Happy Kwanzaa! - Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)

To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.

(photo: Etsy)

Grand Rising Family!

Today we celebrate Kwanzaa, day two: Kujichagulia, Self-Determination!

Ahenwa - The Akan throne, symbol of national identity, cultural groundedness and rightful governance

It brings me great joy to be able to define myself, name myself, create for myself and speak for myself. Over the past year of 2024 I have seen and experienced where others have not done this for themselves.

According to the www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org:

The second principle of the Nguzo Saba is Kujichagulia (Self-Determination). This too expresses itself as both commitment and practice. It demands that we as an African people define, defend and develop ourselves instead of allowing or encouraging others to do this. It requires that we recover lost memory and once again shape our world in our own image and interest. And it is a call to recover and speak our own special cultural truth to the world and make our own unique contribution to the forward flow of human history.

I have a little story to share based on this principle which apparently has stayed with me for the ENTIRE year of 2024!! It was resonating with me to the point I became aware and actioned a few things! I direct you to my story time on a specific event in which I had to educate on this meaning.