Latest Revision - Dec. 5, 2022
This post also showcases four YouTube videos of
This pancocojams post also includes my comments about the song "O Kwanzaa" and/or other Kwanzaa songs being sung in schools.
The content of this post is presented for cultural and educational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Maulana Karenga, the creator of the Kwanzaa holiday. Thanks also to Teresa Jennings, the composer of the song "O Kwanza". Thanks all those who are featured in these videos and all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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This post is an updated version of the 2017 pancocojams post entitled Children's Song "O Kwanzaa" (information, lyrics, videos, & instrumental song file)
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/12/kwanzaa-childrens-song-o-kwanzaa.html for additional information and comments about Kwanzaa.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN ORIGINATED HOLIDAY "KWANZAA"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa
"Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration held in the United States and in other nations of the West African diaspora in the Americas. The celebration honors African heritage in African-American culture, and is observed from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a feast and gift-giving.[1] Kwanzaa has seven core principles (Nguzo Saba). It was created by Maulana Karenga and was first celebrated in 1966–67.
History and etymology
Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966, as the first specifically African-American holiday,[2] (but see also Juneteenth). According to Karenga, the name Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning "first fruits of the harvest",[3] although a more conventional translation would simply be "first fruits". The choice of Swahili, an East African language, reflects its status as a symbol of Pan-Africanism, especially in the 1960s, although most of the Atlantic slave trade that brought African people to America originated in West Africa.[4]
Kwanzaa is a celebration that has its roots in the black nationalist movement of the 1960s and was established as a means to help African Americans reconnect with their African cultural and historical heritage by uniting in meditation and study of African traditions and Nguzo Saba, the "seven principles of African Heritage" ...
Many African Americans who celebrate Kwanzaa do so in addition to observing Christmas.[8]
Principles and symbols
Kwanzaa celebrates what its founder called the seven principles of Kwanzaa, or Nguzo Saba (originally Nguzu Saba—the seven principles of African Heritage), which Karenga said "is a communitarian African philosophy," consisting of what Karenga called "the best of African thought and practice in constant exchange with the world." These seven principles comprise Kawaida, a Swahili word meaning "common". Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the following principles, as follows:[9]
Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves.
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and to solve them together.
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Kwanzaa celebratory symbols include a mat (Mkeka) on which other symbols are placed: a Kinara (candle holder), Mishumaa Saba (seven candles), mazao (crops), Muhindi (corn), a Kikombe cha Umoja (unity cup) for commemorating and giving shukrani (thanks) to African Ancestors, and Zawadi (gifts). Supplemental representations include a Nguzo Saba poster,[10] the black, red, and green bendera (flag), and African books and artworks – all to represent values and concepts reflective of African culture and contribution to community building and reinforcement.[11] Corn is the primary symbol for both decoration and celebratory dining.
Observance
... A Kwanzaa ceremony may include drumming and musical selections, libations, a reading of the African Pledge and the Principles of Blackness, reflection on the Pan-African colors, a discussion of the African principle of the day or a chapter in African history, a candle-lighting ritual, artistic performance, and, finally, a feast (karamu). The greeting for each day of Kwanzaa is Habari Gani?[16] which is Swahili for "How are you?"[17]
At first, observers of Kwanzaa avoided the mixing of the holiday or its symbols, values, and practice with other holidays, as doing so would violate the principle of kujichagulia (self-determination) and thus violate the integrity of the holiday, which is partially intended as a reclamation of important African values. Today, many African American families celebrate Kwanzaa along with Christmas and New Year's.[18] Frequently, both Christmas trees and kinaras, the traditional candle holder symbolic of African American roots, share space in Kwanzaa-celebrating households. For people who celebrate both holidays, Kwanzaa is an opportunity to incorporate elements of their particular ethnic heritage into holiday observances and celebrations of Christmas."...
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Italics added to highlight those sentences.
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MORE
jennsahy, Published on Dec 22, 2008
2008 Prairie Hill School Holiday Program - 2nd Grade, Song 3
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Example #2: Singing o kwanza
poodinker, Published on Dec 14, 2012
Xmas concert
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Example #3: Oh Kwanzaa ,,,
Jonathan Perrin, Published on Dec 16, 2014
My son Rylen and his third grade class performing kwanzaa in there Christmas concert. 2014
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Example #4: O Kwanzaa
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INFORMATION ABOUT TERESA JENNINGS' SONG "O KWANZAA"
Judging from the number of videos of this song YouTube, and the comment from these discussion threads, African American composer Teresa Jennings' 2002 composition "O Kwanzaa" is by far the most widely sung Kwanzaa song (for children, and perhaps also for adults) in the United States.
As demonstrated in these videos, "O Kwanzaa" is sung in elementary schools by young children of all races/ethnicities during these school's Christmas (or winter holiday) programs.
