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I'm wishing each of you a warm transition into this frosty new month!
I'm reminded of a Kwanzaa celebration I attended some time ago in SE, Washington D.C with a good friend of mine. I attended an African Methodist Episcopal church growing up, so I had been exposed to some Pan-African customs early and to some extent was observing the holiday, but I had never actually attended a community based Kwanzaa experience as an adult.
We were saturated with high vibrations as soon as we walked into the community center where the event was being held. All types of freshly garnished ital eats and fruit juices lined the back of the joint. Neatly cut and colored fabrics and tapestries, beauty bars, and butters sold by sisters, crystals and copper work advertised by incense carrying brothers adorned the east and west corners of the room. Rows of chairs in the mouth of the room were swallowed by a sea of melanated men, women, and children beaming with light and excitement. A sweet musk filled the air, mostly from the beautiful troupe of brothers who were striking djembes, congas, bongas, and cajons in a hypnotic, syncopated rhythm. The drummers were encouraging guests to chant or dance on stage with dancers that were letting Spirit lead releasing movements (yes yours truly ended up on stage getting LOOSE). It was a gift to feel welcomed by every guest in the room.
My eyes grew wide with anticipation as I watched the drummers shout African affirmations while striking their drums even more powerfully. I skimmed the stage and focused on a lone woman, a slender chocolate skinned sister with revolution in her eyes, chanting and dancing freely with a cowrie shell covered shaker. Her confidence, her rhythm, and might I add, her agility for a woman in upper years, was breathtaking.
I laughed to myself, "That will be me in my golden years."
Needless to say by the end of the night, I worked up the courage to introduce myself to this intriguing woman draped in different shades of lavender. I felt like a moth being drawn to an elegant ember. When I humbly approached her, she finished her previous banter with another guest, looked me in my eyes, and with a wide smile led with:
"My you are a beautiful young sister."
I'm sure I blushed, but it didn't matter because she immediately embraced me and whispered, "Welcome."
After thanking her, I found that this lady in lavender was none other than Mama Ayo Handy Kendi: author, poet, lecturer, entrepreneur, Founder/Director of the African American Holiday Association, Founder of Black Love Day (which is celebrated on February 13th), cultural presenter, community organizer, and Certified Transformational Breath Facilitator. Since 1989, Mama Ayo has been a champion for human rights, justice, and wholistic health.
We briefly discussed the importance of her established holiday, and she lovingly quizzed me on my perspectives in regards to my love relationship with my Creator, my self, and my community, which she deemed as some of the five 'tenants' of love (see "The Black Love Book: An Anthology on Love and Guide to the "wholyday" Feb 13th --Black Love Day", pg. 24).
According to Mama Ayo, she founded Black Love Day as a way to help our community understand that "we must love ourselves enough as a people to want to reclaim our legacy, to study our history and culture...we need not to be ashamed of anything, only proud of how far we've come and proud of our many contributions!"
Mama Ayo explains in her anthology on Black Love Day what NYA AKOMA means:
We know of the heart as a symbol for Valentine's Day. Yet, long before Europeans used decorative, lace hearts to symbolize romance, this ancient, African Adinkra symbol was called the Akoma (pronounced Ah-co-mah). The Akoma literally means "the heart" and symbolizes love, patience, goodwill, faithfulness, and endurance, with its origin traced to the Asante people of Ghana and the Gyaman people of the Cote' d'Ivoire. The literal translation for NYA AKOMA is "Be patient, get a heart". The ritual and symbols of Black Love Day are a "synthesis of spiritual, metaphysical, African and African American customs which aid in heightening Black cultural pride and self-esteem. Gifts can be given if one desires to express their love, however, gifts must be purchased only from Black merchants, in the spirit of Ujamaa to recycle money within the Black community. It is recommended that gifts be made or chosen to enhance the spirit, mind and body, or chosen to reflect the love of African Diaspora culture and heritage, instead of impractical trinkets and unhealthy, sugar-laden gifts traditionally given for Valentine's Day."
If you can remember on February 13th, take 24 hours to be more mindful of how you are loving on those around you. Take time to rejuvenate your relationships and nourish the parts of life that mean the most to you in the spirit of Akoma.
Interested in discussing or learning more about Black Love Day traditions?
EMAIL AUTUMN LABELLA
Special thanks to Mama Ayo Kendi of the African American Holiday Association (AAHA)
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