Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 19 December 1996 — Page 1

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VOLUME 6 — NUMBER 24 • December 19, 1996 “Whatsoeveryou do, strive to do it so well that no man living and no man dead and no man yet to he born could do it any better."

Muncie prepares for 5th Annual Kwanzaa fest Dec. 26

by T. S. Kumbula Next Thursday the fifth annual Kwanzaa celebration in Muncie will be held at Minnestrista Cultural Center, as this city’s residents join millions of Africans, African Americans and others in the United States and across the world in observing this growing post Christmas celebration. The opening ceremonies will start at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 26. They will include a skit by Motivate Our Minds (MOMs) Inc., kids music and the African Dress Contest. This year’s keynote speaker is Pastor Joseph Aviah, the Ghanaian-bom co-pastor of

Ambassadors for Christ sponsored by The Muncie Church. He has been a Muncie Times. It will be held at tlie Mt. resident for 15 years. Zion Fellowship Center, Penn (For the rest of the and First streets. This year's weeklong Muncie Kwanzaa Kwanzaa program will schedule, see this week’s conclude Jan. 1 with a citywide Community Focus section) prayer concert. A Dec. 28 Kwanzaa Over the years, the community luncheon is Muncie celebration has

continued to gain adherents. c h a i r G f the black studies Last year, several hundred department at California State people attended the first day’s University, Long Beach. Since ceremonies at Horizon then it has grown each year. Convention Center. About 100 Upwards of 18 millon of blacks people, blacks and whites, j n the United States, Africa, attended the 1995 closing Europe and the West Indies luncheon on Dec. 30 at Mount celebrate it. Zion Fellowship Center. Karenga was the Kwanzaa, from a keynote speaker last January Swahili word, is a post- duiing Unity Week activities at Christmas non-religious holiday Ball State University. used by Afiican Americans and Karenga based his other blacks around the world Kwanzaa on African festivals to celebrate family, community honoring the harvesting of the and culture. first fruit, hi his book. The It was started in 1996 African American Holiday of by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa. he says, “The founder of a Los Angeles- holiday of Kwanzaa is a product based U.S. , , , . . , see KWANZAA page 4 cultural organization and now

Holiday open to all

HARAMBEE!

Kwanzaa holiday is open to all, regardless of race

It may sound like an oxymoron, but it is not. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the celebration of Kwanzaa. This African American celebration was started in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga. Creating an amalgam from several Afro-centric traditions and beliefs, Karenga structured a spiritual, but not necessarily ecclesiastical, event that spans 7 days, from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

Kwanzaa is intended to refocus attention philosophies that lay a foundation for health, prosperity, and happiness for the coming new year. Since its inception, Kwanzaa has been a growing tradition in the African American communities. Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa carries a certain theme: I On Dec. 26, the theme is Unity, which is expressed by the Swahili word, Umoja. The concept is that the family, including the extended family, must be in harmony to

achieve its overall mission. I Dec. 27’s focus is Self-determination, known as Kujichagulia. The power of setting one’s own destiny, rather than having your agenda dictated to you, is emphasized. 1 The next day highlights Collective Work and Responsibility, expressed as Ujima. Identifying those missions which are common to people and working together to address them are stressed. see HOLIDAY on page 7

Kwanzaa special to air starting Dec. 19 on public TV

St. Paul Minn.—The

Independent Television Service (ITVS) presents “HARAMBEE!" - staring Howard Rollins (TV’s “In The Heat of the Night’’), Aaron Beener (TV’s “The Bill Cosby Show’’), Brenda Pressley (TV’s

Brewster Place,’’ Broadway’s original “Drearngirls"), and Novella Nelson (Broadway’s “Having Our Say”). Written and directed by Fracaswell “Cas" Hyman, with executive producer Liz Nealon, “HARAMBEE!’’-Swahili for “unity”—is a moving family drama set in an urban housing project during the seven days of Kwanzaa. The 1-hour program, presented by ITVS with funds provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, will premiere see HARAMBEE! page 4