Here's information about that song from https://www.musick8.com/html/mk8_fullimage.php?volumeid=V13_2 Music K-8,
The Resource Magazine For Elementary And Middle School Music Teachers (Volume 13, Number 2, Plank Road Publishing, November 2002)
" O Kwanzaa by Teresa Jennings
To help you bring Kwanzaa to your students, consider using the song in this issue, "O Kwanzaa." It is a unique blend of hip hop, gospel, and African styles which students will enjoy. A pronunciation guide is included on the music for the Swahili words. The division of part 2 is optional (as is part 2 itself), but it adds distinctly to the flavor of the piece. Be sure students emphasize the crescendo/descresendo for the best results in all parts. Have them listen to the recording for reference. Also let them play along on their own Orff/percussion instruments using our suggested rhythms (see page 64) or creating their own. See if they can identify the African percussion used on the recording."
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I haven't found any information about the children's choir whose recording of Teresa Jennings' song "O Kwanzaa" is found on multiple YouTube videos/sound files. If you have any information about this choir, please share it in the comment section for this pancocojams post. Thanks!
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LYRICS: O KWANZAA
(Teresa Jennings)
O-o-o Kwanzaa
O-o-o Kwanzaa
O-o-o Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa!
O-o-o Kwanzaa
O-o-o Kwanzaa
O-o-o Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa!
O-o o
Seven days of celebration
Nguzo Saba
Seven days of celebration
Habari gani
Seven days of celebration
Nguzo Saba
Seven days of celebration
Habari gani
Harambee!
[repeat the entire song again]
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The second and third "o" in this song are elongated].
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PRONUNCIATION GUIDE TO THE KISWAHILI WORDS (AND THE MODIFIED KISWAHILI WORDS) IN THIS AFRICAN AMERICAN SONG
[This is a guide to how I've heard these Swahili words pronounced in the United States. These may not be the way these words are pronounced in East Africa and in Central Africa.]
Kwanzaa:
pronounced KWAN-zah
Kwanzaa is an annual winter holiday that occurs December 6 - January 1. Each day of Kwanzaa showcases one "principle" for good living. These seven principles are collectively called "the Nguza Saba". [phonetically pronounced N-goo-sah SA-bah]
The Kwanzaa holiday was created in 1966 by African American activist Maulana Karenga. (The Arabic word "Maulana" is pronounced mawl-LAH-nah) and means "religious teacher". However, Kwanzaa isn't a religious holiday and Maulana Karenga wasn't the leader of a religious organization.)
The word "Kwanzaa" is based on the KiSwahili (Swahili) word "kwanza" which means "first". The longer name for this holiday is "Kwanzaa ya Matunda" (mah-TOON-dah) meaning "First Fruits". Kwanzaa is a partly patterned after African harvest festivals. (Notice the symbols of corn and other fall vegetables that are traditionally laid on the Kwanzaa mat representing "crops".)
Singing songs about Kwanzaa helps reinforce awareness of and appreciation of multiculturalism by presenting additional opportunities to learn about and celebrate African American culture. African cultures, and other Black cultures throughout the world.
Additional comments about incorporating information and songs about Kwanzaa in schools' curriculum are found in the Addendum below.
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Habari gani:
(pronounced hah-BAH-ree GAH-nee)
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Nguzo Saba [pronounced n-GOO-zah SAH-bah]
Swahili words which are given the English meaning "seven principles" [refers to the principle (such as "unity" and "purpose") that is celebrated each day of the Kwanzaa holiday.
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Harambee:
[pronounced hah-RAHM-bay], usually with the last syllable elongated]
Here are two quotes that explain one of the meanings of the KiSwahili word "Harambee"
Among culturally afrocentric African Americans (meaning: African Americans who are interested in the the cultures of Africa and the African Diaspora and incorporate some of those cultural indices into their lives), "Harambee" is considered and used as an exclamation meaning "All pull together!" (Work together. Be unified.)
The motion that is "traditionally" used for "the Harambee! salute" is:
"...the elder leads the guests in the Harambee (ha-RAM-bee) salute. Each person raises their right fist about as high as their shoulder, then pulls down forcefully until the elbow is next to next to their torso, saying “Harambee!” This is done seven times in unison." http://www.holidays.net/kwanzaa/7days.htm
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I57I2Vhag20 [at around 1:21] for a clip of this motion.
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"OLD SCHOOL" GREETINGS USED FOR KWANZAA
*In the late 1960s and the 1970s the African American Vernacular (informal) English greeting "What's happening?" was relatively widely used among African Americans. For example, that phrase was the title of a nationally televised sit-com (situation comedy) series about an African American family. That sit com aired on ABC (one of the three major television channels ABC, CBS, & NBC, given in no particular order) from August 5, 1976, until April 28, 1979. Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What%27s_Happening!! for information about that series.
