Dr. Leahcim Semaj
Organizational Psychologist | Author | Social Philosopher I Management Consultant
In the last 30 years, we have experienced a transformation of the world of work as profound as occurred 200 years ago with the First Industrial Revolution. Every organisation is being affected, but most people have not recognized the dramatic changes required for them to remain viable and productive. In response to the needs of the market place, attitudes and values have also to be adjusted. We will also need to make serious adjustments in the way we do business. Every sector will have to make adjustments; government, unions, management and workers. The transition has been from ‘muscle’ to ‘machines’ then to ‘knowledge industries’ fueled by Artificial Intelligence. We are now grappling with the impact of artificial-intelligence and autonomous systems powered by robotics. The only rational choice we have is to understand the nature of the changes in order for us to benefit from them.
Kwanzaa allows us to bridge the gap between the past and the future at the point where the old and new years meet. We can ‘return and fetch’ – Sankofa. We can take one more look at the principles of Kwanzaa, The Nguzo Saba, The Seven minimal principles. How can we use these principles year round to take us into the New Work Order? In the words of Damian “Jnr. Gong” Marley, It’s past time for all of us to ‘Set Up Shop’; own the means of production. But what kind of “shop”?
Also drawing on Damian Marley, it is time that The Struggle Discontinues.
The Ritual called KWANZAA was created by DR. MAULANA KARENGA, an African American scholar-activist.
KWANZAA as an African American holiday belongs to the most ancient tradition in the world, the African tradition. Drawing from and building on this rich and ancient tradition, KWANZAA makes its own unique contribution to the enrichment and expansion of African tradition by reaffirming the importance of family, community and culture. If you do not celebrate your culture you leave yourself open to becoming the victim of cultural imperialism. It is culture that gives you a design for interpreting reality, the lens through which you experience the universe. If not through your senses, then whose? I experience the universe as an African man whose present has been shaped be a Jamaican/ Caribbean/ American experience. If we do not learn to “manage” the future we run the risk of becoming the victim of the future.
The word KWANZAA comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanzaa” which means “first fruits.” KWANZAA is celebrated seven days; from December 26 through January 1, a period which represents the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one. This time in African culture is called “the time when the edges of the year meet,” which is a time of celebration focus and assessment.
African harvest celebrations have five basic aspects which KWANZAA also shares. They are:
1) The in-gathering of the people;
2) Special reverence for the Creator and creation, especially thanksgiving and commitment;
3) Commemoration of the past, especially paying homage to the ancestors;
4) Re-commitment to our highest ethical and cultural values, especially the Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles) and
5) Celebration of the Good of life, especially family, community and culture.
DR. KARENGA created KWANZAA to reaffirm African Americans’ rootedness in African culture, to reinforce the bonds between them as a people, and to introduce and reaffirm the value of the Nguzo Saba, The Seven Principles of KWANZAA. The central reason KWANZAA is celebrated for seven days is to pay homage to The Seven Principles of KWANZAA. The principles are also known as The Seven Principles of African American community development and serve as a fundamental value system.
KWANZAA is represented by seven symbols:
MAZAO (crops), MKEKA (mat),
KINARA (candle holder), MISHUMAA SABA seven candles),
MUHINDI ears of corn), ZAWADI (gifts), and
KIKOMBE CHA UMOJA (unity cup).
The candle holder has seven candles, one black, three red and three green. The colors are black for Black people, red for their struggle and green for the hope and future that come from the struggle.
Each ear of corn represents the children in the family and community. The gifts are primarily for the children, but other family members can also receive gifts.
The gifts should include a book and a heritage symbol to stress the ancient and continuing stress on the value of education and reaffirm the importance of culture and tradition.
The unity cup is used to pour libation for the ancestors and it is drunk from as a ritual to reinforce unity in the family and community.
All seven symbols are put on a MKEKA (straw mat). The KWANZAA setting piece which include the seven symbols is placed on a table or any other central location in the home.
The lighting of the candles begins on the first day of KWANZAA, December 26. The black candle is the first candle lighted. The second day of KWANZAA, the black candle is relighted as well as the first candle to the left, a red candle, December 27. Each day every candle which has been lighted is relighted along with the next candle of that day. Candles are lighted left to right alternately. The lighting practice is ordered to represent first the people (the black candle), then the struggle (the red candle), then the future and hope (the green candle) which comes from the struggle.
We believe that their is an implied business model is each of the Seven Principles of KWANZAA and so share them below.
Day 1 – December 26 – Umoja (Unity)
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, region and people.
