KWANZAA: A CELEBRATION OF THE HARVEST

Peace! The word Kwanzaa is a Swahili word which means “first fruits.” This is a celebration whose origins derive from the ancient tradition of the community coming together to celebrate the season’s end harvest, the food and grain from the field which would sustain their existence for another seasonal cycle.

Our harvest is the Nguzo Saba: The Seven Principles, which we come together and recommit (harvest) ourselves to for another year. As the ancients did with their harvest to sustain them for another seasonal cycle, we too go into the new year with a renewed commitment to the Nguzo Saba:

• Unity over differences,

• Self-Determination despite circumstances,

• Collective Work and Responsibility despite diversities,

• Cooperative Economics for the betterment of all,

• Purpose which gives our life a daily drive of Good Orderly Direction,

• Creativity which gives us a vision of that which is achievable if we work for it, and

• Faith that the power of the Supreme Creator will continue to flow within our hearts and mind as us, letting us know that we have the free will and power to recommit ourselves to the harvest of the Nguzo Saba and uphold its principles for another year.

Kwanzaa, as a celebration which moves in accord with the Culture of I-God, shows us that: Unity (Umoja) is Knowledge, Self-Determination (Kujichagulia) is Wisdom, Collective Work and Responsibility (Ujima) is Understanding, Cooperative Economics (Ujamaa) is Culture Freedom, Purpose (Nia) is Power Refinement, Creativity (Kuumba) is Equality, and Faith (Imani) is God. Can you Cee the science? OK. Let’s Build.

Knowledge is the foundation of our origin in this world. When we awaken to this foundation, we come to know each other as one people. The Original. Allah. This is our Unity.

Wisdom is our drive to choose, to choose if we will accept or reject the Knowledge of Self, and to make a determination as to who we will and will not be.

Understanding is when we put knowledge and wisdom together and create a collective comprehension to be utilized to take responsibility for our own self, family, and Nation. It is a response based on our ability.

Culture Freedom is the unhindered expression of our divine innate nature, thought out and lived out as I Self Lord And Master, a cooperative Nation living in one accord for the economic success (What We Will Achieve) on earth.

Power Refinement is Purpose that which drives and gives our life reason and direction. A constant renewal of our mind, ensuring the continuous growth and elevation of our life.

Equality is Creativity to develop and maintain a balance of ideas and thoughts within the mind, which are utilized to create a tangible existence in the physical.

God is Faith, our commitment to living out the Good Orderly Direction of our divine nature as a daily existence of I Self Lord And Master. The supreme force of life self-created into physical flesh as the Arm, Leg, Leg, Arm, Head of the Original People.

Kwanzaa is a celebration of our heritage as the Original People on the planet Earth, and the Nguzo Saba instills within us righteous principles to live by and teach, just as the SM and SA does. To fail to Cee this truth is to limit your vision. Just know that the only limitations we have are the ones which we make. Peace!

Understanding Self Allah

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Illuminating the Path: How Supreme Principles Intersect with the Nguzo Saba

Peace, Gods and Earths! As we continue to build and manifest our divine selves, it’s vital to understand the intricate threads connecting our foundational Supreme Mathematics and Supreme Alphabet to other profound expressions of Black liberation and identity. Today, let’s shine a light on how our core principles—Knowledge, Wisdom, Understanding, and beyond—find direct, powerful resonance within the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. This mapping is not merely an intellectual exercise; it’s a living blueprint for manifesting our highest selves both individually and collectively.

Consider 1 – Knowledge. This isn't just knowing facts; it’s Knowing Self, the cornerstone of our existence. This directly aligns with Kujichagulia (Self-Determination). To truly know who you are as Allah (A), as God (G), as I (I), is to determine your own destiny, free from the shackles of ignorance.

Our 2 – Wisdom provides the clarity for Nia (Purpose). Wisdom discerns our collective mission, steering us towards constructive action, ensuring our birth (B) and present (N) serve a divine aim. 3 – Understanding fosters Umoja (Unity), teaching us to see and accept our brothers and sisters, creating a collective strength that is truly unbreakable.

4 – Culture/Freedom ignites Kuumba (Creativity). Our culture is not static; it’s a living testament to our generative power, a continuous act of creative renewal (O – Cipher, W – Wisdom/Woman). This is our inherent freedom to shape and build.

When we speak of 5 – Power/Refinement, we are talking about channeling our energy into Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics). True power (P) is refined (M – Master) and used to establish shared wealth and Equality (E) for all, not for individual gain.

6 – Equality finds its spiritual twin in Imani (Faith). Our faith (L – Love/Right, T – Truth) is not blind; it is a moral conviction in our people, our principles, and the divine order. It is the unwavering belief that equality is not just possible, but right.

Finally, 8 – Build/Destroy is the very essence of Ujima (Collective Work & Responsibility). This is our duty to engage in collective labor—to construct what uplifts and remove what oppresses. It is how justice (J) is manifested through shared effort, led by Kings (K) and Queens (Q) who serve the community. Even God (7), as the Universal Cipher, undergirds Umoja—the ultimate unity of all creation.

This mapping reveals that the path of the God and Earth is intrinsically linked to the ethical and cultural resurgence articulated in the Nguzo Saba. Let us embrace these connections, using them as tools to build, teach, and liberate, manifesting Heaven on Earth. Peace!

Panther Salih Aql Allah

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Kwanzaa Is Not Seasonal

Kwanzaa is often seen as a seven-day holiday observed from December 26th to January 1st. The candles are lit, the principles are read, the family gathers, and then once the new year arrives, it is quietly packed away until the next December. B.u.t. for our people, Kwanzaa was never meant to live only on the calendar. It was meant to live in our character.

Just like the 12 Jewels guide our way of thinking, refining, and moving with purpose every day, the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa serve as a daily blueprint for how Black people build, protect, and elevate our families and our Nation.

It is important to clarify that Kwanzaa is not a part of the formal teachings of the Nation of Gods and Earths. However, what is essential is how we live as Black people, with structure, responsibility, creativity, unity, economics, purpose, and commitment. These principles do not replace Supreme Wisdom; they complement the work we already know must be done. Peace!

Queen I-Wisdom Understanding Earth