My position is that the main purpose of incorporating a song or songs about Kwanzaa into elementary school's music and "social studies" curriculum is to help reinforce awareness and appreciation of multiculturalism by presenting additional opportunities to learn about African American cultures and Black African cultures.
However, it's important to teach that Kwanzaa is an African American created holiday which isn't traditionally celebrated in African nations. However, the idea for Kwanzaa partly comes from African harvest festivals such as the Homowo [ho-MOH-woh] festival in Ghana. (Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/11/ghanaian-harvest-festival-homowo.html for a pancocojams post about that festival.)
It's also important to recognize that only a few African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa and those who do usually combine that celebration with their observances of Christmas and New Years. The colors for the African American flag are red, black, and green and pan-African colors are red, green, and gold. All of thee colors, and in particular red, black, and green are considered the colors for Kwanzaa. The fact that these colors are very similar to the red and green Christmas decorations makes it quite easy to combine Christmas decorations with Kwanzaa decorations.
Click these links below for two other pancocojams post about Kwanzaa:
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/12/why-swahili-terms-are-used-for-african.html Why Swahili Terms Are Used For The African American Originated Holiday "Kwanzaa"
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/12/teddy-pendergrass-happy-kwanzaa-video.html Teddy Pendergrass - Happy Kwanzaa (video & lyrics)
Additional pancocojams posts about Kwanzaa can be found by clicking the Kwanzaa tag below.
Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-history-meaning-of-red-black-and.html for a related pancocojams post entitled The History And Meaning Of The Red, Black, And Green Flag
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My comments about the concept of Kwanzaa being patterned after African "first fruits" harvest festivals are based on internet sources as well as my memories as an early celebrant of Kwanzaa (in 1967-1969) when I was a member of the cultural nationalist organization The Committee For Unified Newark (CFUN), based in Newark, New Jersey.
CFUN, led by Imamu Amiri Baraka (formerly known as LeRoi Jones), was the first organization in the East Coast to celebrate and promote the African American holiday Kwanzaa (in 1967 or 1968) . Maulana Ron Karenga's Oakland, California cultural nationalist organization named "Us" (which had some significant differences from CFUN) was the first organization in the United States to promote and celebrate Kwanzaa (in 1966).
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Visitor comments are welcome.
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Harambee:
[pronounced hah-RAHM-bay], usually with the last syllable elongated]
Here are two quotes that explain one of the meanings of the KiSwahili word "Harambee"
Among culturally afrocentric African Americans (meaning: African Americans who are interested in the the cultures of Africa and the African Diaspora and incorporate some of those cultural indices into their lives), "Harambee" is considered and used as an exclamation meaning "All pull together!" (Work together. Be unified.)
The motion that is "traditionally" used for "the Harambee! salute" is:
"...the elder leads the guests in the Harambee (ha-RAM-bee) salute. Each person raises their right fist about as high as their shoulder, then pulls down forcefully until the elbow is next to next to their torso, saying “Harambee!” This is done seven times in unison." http://www.holidays.net/kwanzaa/7days.htm
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I57I2Vhag20 [at around 1:21] for a clip of this motion.
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"OLD SCHOOL" GREETINGS USED FOR KWANZAA
A lot of articles about Kwanzaa give the English translation of the Swahili words "Habari gani" as "What's the news?"*. However, the English translation for the Swahili words "Habari gani" actually is "How are you?" Among African Americans (and, by extension, other people in the United States) an informal way of asking "How are you?" are "What's happening"*. A somewhat more formal way of saying "What's happening?" is "What's the news?" Other informal African American greetings that have the same meaning are "What's up?", "What's going on" and "How [are] you doing?"
*In the late 1960s and the 1970s the African American Vernacular (informal) English greeting "What's happening?" was relatively widely used among African Americans. For example, that phrase was the title of a nationally televised sit-com (situation comedy) series about an African American family. That sit com aired on ABC (one of the three major television channels ABC, CBS, & NBC, given in no particular order) from August 5, 1976, until April 28, 1979. Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What%27s_Happening!! for information about that series.
Among African Americans (if not people who speak Swahili in East Africa and Central Africa), the response to "Habari gani" is the Swahili word "Njema" (n-JEH-mah; meaning "good".) However, during the week of Kwanzaa, people are "supposed"* to use another greeting strategy- a person is "supposed to" greet other people with the words "Kwanzaa Furaka" (KWAN-zah foo-RAH-hah) meaning "Happy Kwanzaa". In response, people are supposed to respond with the name of the particular Kwanzaa (Nguza Saba) day. For instance, on the first day of Kwanzaa, when someone says "Kwanzaa Furaha" to another person, that person responds by saying "Umoja". This pattern continues throughout the week and on the last day of Kwanzaa, when someone says "Kwanzaa Furaha" to another person, that person replies "Imani".
