N. E. KHOKHOLKOVA

Post-graduate student of P. G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University

Kwanza Keywords:, New Year's Holiday, and fromamerican

New Year is celebrated according to the Christian, Buddhist, and Islamic calendar. In the United States, many African Americans* celebrate Kwanzaa, the African New Year.

Kwanza is a family holiday, a festival of pan-African culture, a celebration of African rhythm and African soul ("soul" ¹), emotions and expression.

For African Americans, Africa is a historical homeland. And although most of them consider themselves primarily Americans, for some the Black Continent is the personification of Mother Earth, with which they remain "connected by the umbilical cord"². The American holiday of the African New Year is dedicated to honoring African roots.

BIRTH OF KWANZA

...On the eve of 1967, Maulana Karenga, a black rights activist in the United States (now a professor at California State University, Long Beach), ³ held the Kwanza festival for the first time to encourage African Americans, who usually celebrated Christmas and Thanksgiving, to start honoring their native customs and traditions.

The name of the festival comes from the phrase "Matunda ya Kwanza": literally translated from the Swahili language - "Festival of the first fruit". The Swahili language ⁴ was chosen to emphasize the African origin of the holiday and its pan-African character.

M. Karenga claimed that the tradition of celebrating Kwanza dates back to Ancient Egypt and the Nubian kingdom and is widespread among the African peoples - Ashanti (Ghana), Yoruba (Nigeria), Zulu (South Africa). There is no evidence for his words, but there are no refutations.

To emphasize the novelty of the tradition and draw a line of demarcation between the African Kwanza and the American Kwanza, M. Karenga added another letter" a " at the end of the name (Kwanzaa). The festival, according to his plan, was to become the quintessence of African traditions and cultural experience of the diaspora, and eventually (in the context of globalization) turn into a trans-African one.

SYMBOLS AND IMAGES

In the 1960s, M. Karenga created a philosophical teaching called Kawaida ("custom, tradition, rule"), which, in his opinion, represented "an ongoing dialogue with the culture of Africa"⁵. Kwanza was intended to be a tool for strengthening the ties of African Americans with each other and with " Mother Africa."

Kawaida is based on the idea of consolidating "blood brothers": Africans and African-Americans. The promotion of African values Nguzo Saba (Seven principles / bases, where Nguzo - "foundation, principle", Saba - "7, seven") was aimed at creating a sense of pride in African Americans for their origin, their race, their history. Each of the seven components of Nguzo Saba exists in both visual and verbal dimensions.

(Umoja) Unity implies the desire to maintain cohesion within the family, diaspora, ethnic group, race.

(Kujichagulia) Self-determination means " understanding who we (representatives of the African diaspora) are; the desire to

* In the United States, they are called "Afrikanoamericans" (editor's note).

* * Swahili terms are listed here and below, including in parentheses.

"Seven Principles" and a poster (bottom right).

act for your own good and speak for yourself. " ⁶

The principle of collectivism and mutual (Ujima) suggests that all African-Americans ("brothers and sisters"), both in a narrow (at the family level) and broad (at the community level) sense, should participate in activities aimed at the prosperity of the diaspora. how to treat your own people and solve them together ⁷.

In turn, the united economy (Ujamaa, one of the meanings in Swahili) required African Americans to engage in joint entrepreneurial activities for a common profit, and purposefulness (Nia) - to develop the community in every possible way, through guidance, education and training, in order to ultimately achieve the triumph of African traditions on new ground (back to basics).

(Kuumba) Creativity involves all kinds of joint and individual actions aimed at increasing the achievements of the community (success orientation).

M. Karenga interpreted the Principle of Faith (Imani) as an opportunity and right "to believe wholeheartedly in our people, our parents, our teachers and our leaders, as well as in the righteousness of our struggle and in our victory"⁸.

Nguzo Saba can be considered as a complex of moral principles. ⁹ Afrocentrists (students and followers of M. Karenga) should follow them throughout the year.

During Kwanzaa celebrations, African Americans were encouraged to join Nguzo Saba: the "seven principles" for the black community were supposed to play the same role as the Ten commandments of Christ. It was also necessary to think about the extent to which one's own lifestyle met the requirements of Nguzo Saba.

