A Poem of Unity: Kwanzaa, Day 1

by Sonia Dixon

A Poem of Unity: Kwanzaa, Day 1   by Sonia Dixon
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Here we are on distant shores,
Searching for love ones lost,
Knowing their pain and suffering
Was an ocean of love lost.
Can’t you see the sun is shining
Bringing energies of love?
Come, my people, unite together;
Wake up, stand up, be the love for all!
The bells are ringing – it is time
To answer the call of one.
Get together, my brothers and sisters,
It’s time you must unite as one.
Unite, unite – it’s time, it’s time,
You must unite as one.
Hold together, brothers and sisters,
It’s time to unite as one!


About Kwanzaa
The name comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first fruits.”  It is estimated that about 12.5 million Americans celebrate Kwanzaa.
During the week of Kwanzaa, families and communities come together to share a feast, to honor the ancestors, affirm the bonds between them, and to celebrate African and African American culture. Each day a candle is lit to highlight the principle of that day and to breathe meaning into the principles with various activities, such as reciting the sayings or writings of great black thinkers and writers, reciting original poetry, African drumming, and sharing a meal of African diaspora-inspired foods.

The Principles of Kwanza:

Umoja
Umoja means unity in Swahili-  to strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.

Kujichagulia
Or self-determination. This principle refers to defining, naming, creating and speaking for oneself.

Ujima
Translated as “collective work and responsibility,” ujima refers to uplifting your community.

Ujamaa
Cooperative economics. Similar to ujima, this principle refers to uplifting your community economically. 

Nia
Nia means purpose- to make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community.

Kuumba
Meaning creativity- to do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial.
 
Imani
The final principle translates to faith- faith in community, to believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.