** * Happy Kwanzaa, Diaspora * **
C Spinner
--------------------------------------------------
Happy Kwanzaa
May the Spirits of Ancestors
'Lost' in Diaspora
Walk Beside You
Whisper to You
and Guide You
in Your Quest
For Knowledge and Wisdom.
Heri ya Kwanzaa
--------------------------------------------------
FANTIMA
definatley had good intentions,but it is well known that Maulana
Karenga made up the holiday. The princples are in Swahili and the
celebration is of some pusedo type harvest festival. Actually,many
Africans have their own celebrations and festivals. My ancestors the
ancient Egyptians had our festivals like Wag,and today we celebrate
Shem El Nessim. In modern Nigeria the Edo people,a branch of the
Yoruba,celebrate a festival called Igue.
Did you know this. Are you going to post happy Shem El Nessim when
it comes around?
C Spinner
> From: f_a_n_...@yahoo.com (FANTIMA)
> Newsgroups: soc.culture.nigeria,...soc.culture.egyptian
> Subject: Re: ** * Happy Kwanzaa, Diaspora * **
> Date: 24 Dec 2003 08:37:18 -0800
> On 24 Dec 2003 08:37:18 -0800, f_a_n_...@yahoo.com
> (FANTIMA) wrote:
>
> Why would you post a Kwanza greeting in an Egyptian news group.
I do indeed appreciate your response. You do raise some issues
that are basic to my involvement in the African NGs.
> Kwanza definatley had good intentions, but it is well known that
> Maulana Karenga made up the holiday.
True.
Many may not know or care about the origins of, or the players
involved in the creation of, other celebrations like 'Christmas'.
Was 'Christmas' there at the beginning of time? Or n the year
100AD? Did it just happen? Maybe not.
Does it matter that the clock/time or the calendar (whichever one
uses) was actually "made up" with good intentions? Perhaps.
> The princples are in Swahili
What do you mean?
Many would suggest that the seven 'principles' of KWANZAA are
actually universal.
Just as the concepts or principles of 'morality' or 'ethics' or
'justice' or 'democracy' have an objective, universal appeal (eh,
as DICTATED by the USA).
Many Catholics mumble a few words of Latin in their supplication
to their idols.
And a few words of Arabic are sprinkled into the Koran that is
used the world over. :-)
And of course, English is shamelessly pushed down the throats of
the "educated" christian Africans south of the sahara.
> and the celebration is of some pusedo type harvest festival.
Indeed. Just one of the many.
Have you heard of "Octoberfest"? Or "Thanksgiving"?
It is said that "Shem el-Nessim" celebration in Egypt, which
marks the beginning of the harvest season in spring, has been
held every year for more than 4,500 years. And that it is also
celebrated by the urban dwellers who have no idea what activities
go on in a harvest.
And those of Egyptian ancestry who live in the southern
hemisphere may wish to hold the Shem el-Nessim celebration at the
same (northern spring) time as those who live in Egypt do. No
objection, right?
Is the idea of celebrating an abstract birth-DAY or anniversary
more appealing than that of celebrating a harvest? NO.
One may wonder what makes one celebration more acceptable than
the other? Why did our ancestors celebrate anything? Aha.
Is the Christmas celebration in Nairobi, Kenya more 'acceptable'
or valid than the 'Maulid' celebration in Lamu, Kenya? NO.
http://mysite.freeserve.com/stevens_world/e_reports_05_Maulid_festival.htm
> Actually,many Africans have their own celebrations and festivals.
Indeed.
And Africans also observe celebrations based on foreign myths -
like the birth of one who espoused their Christian myths.
> My ancestors the ancient Egyptians had our festivals like Wag,
> and today we celebrate Shem El Nessim.
And of course you may suggest that the 'Shem El Nessim'
celebration is a pseudo type harvest festival.
> In modern Nigeria the Edo
> people, a branch of the Yoruba, celebrate a festival called Igue.
>
> Did you know this. Are you going to post happy Shem El Nessim when
> it comes around?
You make it sound as if I am the only one who wishes the Africans
any happiness. However, I know that there are many silent
well-wishers who access the NGs.
The nurturing of traditions/ customs/ cultures/ myths is a
collective and essential effort. An individual cannot do it
alone. Christian myths were not spread and maintained at their
present, perversive state by one individual. And NOT overnight.
When "Shem El Nessim" comes around (in May 2004?), please post
your wish. Get other friends to post theirs. And if you are
familiar with my postings in the Africa's NGs, you have no doubt
that the festivities will be of cultural interest to me.
Actually, 'my' wish for a "Happy Kwanzaa" was general: It is not
necessarily specific to the KWANZAA celebrations. The wish was
addressed to Africa's Diaspora - which includes leading
scientists and technologists who trace their ancestry to the land
of Egypt in Africa.
Some may be familiar with the words contained in the wish. I came
across it while reading up on Nigeria's diaspora.
[More on that later.]
Charlie
.................... ..........................................
What thoughts go through one's mind as one watches an orphaned
nine-year old girl struggle to hold together and provide a 'home'
and food for her three younger siblings?
"When all possessions are gone.
When we are stripped bare.
When all human dignity is taken from us.
THEN, the ancestors are there.
The Still, Inner Voice.
Our customs. Our traditions.
The myths of our forefathers
Passed down to us by the age seven.
That is all that we have. The last bastion.
That is all we have left to go by.
To guide us."
meeso
> Did you know this. Are you going to post happy Shem El Nessim when
> it comes around?
SURE! Just tell me when it comes around. OK ?
Best,
--
Maysara
www.fsf.org
C Spinner
> .
> . When "Shem El Nessim" comes around (in May 2004?), please post
> . your wish. Get other friends to post theirs. And if you are
> . familiar with my postings in the Africa's NGs, you have no doubt
> . that the festivities will be of cultural interest to me.
> .
the Sham El Nessim (Eastern) public holiday is on April 12, 2004.
Some schools have scheduled their break for April 20 - April 28.
Elisa Herrera
******end**************************************
Charlie
....................... .......
Were wealth scorned, white thieves of Africa would repent!