Black organizations help ‘light the way’ at Dec. 4 festival

Factoid:The event will take place at 5:30 p.m. in the lower level of Grinnell Hall. It is free and open to the public.

For Yaderia Adams, this holiday season will be a first. Adams, the Black Togetherness Adviser, is celebrating a new holiday- Kwanzaa.

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According to the New York Times, Kwanzaa has gained major acceptance since its inception in the already hectic holiday festivities surrounding the end of the year and has been observed by more than 18 million people throughout the world.

But all Adams is concerned about is seeing a large crowd in the basement of Grinnell Hall on Dec. 4 at the SIUC Kwanzaa Fest, sponsored by the Black Togetherness Organization, NAACP and the Black Affairs Council.

Kwanzaa originated in 1966 at California State University, Long Beach. Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor of Black Studies, developed the celebration to welcome the first harvests of the year. Kwanzaa is important to the black community because it is a time to reflect and reaffirm the traditions that started in their motherland.

According Dr. Karenga, creator of the official Kwanzaa Website, the name “Kwanzaa” comes from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first fruits” in Swahili.

Kwanzaa is a celebration of life. It runs from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 and is centered on the “seven principles,” which include unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. Seven candles – held by a candleholder called the kinara – represent each principle.

The Black Women’s Task force, Black Men’s Task Force, Black Affairs Council, National Association of Black Journalists, B.L.A.C.K and Voices of Inspiration will light the candles.

The seven candles are called Mishumaa Saba. Three candles are red, three are green and the middle one is black. The black candle stands for unity and is traditionally lit on Dec. 26, the first night of Kwanzaa.

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In addition to the principles running through the heart of Kwanzaa, there are other symbols of Kwanzaa that are represented at the event.

Mazao, which is fruits, nuts and vegetables, represent the harvest. The Mkeka is a place mat made from straw, which emphasizes cultural continuity.

The Vibunzi is an ear of corn and signifies fertility. The unity cup, known as the Kikombe, is used to honor the ancestors and as a blessing. The last symbol is Zawidi, which are gifts exchanged on the seventh day of the celebration.