The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • Page 7

Akron Beacon Journal ifeStyl PageA-7 Saturday, December 27, 1975 wansaa Three groups celebrate festival at AU TT 7" 1 I lit1 iSU 4 i f9 mH a 'i ((VI -f 3 4, 4 posed to reflect the fruits of labor. John Wilson, director of the Black Culture Center at Akron said Kwanzaa concentrates on the cultural traditions and heritage of black people. "It's true of the university and the community that there's never been a lack of awareness among black people of their cultural heritage and consciousness," Ms. Makini said. The remaining nights of Kwanzaa will be celebrated in homes in the community.

The celebrations are being coordinating by Afrikan Edu-, cational Society and are open to all interested persons. For more information, call John Wilson at 375-7030 or Black United Students at 375-7299. recognizing Kwanzaa and want to celebrate it together," Ms. Makini said. The holiday originated in this country in the 1960s.

The seven days of Kwanzaa correspond to the Nguzo Saba, or seven principles: Dec. 26 is Umoja (unity); Dec. 27, Kujichagulia (self-determination); Dec. 28, Ujima (collective work and responsibility); Dec. 29, Uja-maa (cooperative economics); Dec.

30, Nia (purpose); Dec. 31, Kuum-ba (creativity); and Jan. l', Imani (faith). "When it's celebrated in the home, the host will light the candles and begin the ceremonies. Everyone brings some dish to eat.

It's the idea of sharing the fruits of labor," Ms. Makini said. At Friday's banquet, such African foods as fried bean patties and peanut dishes were served. African dress was optional. "Each night a different principle is discussed and that discussion usually leads into a rap session with everyone talking about ideas connected to the theme of the evening," said another coordinator, Damani Obafemi, who also adopted a Swahili name.

On the last night of Kwanzaa, also New Year's Eve, an all-night feast for the adults is given. Resolutions are made for the coming year. Gifts are given to the children on the last day and are sup 5f5. lit il Black awareness spurs 1 holiday's growth in U.S. By PEGGY RADER Beacon Journal Staff Writer For Christians and Jews holiday celebrations are already memories in which to wrap up the end of 1975.

But for the people who observed the first day of Kwanzaa Friday, the holidays are just beginning. A community service at University of Akron Gardner Student Center marked the beginning of a seven-day celebration that has its roots in African culture. The first organized observance in Akron is being sponsored by Black Cultural Center, Black United Students and African Educational Society. Kwanzaa is a Swahili word meaning "first." For this holiday its broader meaning is "first fruits," according to one of the local coordinators of the event, Ji-nakl Makini, member of African Educational Society who has adopted a Swahili name. "In some ways it's more closely related to our Thanksgiving than to Christmas," Ms.

Makini said. "Celebration of the harvest is traditional in Africa this time of year. For those black people who understand our roots lie in Africa and that we're related to the people of African descent throughout the world, Kwanzaa is an important celebration." On each night of Kwanzaa a certain ritual is followed: People greet each other in Swahili saying, "Ha-bari Gani" (What's happening?) and the reply is the name of that particular night's ritual. Candles are lighted the number corresponding with the night of the celebration; on the first night one candle is lighted, the second night, two, and so on. While the candles are burning, a prayer or inspirational greeting is spoken.

A dinner is served and a "Unity" cup, usually filled with wine, is passed communally. The remainder of the evening is devoted to singing and dancing. "IN THE past Kwanzaa was a celebration observed only in the privacy of your home. But more and more African-Americans are mmmmmmmm wmmmsmm them that they were born out of a society that "4. I Newsday The Kwanzaa festival, a family-oriented celebration of the African harvest, is becoming increasingly popular among blacks of different religions, ideologies and political persuasions throughout the United States.

Kwanzaa's adoption here was spurred by in creased black awareness and by the wish of many black people to participate in holiday celebrations that are distinctly black-oriented, according to John Henrik Clark, an author ity in African studies. The Kwanzaa festival, Clark said, started 15 years ago in the United States. "Kwanzaa represents black Americas' revolt against their white oppressor and against the commercialization of Christmas as we have come to know it," Clark said. "Blacks were increasingly getting into more debt and their children were being demoralized by the concept (of Christmas). So black people turned to the African celebration, Kwanzaa, which has simplicity and humanity.

There is a minimum of present-giving and a maximum of togetherness. "Kwanzaa is a celebration where you give of yourself. It's a time to remind children of their African heritage and values to remind cares for each other," he said. STEVEN LLOYD, who teaches African history at Nassau County (N.Y.) Community College, said, "Kwanzaa has given me a chance to smile back. Educational traditions in this country would lead one to believe that black Americans come from a land of savages who run around in the jungle boog-a-boog-a style.

When I was in school I used to duck when they showed pictures of Africans but now that I understand my culture I sit up straight and just smile back. "I think black people need identification. We've been acculturated we're the recipients of traditions. We need to be the giver of traditions, even if it's for purposes of social and psychological elevation. That's the most important reason, I think, for celebrating Kwanzaa." Lloyd, who has been celebrating Kwanzaa for four years, said he doesn't wait until Dec.

26 "to do my thing. I do it from day to day. I teach my two daughters Yorbu, an African language, in the morning; they say African prayers before they leave the house, and when they return I teach them dance. We practice Kwanzaa all year 'round." Beacon Journal photo by Ott Gangl Jinaki Maklnl, a member of the African Educational So-clety at the University of Akron, lights the candles Friday night beginning the Kwanzaa celebration, the traditional African harvest festival. Mom fights losing battle SUNDAY DAY, DEC.

28th, HOBDAY, DEC. 29th All his money goes on her back 3'A-Oz. Ea. N.tWl. 12-01.