The symbolism of the holiday is associated with the sacred (and" happy "for many cultures) number "7": Kwanza is celebrated for seven days; the seven principles of Nguzo Saba are prescribed to be observed; seven candles are lit during the celebration; seven symbols (attributes)are revered New Year's Eve.

The main symbol is Kinara-a seven-branched candle that represents the connection with our ancestors. Seven candles are lit - Mishumaa Saba. Each of them has a double meaning: black (unity) - represents the consolidation of Africans and African Americans, three red (self-determination, united economy, creativity) - blood and suffering, three green (teamwork and responsibility, purposefulness, faith) - hopes for a better future.

Traditions and history are symbolized by the Makeka mat. Mazao

- fruits (fruits, vegetables and grains placed in a basket) - reward for successful work done together. Muhindi-corn-is a symbol of fertility, childhood and the future that children will embody. Kikombe cha Umoja - the Bowl of Unity-represents the interconnectedness of the participants in the ceremony. This is a sign of belonging to the action. Zawadi-gifts (less commonly: artifacts) that demonstrate the talent of their ancestors (books, sculptures, paintings, art objects), - they are perceived as examples of hard work and creative pursuits. They are designed to remind you of the need to preserve the memory of your ancestors and increase your historical heritage.

RITUALS AND CEREMONIES

Kwanza is celebrated annually from December 26 to January 1. It is celebrated in a narrow family circle, as well as with friends, colleagues, neighbors; various processions are organized. The festival program is constantly updated: for almost half a century of its existence, Kwanza has become a popular and beloved festival for African Americans.

Preparation for it begins on December 19. Almost all the preparations are made with their own hands: symbolic decorations for the premises where celebrations are held; costumes that imitate traditional African (mainly West African) outfits-dashiki (colorful similarity of shirts - for men) and bu-bu-bu (floor-length dresses-for women). Gifts intended for children - books, jewelry, African toys, crafts, souvenirs, sweets-are purchased in advance. On the eve of the holiday, they buy fruits and vegetables, which symbolize the expectation of the time when it will be possible to reap the benefits.

Kwanza's logo is a festive table set according to certain canons. It is covered with a tricolor-black-red - green-flag, which M. Karenga and other figures of the African-American movement consider the flag of Africa, and a mat. A seven-candle stand, a basket (or large plate) with fruit, a Bowl of unity are placed on the table, two ears of corn are placed, books are placed, various figures are placed. Sometimes the table is decorated with a plant with lush greenery, symbolizing harmony (between Africans and African Americans, city and village, Africa and America).

All days of the holiday week are strictly regulated. Throughout it, African-Americans greet each other with the words "Habari gani?" "How are you? What's the latest?" The answers vary depending on what day they are spoken. On the first day (December 26), "unity" is celebrated, and the greeting is usually answered with "Umojal".

The holiday week begins with the opening ceremony of Kwanza, during which it is customary to light a central black candle in a seven-branched box. Participants sit in a circle and, as a sign of unity and agreement with each other (and their ancestors), take turns sipping water or juice from the Bowl of Unity. The ritual is accompanied by an exchange of memories: children and young people are told stories about the glorious past, read poems, sing songs. The first day of Kwanza is usually spent in a family circle.

On the Day of Self-Determination (December 27), the first red candle is lit - next to the black one -

and exhibitions, seminars and master classes are starting to work. Concerts and children's matinees are held regularly. Activities for children must be coordinated with the general theme, which is announced in advance by the organizers. In 2012, songs, dances, and drawing contests were held under the slogan: "We Love Mama Africa".

The next three days (December 28, 29, and 30) are devoted, respectively, to teamwork and responsibility, entrepreneurship, and trade - opportunities to realize oneself. Every day there is a new lighted candle, alternately - red, green, red.

The culmination of the holiday is the Kagachi party - "Holiday of Holidays", which is held on December 31 at the end of the Day of Creativity. It is customary to spend it outside the home. Activists of African-American communities organize celebrations in cultural centers, clubs, friendship houses, museums (the Kennedy Center in Washington, the Museum of Natural History in New York, the African-American Museum in Philadelphia), schools, universities; invite African guests (the Toby Foye African Orchestra from Nigeria, the African Dance Ensemble from Ghana). Everyone can show their talent. For some, the holiday is an occasion to have fun, for others-to remember the past in the hope of a better future. Participants are given the opportunity to go beyond everyday reality, get involved in the game, and plunge into the atmosphere of the carnival.

