility); Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics); Nia (Purpose); Kuumba (Creativity); and Imani (Faith).

Participating in the Bangor celebration Sunday were Brian and Joy Adams of Sedgwick, who said they began studying Kwanzaa two years ago to learn about Joy Adams’ African-American heritage in order to pass it on to their children, Katie, 18, Rachael, 15, Jordan, 9, and Liam, 5.

The seven principles were of special interest, Brian Adams said – “particularly, the creativity and self-determination, because it shows you can be who you want to be.”

The Adamses, who are Christians, learned about the holiday from neighbors several years ago. This year, they said, they will take part in the holiday for the first time. While some people give gifts on each of the seven days of Kwanzaa, the Adamses will focus on the principles and leave the gift-giving for Christmas. The family has its own kinara, which holds seven candles, one for each principle, to be lit each night.

In the middle of the kinara is one black candle that symbolizes African-American people, Varner said. Three red candles symbolize “the blood that we have shed for far too many years,” and three green candles symbolize “Mother Earth, the land and children.”

Other symbols of Kwanzaa include: the mkeka, or woven placemat, which represents tradition and history. and rests beneath the kinara; the mazao (fruits and vegetables); the vibunzi (ear of corn representing each child in a household); and the zawadi (small gifts, usually handmade or handed down).

As part of Sunday’s preamble to the holiday, representatives from Women With Wings sang African songs, members of the South Asian Association of Maine danced, and Lucie Ndzana, from Cameroon, taught African dance.

The principles are what make Kwanzaa so easy for people from any faith or religion to follow, Diwali Lakshman of Orono said.

“All of these principles I do follow,” said Lakshman, a Hindu. “With the things happening in the world, we need this more than ever.”

Yong Jones of Bangor said she came from a Buddhist tradition in Korea but now is a Baptist. She believes Kwanzaa is an extension of her personal religious beliefs.

“Kwanzaa is a good way to teach togetherness,” Jones said. “Just look at all who are here tonight.”