DRY ROASTED PEANUTS DEAR ANN: My oldest son is just recovering from a heartbreaking romance. He bought the girl jewelry, record albums, expensive clothes, took her to the fanciest restaurants and last week she broke off with him. Now my younger son (age 18) is headed in the same direction. He had a good summer job and saved quite a lot of money. Although he needs new shoes, a winter jacket and several other items of clothing, he doesn't spend one cent on himself.

All his money goes on this girl's back. She calls him "to go shopping" and like a sap he buys her anything she wants. Ann Landers On Your Problems Dry-Roasted, no oil or sugar added. KRESGE'S SALE PRICE KIPPERED SNACKS Ready-to-serve BC5 9, tasty treat for OC snack time or party time. 0 Coppola plays role of magazine's angel 1 $100 When I tell him he's making the same mistake his brother made he says, "It's my money, and I'll do what I want with it." What can I do about this stupid fool? Heartsick Watching Dear Mother: If you are "Heartsick Watching" my advice is to look the other way.

You're fighting a losing battle, Mother. Some folks must get their lumps firsthand, and I'm afraid your son is due for some "on-the-job training." DEAR ANN: Do I have the right to be mad? Recently I married a man who was spoiled rotten by his mother. She waited on him like a hand-servant. He never picked up a 1 sock after himself. I work an eight-hour day.

After the honeymoon I had a talk with him and he agreed to do the supper dishes on weekends while I took the clothes to the laundromat. When I returned, my mother-in-law was walking out of the kitchen with a towel in her hand. She had just finished doing the dishes. After she left I hit the roof. My mother-in-law didn't eat with us.

She just dropped in. I think she should not have done his work. What's your opinion? Angry Dear Ang: This is a problem? Grow up, kiddo. If you're going to make a go of it with Junior you'd better learn not to sweat the small stuff. Save your anger for the major hassles ahead and I can STORAGE CHESTS ow is NOT a married woman.

Should I do her a favor and tell her she is violating a rule of eti-quet? A Friend Dear Friend Do yourself a favor and MYOB. If a widow wants to wear her wedding ring (and many do) it's perfectly proper to do so. DEAR My mother-in-law smokes around my young children and it drives me crazy. She always has a cigaret dangling from the corner of her mouth. Yesterday she was holding our three-month-old son and dropped some ashes on the baby's face.

I was furious but gritted my teeth and said nothing. I hate fights. Please advise. Peace Lover Dear Friend: too, am a Peace Lover but there are times when one should speak up regardless of the risks. If ever you had the perfect opportunity to ask your mother-in-law not to smoke in the presence of your children, that was it.

Too bad you blew it. PLASTIC SET $1100 Under the bed and All Purpose Storage Chests. Set of 18 plastic IO-01. bverage tumblers. 2 IIYS OILY SiLE MICE 11 IIYL0II PAIITY CHINA FOAM WWti giving and, now, there are whispers it won't survive the new year.

Coppola doesn't talk about money anymore. Hinckle says only that "it is an expensive business. It's a tough job and a hard one to pull off. Coppola deserves a lot of credit for putting his money where his mouth is." Hinckle says he is banking on the magazine being a true reflection of San Francisco: breezy, controversial "and "fabulously libertine." He eschews the slicker form adopted by "city" magazines elsewhere. VIRTUALLY EVERY issue has at least one article dealing with' the city's large homosexual community and one on local Hinckle thinks nothing of publishing an article sympathetic toward a particular person and, a couple of issues later, raking that same person over the coals.

"Look, this is a contradictory town and I think the magazine' should reflect that," he said. "The city magazines of the 1960s were thick and slick. That's outrageous journalism that won't fit here. San Francisco is not just a town, it is a state of mind." The magazine averages about 50 or 60 pages each week but appears dangerously low in advertising, the key barometer to any publication's economic stability. Hinckle admits worrying very little about the critical issue of fi-k nancing the magazine.

He says it normally takes about seven years to put a magazine on a money-making basis. The question is, will Coppola wait anywhere near that lor? By TONY LEDWELL SAN FRANCISCO UP) Francis Ford Coppola cheerfully admits that City of San Francisco magazine is his Vietnam "I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel." Coppola, who made a fortune with a pair of films about organized crime, has poured nearly $1 million into making the weekly magazine a success. But his latest venture reportedly is losing a month. "I always spend lots of dough," says Warren Hinckle, the dapper editor with the eye patch who guided the iconoclastic magazine Ramparts during its heyday in the 1960s. He was tapped by Coppola three months ago as City's editor.

WHEN MONEY from the first "Godfather" film started coming in three years ago, Coppola became a financial angel to the struggling entertainment-oriented City magazine. Exasperated by the red ink, he took over completely last July. "Look, if I'm going to blow a lot of money, let me at least have it the way I like it," he said at the time. He hired Hinckle as a guest editor, who promptly sold out his first press run of 38,000 with a cover story purporting to explain why women have a tough time finding sex in San Francisco. Hinckle then got the job permanently, but with a Coppola condition: "If I don't like the magazine, I'll just get another editor." THE MAGAZINE has defied local pundits' predictions that it would i fold by Labor Day, or by Thanks PLATES, PLATTERS promise you there will be many.

DEAR ANN: A woman I know lost her husband three years ago. They were married 18 years. She still wears her wedding ring, which, to me, seems like an act of misrepresentation. After all, a wid- BOWLS For Dramatic Savings on Thomasville and Kroehler and 41 other brands See Sunday's Ad "EJetter Quality Furniture at Substantial Savings" HH ALL DECORATIONS LIGHT SETS mmt Rg. Prices I lit 1 regular bikinis.

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