Press Release, KWANZAA 2007

Media release for Kwanzaa Celebration 2007

South Africans are getting ready to celebrate KWANZAA this December

The Global Afrikan Congress of Azania, in collaboration with Amen Ra Institute, U.N.I.A. South Africa, Sounds of Edutainment, R.I.S.E. Mzansi/Phakamani, cultural entrepreneurs and community organizations is currently preparing for the 6th annual celebration of Kwanzaa; a Celebration of the Afrikan Family, Our Community and Achievements.

The celebration will take place on 26th December from 12h00 noon, on 7th Street in the famous community known as Fietas (Vrededorp) next to Auckland Park. The program will include spiritual processions, presentations by children, short speeches from community Elders, poetry and music. The guests will come from all over Gauteng and are all expected to bring some food for the Common Table, from which everyone will feast together, before dancing away to cultural sounds.

Preserving Our Afrikan Cultural Heritage

The theme for 2007 is ‘Preserving our Afrikan Cultural Heritage’. We have chosen the theme “Preserving our Afrikan Cultural Heritage”. But, what is meant by “preserving”, and what is our Afrikan cultural heritage anyway? According to Brother Buntu - Secretary General, Global Afrikan Congress: ‘In our recent Afrikan experience (over the last 500 years), our culture has been ridiculed, suppressed and made to appear non-functional and remote. And this is, sadly, a view many of us have adopted ourselves. Some of us now think we are clever because we excel in European languages, look fly in Western suits and feel powerful for driving the latest Japanese car. It is almost like some of us believe we have “transcended” Afrikan-ness; this backward, non-sensical culture of mambo-jambo! That’s how many of us feel today. Our culture is under siege, and needs to be defended. Hence, part of our “preserving” action is to analyze what Westernization has done to us, psychologically, spiritually and economically. And find practical means and ways to rebuild our cultural foundation.”

7 days of yet another Kwanzaa Celebration

The Pan Afrikan Holiday of Kwanzaa will be observed by millions of Afrikans and Afrikan Descendants around the world this year. The holiday is observed from 26 December until 1 January. We call all Afrikans in Gauteng and other provinces to unite and gather around the seven principles of Kwanzaa, Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith).

South Afrikans in Gauteng are ready to celebrate Kwanzaa

It is estimated that more than 25 million Afrikan People around the world are celebrating Kwanzaa. Also many South Afrikans are celebrating this significant ceremony, with deep roots in Southern Afrikan culture.. The Global Afrikan Congress has every year since 2002, hosted and engaged children, youth, women, adults and elders in and around Gauteng townships and locations, to remember this celebration of unity and oneness, ‘Matunda ya Kwanzaa’.

Afrikan culture must be transmitted to the youth

One of well respected radio personalities, Mama Kenalemang Kgoreadira, attested that “Culture and heritage must be transmitted and shared to the young generation and that in terms of the Batswana practice Kwanzaa means “Go Loma” or “Letlhabula” and that the role of the King/Kgosi and the tillers\Balemi of the soil is the highest significance.’

Remembering our heroes

In advocating and representing the youth of today, former Pan Africanist youth congress of Azania (PAYCO) President Sbusiso Xaba said: “This Pan Afrikan cultural holiday reminds us where were come from and where we are going, this year is significant in the sense that we remember Steve Bantu Biko 30 years on and now 2008 will mark 30 years since Mangaliso Sobukwe passed on -27th February 1978.

Kwanzaa 2007 quotes

“Kgosi ke Kgosi ka Batho”

“A people without their history or culture are lifeless leaves, drafting aimlessly over the oceans of time”

Ntate Kgalushi Koka

“Among the principles of Afrikan Culture the following are to be noted: Hospitality, Respect-especially to Elders, Importance of Woman-especially in cases of inheritance, Humane treatment of law breakers, Spiritual reflection, Common use of land, Constant employment of music-especially drums and bright colours"

Walter Rodney

“One of the most difficult things to do these days is to talk with authority on anything to do with Afrikan Culture. Somehow Afrikans are not expected to have any deep understanding of their own culture or even of themselves”

