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CAPE FEAR MEMORIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE: UPDATES, RESOURCES, AND CONTEXT

The Seven Days of Kwanzaa

An exploration of Kwanzaa through story and song.By WHQR public radio

Wilmington NC – The Nguzo Saba or Seven Principles of Kwanzaa

I. UMOJA (UNITY) (oo-MOE-jah) - To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.

II. KUJICHAGULIA (SELF DETERMINATION) (koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-ah) - To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.

III. UJIMA (COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY) (oo-JEE-mah) - To build and maintain our community together and to make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and to solve them together.

IV. UJAMAA (COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS) (oo-JAH-mah) - To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit together from them.

V. NIA (PURPOSE) (nee-AH) - To make as our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

VI. KUUMBA (CREATIVITY) (koo-OOM-bah) - To do always as much as we can, in the way that we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than when we inherited it.

VII. IMANI (FAITH) (ee-MAH-nee) - To believe with all our hearts in our parents, our teachers, our leaders, our people and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

KWANZAA
Begun in 1966, by Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga, the word Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili phrase ?matunda ya Kwanzaa? or ?first fruits.? It is a celebration harvested from numerous African cultures which encourages connectedness to those cultural identities, and reflection on the seven principles, the ?Nguzo Saba? which have sustained them.

Some of the best known story-tellers and musicians from programs past will join Madafo in exploring the seven daily principles upon which the seven days of Kwanzaa are founded; Unity, Self Determination, Collective Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. We?ll be reflecting on all these principles through story and song.

Join Madado and company as ?A Season?s Griot? invites you to a coast-to-coast celebration of Kwanzaa!

MEET MADAFO
Madafo Lloyd Wilson is a Storyteller and Musician. His work is patterned in the spirit of the "Griot"; those individuals responsible for keeping the History, Traditions, Principles and Values of the people alive and vibrant. A Madafo Storytelling presentation speaks from the African and African American experience while his use of Folktales, Myth, Poetry and Song breathes life into the age old Art Form.

As a Musician, whether in the orchestra pit, playing jazz, flamenco or world music, Madafo is considered a master and has collaborated with musicians of all genres, throughout the USA, as well as, parts of East and West Africa. He combines traditional and contemporary percussion instruments to accentuate the imagery created in the minds of the listener. With chants, demonstration, characterization and audience participation, a Madafo performance is sure to be fun-filled, enchanting, educational and therapeutic.

For more than four decades, Madafo has been actively and consistently contributing to the forward movement of his community; he coordinated the Annual Kwanzaa celebration in Wilmington, NC, co-created an award winning Mentoring Program called Brothers Reaching Out (BRO), in the school system, and was Artistic Director of a community based Children's Theater group and Summer Arts Program. He has also produced several Storytelling Festivals; (A Christmas Telling and Word Up), has appeared on stage, in movies.

This year, Madafo recorded his first CD "Telling In The Spirit" which is dedicated to his children, grandchildren and the childlike spirit within us all. With this CD of folktales, poetry and original music, Madafo showcases his talents as a storyteller and composer. The fables, chants, and lullabies will make you laugh, sooth the spirit and take you closer to a keener understanding of who we are and how we fit in the total scheme of things.

Madafo performs for school and library systems, cultural festivals, churches, weddings, funerals, family reunions...in concert halls, studios, nightclubs and under shade trees. His performances and workshops are age appropriate and speak to all themes, cultures and ethnicities.

CD copies of "A Season's Griot" are available by calling WHQR, 910.343.1640. Or by email to scott@whqr.org.