Imani / Faith in the Sacred African Way Through Wo’se: Standing Worthy Before Ourselves
Copyright © 2024 / The Afrikan Restoration Project / All rights reserved
“Imani / Faith – To believe with all our hearts in our parents, our teachers, our leaders, our people, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.”
The definition of the seventh principle, Imani / Faith, in the Nguzo Saba is notably different from the meaning of faith in religion. Yet, there has been confusion about that fact since the founding of Kwanzaa almost sixty years ago. Faith in religion is focused on God – the Creator of the universe – known by many different names. But Imani / Faith in the Nguzo Saba is focused on having faith in ourselves, the best among us, and the good world and future we can create if we work together.
Kuumba and the Creative Vitality of Black People : Meeting the Need for Sedjemic STEM Professionals
Copyright © 2024 / The Afrikan Restoration Project / All rights reserved
“Kuumba / Creativity – To do always as much as we can, in the way that we can, to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.”
The modern world and its advanced machinery operate because of advanced electrical energy systems. To protect our long-term interests, these energy systems need the benefit of our Kuumba / Creativity as they are developed to ensure adequate protections are in place for people and the natural world.
Nia / Purpose and Cultural Strategies for Change in Education
Kwanzaa, the Nguzo Saba and the Whole Child in the 21st Century
Copyright © 2024 / The Afrikan Restoration Project / All rights reserved
“Nia / Purpose – To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.”
When children’s literacy consultant, Tiffany Rachann, is asked about her Nia / Purpose in life, she responds with details about the future of primary education in America, explaining why this country ranks poorly in educating our children – and how that should change. As part of her culturally wholistic approach, she has even developed children’s literacy tools specific to Kwanzaa and the Nguzo Saba shared below.
Ujamaa and the Detroit People’s Food Co-op:
The Best Example of Black Cooperative Economics and How it Happened
Copyright © 2024 / The Afrikan Restoration Project / All rights reserved
“Ujamaa / Cooperative Economics – To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.”
When the Detroit People’s Food Co-op opened the doors to their brand new, state of the art supermarket on May 1, 2024, they were responding proactively to long recognized “food inequity and economic extraction” conditions that persist in and around their Detroit North End neighborhood. Many of the people who joined several hundred area residents at the grand opening were aware this store represents the vision turned into reality of the Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network (DBCFSN) – and this celebration was a long time coming.
Ujima and Alkebu-lan Village:
The Collective Work and Responsibility of Raising Our Children in Community
Copyright © 2024 / The Afrikan Restoration Project / All rights reserved
“Ujima / Collective Work and Responsibility – To build and maintain our own community together and to make our brothers and sisters problems, our problems, and to solve them together.”
Alkebu-lan Village on Detroit’s east side models the Afrikan communal idea of Ubuntu – I am because we are – as well or better than most. From the very beginning, Alkebu-lan Village has been focused on nurturing and investing in the Black community and its children so we become the best possible version of ourselves.
Making the Case for Math Proficiency as Kujichagulia:: Self-Determination by the Numbers
Copyright © 2024 / The Afrikan Restoration Project / All rights reserved
“Kujichagulia / Self-Determination – To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.”
Cheyney University mathematics professor, Akil Parker, is on a mission to change the world – one proficient math student at a time. His life work is based on a fundamental belief that “Math proficiency is a tool of liberation and self-determination,” and he is deeply committed to the task of “liberating” as many students as possible – and their parents.
Practicing Umoja / Unity In Support Of The Most Important Task
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reserved
“ Umoja / Unity – To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and worldwide African community.”
The most meaningful examples of Umoja / Unity happens when people come together to protect human life or to help make life possible in the first place. Since nothing matters more in the process of creating human life than a woman’s womb, acts of unity to promote women’s womb health are among the most meaningful acts people can undertake.
