In a local population made up of a majority African and African American people in the Virgin Islands, the celebration of Kwanzaa has been taking place for almost 50 years. The concerns for limiting mass gatherings due to Covid-19 minimized, but didn’t stop the annual celebrators from organizing locally as virtual and outdoor events have educated and entertained lower in-person attendance both on St. Croix and St. Thomas. The smaller crowds seem to have only strengthened the efforts of local organizers in making sure the strong cultural and historical holiday continues to be used as a reminder of who Virgin Islanders are as a collective people and the greatness the diaspora have come from.
“Kwanzaa is that time. Not only acknowledging our ancestors but acknowledging you, acknowledging us, and our right to have this existence. Our right to self-determination, our right to name ourselves, our right to live like this the way we choose. The way of our ancestors, the way of us, the way of the future, the path to freedom by and justice force everyone. Ashe.,” Akinyemi Blake, opening the Dec. 27 ceremony at the Bordeaux Farmers’ Market on St. Thomas.
Nationally and globally, Kwanzaa has been celebrated for over 60 years as a holiday created by and for African American people of the diaspora. Annually taking place from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, many have misinterpreted the holiday as a replacement for Christmas and other religious or spiritual celebrations, when in fact that couldn’t be further from the truth. With foundations in seven principles that encompass various religions or systems of reverence, unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith, the celebration of Kwanzaa helps people remember and have pride in the great history of those who came before and the work still needing to be done. Especially in a year where the Black Lives Matter movement has taken on a life of its own, due to the global exposure of systemic racism and its derivatives, 2020 and beyond is a perfect time to revisit cultural and family-oriented occasions, such as Kwanzaa. Not only for those of African decent, but all who respect the sacrifices and contributions madeby people of color.
In 1966, Professor Maulana Karenga along with the organization US, created and made popular, the Pan African holiday in the United States as a “first fruits” festival honoring the agricultural harvest similar to what is done in various parts of Africa. The KiSwahili language was selected to include authentic African language and other elements from African and African American culture included to further reemphasize the revival of previously watered down traditions due to disconnect of enslaved Africans from their mother culture and tongues. The word Kwanzaa itself stems from the phrase Matunda ya Kwanza or first fruits of the harvest. Along with practice of the language, used in the daily greeting of Habari Gani (What’s the News), are the repeated strategic use of the number seven in specific symbolism as well as the red, black and green colors made popular by the Marcus Garvey movement along with Rastafarians. These are just some of the practices central to the activities of the holiday week along with the intentional reverence of those who have come before, festivals, food, music, drumming, dancing and fellowship that can be experienced at the events. Specific calls to action regarding community challenges and the offering of solutions are also commonly expressed and cultivated during the times of gathering.
Within the Virgin Islands on Saturday, Dec. 26, small groups of celebrators gathered using online platforms to celebrate the principle of the first day. On St. Croix, an intimate in-person gathering facilitated by Umoja Caribbean Union, Inc.and supported by other individuals,organizations and businesses. On Sunday, Dec. 27, at the Bordeaux Farmers’ Market, various organizations including We Grow Food, Inc., the African Diaspora Youth Development Foundation Inc., and the Pan African Support Group collaborated to put on an event during the monthly market. Along with the in-person and virtual gatherings, annually various radio programsalso hold dialogue centered around the holiday and its purposes
More than just a holiday for community upliftment, education, and entertainment, Kwanzaa is used as a time for strategic community organizing and intentional socializing for the purpose of reviving the cultural spirit of a people needing constant self-reassurance and reminders of their greatness both historically and in the present. If the events of 2020 proved nothing else, it showed why celebrations like Kwanzaa are still needed, maybe more now than ever to help support thoseliving in the African diaspora and those on the continent alike.
Placing his charge on the audience, Kuumba Leba Ola Niyi stated, “we must have an education or philosophy or history that defines our identity because right now our youth and people in general are going through a mental crisis, an identity crisis, a cultural crisis and we as a people have went through so much traumatic experience from slavery, colonialism, these two storms Irma and Maria and now Covid.”
Touching specifically on the matter of identity, Ola Niyi stated, “We need to reevaluate ourselves in terms of practicing the value of self-determination, defining who we are as a people.”
Remaining activities include additional virtual and in-person gatherings including a related radio program Wednesday, Dec. 30 from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. on “Analyze This” with former Senator Neville James on WTJX-FM 93.1 where the remaining schedule will be shared along with dialogue expounding on WTJX’s 2-minute Kwanzaa video promo currently circulating on social media. Remaining in-person gatherings include a sunset full moon meditation Wednesday, Dec. 30 on Frederiksted Beach near Mahogany Road on St. Croix from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. and a youth program fundraiser Friday, Jan. 1 from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Bordeaux Farmers’ Market. For more information, updates and schedules of local Kwanzaa events, interested persons can visit www.Kwanzaa365.org or text VIKWANZAA to +1 678-506-7779 and follow the prompts.
Visit the official Kwanzaa website for general information and history about the holiday itself.