Steve Bantu Biko

“Culture: The manifestation and expression of the Afrikan spirit through cultural mediums, eg language, names, garments, rituals, ceremonies, music, dance, value systems, art, aesthetics, agriculture, politics, economics and education. This culminates into a process which gives a people a general design for living and patterns for interpreting their reality”

AAD WCAR 2002 Official Report



INFO & CONTACT:

Contact: Ras Sipho Gideon Mantula, Media and Liaison Coordinator, GAC Azania

Phone: 084 781 5587 or 011 830 2546

E-Mail: gacsecretariat [at] gmail [dot] com

Blog info and updates: Read more info about Kwanzaa and daily updates on other events during this year’s celebrations at http://www.brotherbuntu.blogspot.com/

Why should Afrikans preserve their Afrikan cultural heritage?

For this year’s Kwanzaa celebrations in Johannesburg, South Afrika, we have chosen the theme “Preserving our Afrikan Cultural Heritage”. But, what is meant by “preserving”, and what is our Afrikan cultural heritage anyway?

Let us start by history. It is a sad fact to notice that a majority of South Afrikans today do not have much knowledge about their own history, let alone Pan-Afrikan history. Also, most are not really that interested in knowing history. History is, in most minds, associated with boring lectures on years, names and facts of no relevance to modern day life. What is the point of studying history?, many ask themselves. Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey provides a thoughtful reminder:

“…history is the landmark by which we are directed into the true course of life…”

This means that without knowing history we cannot really grow, expand, develop or understand our mission in life. To use the Garvey quote differently, we can say that by not knowing our history we will be directed into the WRONG course of life. Knowledge of history is a foundation in cultural identity because it locates us, it tells us where we came from and how we ended up where we are now. It gives us direction. Frantz Fanon told us that

“…every generation, out of relative obscurity, must seek to redefine itself, discover its mission, fulfil it or betray it…”

History is, of course, not the only aspect of cultural identity, but it is a fundamental one. Other aspects include ideology, behaviour, values and attitudes – which, in the Afrikan sense, is taught and developed through symbolism, practices and ritual ceremonies. Aspects that many of us have lost, forgotten or neglected. Dr Wade Nobles defined culture as:

“…a process which gives people a general design for living and patterns for interpreting their reality…”

In our recent Afrikan experience (over the last 500 years), our culture has been ridiculed, suppressed and made to appear non-functional and remote. A view many of us have adopted. Some of us now think we are clever because we excel in European languages, look fly in Western suits and drive the latest Japanese car. It is almost like some of us believe we have “transcended” Afrikan-ness; this backward, non-sensical culture of mambo-jambo. That’s how many of us feel today. Our culture is under siege, and needs to be defended. Hence, part of our “preserving” actions is to analyze what Westernization has done to us, psychologically, spiritually and economically. And this, in turn, becomes a process of rejection, as Steve Bantu Biko pointed out:

“…In rejecting Western values, therefore, we are rejecting those things that are not only foreign to us but that seek to destroy the most cherished of our beliefs – that the corner-stone of society is man himself – not just his welfare, not his material wellbeing but just man himself with all his ramifications…”

But our cultural development cannot focus only on rejection. We must be very clear about what we want to embrace. And to know that, we need to understand more about our cultural heritage. South Afrikans, psychologically and spiritually, are still wounded and scarred today. And looking for identity. This creates a platform for opportunity. An arena to operate from. To do more research. To develop and grow. But this growth must be linked with the heritage of the past, so that cultural development becomes a continuation. “Going back” does not have to mean getting stuck in the past. But to re-link with the profound knowledge or our Foremothers and Forefathers. And during Kwanzaa 2007 we want to re-link, re-awaken and re-discover. So that our wounds can be healed and we can progress to higher levels. Like Dr Amos Wilson reminded us:

“…to discover our history is to discover our somethingness (beingness) before someone else created us […and we will…] be in charge of our own becoming.”

Have a blessed and Happy Kwanzaa 2007!