Obligatory elements of the holiday are songs and dances to the beat of drums, practical jokes, costumed processions, and comic performances. Children and adults in carnival costumes have fun together, obeying the slogan "Harambeel" (Swah., " Work together!/Let's pull it together!").

After a lot of fun, the most peaceful final day of Kwanzaa begins, which honors the principles of Faith. The first day of the new year is dedicated to meditation-awareness of yourself, your roots, your future. According to the founder of the holiday M. Karengi, everyone should answer the questions: "Who am I? Am I really who I think I am? Who should I be?"¹⁰. To make the task easier, M. Karenga created a kind of "mantra" - ode to Ifa ¹¹ - to maintain the body and spirit. Only by answering your questions honestly can you start the new year with renewed vigor.

In December 2013 Kwanza is celebrated for the 47th time. A holiday born in the United States will be celebrated in Canada, Brazil, South Africa, and the Caribbean. According to the most conservative estimates, more than 2 million people participate in it annually. Festivals bring together people of different ages, faiths, and social groups. Among his admirers are students and entrepreneurs, old people and young people.

* * *

The presidential couple Barack and Michelle Obama address Kwanzoo celebrants every year: the message of unity and harmony appeals to many Americans. In 2008, based on the memoirs and journalism of the African-American writer Maya Angelou, the documentary film "Black Candle"13 was made, which received several prestigious awards. The filmmakers, who are experts in the history and culture of Africa and the Diaspora, have done a lot to promote the holiday, which they see as a pan-African New Year, predicting its popularity and a great future.

^Soul 1 (from the English soul - "soul") - a musical genre that emerged in the late 50s of the XX century. It combines elements of jazz, rhythm and blues and the African-American tradition of spiritual Christian music-gospel.

^{Achebe Ch.} 2 Morning yet on Creation Day. Essays. L., Heinemann, 1975. P. 82.

^{Maulana Ndabezitha Carriage} 3 (Ronald McKinley Everett, b. July 14, 1941) - historian, political scientist, linguist, public figure, professor (since 1989), head of the Department of African-American Studies at the University of California. In the 1960s, he was an activist in the movement of "black" nationalism, created the organization " We "("Us"). In 2002, his name was included in the list of "101 greatest African Americans".

⁴ Swahili (Swashili/Kiswahili - "coastal language") is the most widely spoken language in sub-Saharan Africa: according to various estimates, it is spoken by at least 150 million people. It is the official language in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. In East Africa, Swahili is the language of interethnic communication, politics, education, mass culture, and the media. Since 2004, it has been one of the 6 official languages of the African Union. During the enthronement ceremony of Pope Francis in 2013, prayers were said in five languages, including Swahili for the first time.

⁵ Nguzo Saba. The Seven Principles -http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/Nguz oSaba.shtml

⁶ Ibidem.

⁷ Ibid.

⁸ Ibid.

⁹ Afrocentrists (proponents of theories of African exclusivity) - followers of the movement that originated in the United States in the 1980s. They consider" Afrocentrism "as an alternative to"Eurocentrism". Radicals absolutize the importance of Africa in world history, assigning it a key role. The founder of the theory of afrocentrism is considered to be Molefi Kete Asante, a philosopher, historian, specialist in mass communications, professor of the Department of African-American Studies at Temple University (Philadelphia).

^{Karenga M.} 10 Kwanzaa, Us and the Well-being of the World: A Courageous Questioning // The Organization Us Columns and Position Statements - http://www.us-organization. org/position/documents/KwanzaaUsandthe Well-beingoftheWorldl2 - 13 - 12.pdf

¹¹ Ifa is a cultural and religious tradition of the Yoruba people, whose ceremonies are aimed at understanding the universal wisdom of nature. Ifa has spread all over the world, becoming one of the most popular spiritual practices.

^{Maya Angelou} 12 (Marguerite Ann Johnson; b. April 4, 1928) - writer, poet, playwright, specialist in African-American studies, public figure, participant in the civil rights movement of Negroes; professor at Wake Forest University (North Carolina). In 1972, her first collection of poetry was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize; in 2010, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

¹³ "The Black Candle", directed by M. K. Asante Jr., 2008.

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