*I recall using this greeting custom in the late 1960s shortly after (African American) Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa. However, I'm not sure if Maulana Karenga was the one who created this Kwanzaa greeting custom. Kwanzaa was celebrated by very few African Americans people in the 1960s and 1970s and very few African Americans actually celebrate Kwanzaa now (in 2022). Furthermore, in my experience, very few people who actually celebrate/d Kwanzaa are/were aware of and/or use/d this greeting custom that I've described above. This description is based on my affiliation in 1967-1969 with the Newark, New Jersey cultural nationalist organization Committee For Unified Newark (CFUN).CFUN was the first cultural origination in the east coast of the United States to celebrate Kwanzaa.(in 1967 or 1968). Maulana Karenga's Oakland, California Black nationalist organization "US" was the first organization to celebrate Kwanzaa (in 1966).
In my adopted hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania there are some people who still use these Kwanzaa greetings. Some other people introduced this to Pittsburghers. I used to be much more observant of Kwanzaa than I am now. Nowadays, I mostly just have the kinara and some other red, black, and green Kwanzaa like decorations along with my Christmas decorations. And I usually just use the "Happy Kwanzaa" greeting.
*I recall using this greeting custom in the late 1960s shortly after (African American) Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa. However, I'm not sure if Maulana Karenga was the one who created this Kwanzaa greeting custom. Kwanzaa was celebrated by very few African Americans people in the 1960s and 1970s and very few African Americans actually celebrate Kwanzaa now (in 2022). Furthermore, in my experience, very few people who actually celebrate/d Kwanzaa are/were aware of and/or use/d this greeting custom that I've described above. This description is based on my affiliation in 1967-1969 with the Newark, New Jersey cultural nationalist organization Committee For Unified Newark (CFUN).CFUN was the first cultural origination in the east coast of the United States to celebrate Kwanzaa.(in 1967 or 1968). Maulana Karenga's Oakland, California Black nationalist organization "US" was the first organization to celebrate Kwanzaa (in 1966).
In my adopted hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania there are some people who still use these Kwanzaa greetings. Some other people introduced this to Pittsburghers. I used to be much more observant of Kwanzaa than I am now. Nowadays, I mostly just have the kinara and some other red, black, and green Kwanzaa like decorations along with my Christmas decorations. And I usually just use the "Happy Kwanzaa" greeting.
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S COMMENT ABOUT THE INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION & SONGS ABOUT KWANZAA IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Kwanzaa is an annual winter holiday that occurs December 26 - January 1. Kwanzaa was invented in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, an African American activist.PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S COMMENT ABOUT THE INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION & SONGS ABOUT KWANZAA IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
My position is that the main purpose of incorporating a song or songs about Kwanzaa into elementary school's music and "social studies" curriculum is to help reinforce awareness and appreciation of multiculturalism by presenting additional opportunities to learn about African American cultures and Black African cultures.
However, it's important to teach that Kwanzaa is an African American created holiday which isn't traditionally celebrated in African nations. However, the idea for Kwanzaa partly comes from African harvest festivals such as the Homowo [ho-MOH-woh] festival in Ghana. (Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/11/ghanaian-harvest-festival-homowo.html for a pancocojams post about that festival.)
It's also important to recognize that only a few African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa and those who do usually combine that celebration with their observances of Christmas and New Years. The colors for the African American flag are red, black, and green and pan-African colors are red, green, and gold. All of thee colors, and in particular red, black, and green are considered the colors for Kwanzaa. The fact that these colors are very similar to the red and green Christmas decorations makes it quite easy to combine Christmas decorations with Kwanzaa decorations.
Click these links below for two other pancocojams post about Kwanzaa:
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/12/why-swahili-terms-are-used-for-african.html Why Swahili Terms Are Used For The African American Originated Holiday "Kwanzaa"
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/12/teddy-pendergrass-happy-kwanzaa-video.html Teddy Pendergrass - Happy Kwanzaa (video & lyrics)
Additional pancocojams posts about Kwanzaa can be found by clicking the Kwanzaa tag below.
Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-history-meaning-of-red-black-and.html for a related pancocojams post entitled The History And Meaning Of The Red, Black, And Green Flag
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My comments about the concept of Kwanzaa being patterned after African "first fruits" harvest festivals are based on internet sources as well as my memories as an early celebrant of Kwanzaa (in 1967-1969) when I was a member of the cultural nationalist organization The Committee For Unified Newark (CFUN), based in Newark, New Jersey.
CFUN, led by Imamu Amiri Baraka (formerly known as LeRoi Jones), was the first organization in the East Coast to celebrate and promote the African American holiday Kwanzaa (in 1967 or 1968) . Maulana Ron Karenga's Oakland, California cultural nationalist organization named "Us" (which had some significant differences from CFUN) was the first organization in the United States to promote and celebrate Kwanzaa (in 1966).
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