- This speaks to the importance of teamwork
- A group of interdependent people who are optimally mentally and emotionally synchronized with respect to their communication pattern so as to be able to play a variety of complementary roles.
- They agree on a goal and accept that the best way to achieve this goal is to work together.
- They foresee each other’s needs and make useful suggestions to each other.
- They enhance each other’s strengths and compensate for each other’s weaknesses.
- The result of this process is usually a synergistic level of increased efficiency and productivity.
- Broaden your team by outsourcing and strategic partnerships
Day 2 – December 27 – Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves instead of being defined, named, created for and spoken for by others.
- Be willing to set your own agenda.
- Don’t accept the limitations of present government policies or be sucked in the fashion of the day.
- Be willing to go where no one has been.
- Be willing to take risk and be ‘disruptive’. “The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them. If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.” – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia
Day 3 – December 28 Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
To build and maintain our community together and make our sister’s and brother’s problems our problems and to solve them together.
- The importance of Cross Training and Continuous education.
- Be aware that any one entering the world of work will more than likely be changing career about six times in their lifetime.
- We will all need to learn new skills every three to five years.
Day 4 – December 29 Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
To build and maintain business and to profit and benefit from them together.
- Speaks to the reward system.
- Pay for skills and results, not time spent on the job.
- We need to investigate new ways to share both risk and rewards.
- We cannot afford to reward business outcomes that put humanity, communities and the earth in danger.
- The future belongs to the new “KNOWMADS”, knowledge workers who can WORK ANYWHERE, FROM ANYWHERE.
Day 5 – December 30 – Nia (Purpose)
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our country in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
- In Eastern cultures, Dharma is seen as a guiding principle that helps an individual understand and fulfill their purpose in life; path towards spiritual growth, ethical living, and fulfillment of one’s duties; your path towards spiritual growth, ethical living, and fulfillment of one’s duties to humanity.
- LIFE IS ALWAYS ABOUT PURPOSE: If you do not know and live YOUR purpose you could end up living someone else’s purpose without compensation nor acknowledgement.
- Your purpose is not the thing you do. It is the thing that happens in other when you do what you do.
- Live For A Higher Purpose, Not Just The Highest Bidder.
- PURPOSE IN THE WORLD OF BUSINESS
- Develop products and services consistent with a healthy social conscience.
- Who you are and what you stand for are just as important as what you sell.
- Commitment to Total Quality – Continuous Improvement, Employee Involvement, Customer Focus, Measurement.
- Total Customer Service – Service that exceeds customers expectation.
Day 6 – December 31 – Kuumba (Creativity)
To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave the world more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
- Through the power of imagination and creativity, we have the ability to reshape our world.
- There are three fundamental forces that underpin all aspects of life: Creation, Maintenance, and Destruction.
- These forces are integral to the life cycle of everything, from the smallest cells to the vast galaxies.
- Every entity must undergo a phase of coming into existence, being sustained, and eventually ceasing to exist.
- The choice lies within you to determine which of these aspects – Creation, Maintenance, or Destruction – plays a leading role in your life.
- You possess the capability to alter the equilibrium of these forces, transcending and mastering them.
- When Creation and Creativity are the driving forces of your existence, continuous growth and evolution are your rewards.
- Embracing evolution is a way to counteract the forces of entropy, decay, and aging.
- Learn to think outside the box, develop right brain competence and intuition
- Work more with Emotional Intelligence (EQ) – The ability to sense, understand, and effectively effectively apply the power and acumen of emotions as a source of human energy information, trust, creativity and influence.
Day 7 – January 1 – Imani (Faith)
To believe with all of our heart in the good that is possible in all people and the righteousness and victory of good over evil.
Remember that in the new year will have new challenges, for which we are ready.
We will identify new and multiple sources of income in 2024 and beyond?
Best bet will be passive income, preferable in hard currency.
We Dare to create the future and do well by doing right
We All Must ‘Set Up Shop’ and Take Charge of Our Lives for 2025
I use the week of KWANZAA, the week when the edges of the years meet, to Vision the experiences and achievements that I wish to draw into my life during the course of the year to came.
For many of us 2024 was a struggle,
LET 2025 BE THE YEAR THAT THE STRUGGLE DISCONTINUES.
Dr. Leahcim Semaj
Organizational Psychologist | Author | Social Philosopher I Management Consultant
What are your thoughts on this issue? Let’s discuss!
INSPIRATION FROM THE SEMAJ MINDSPA BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SANKORE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
Over the last 40 years working as an Organizational Psychologist I have been developing and delivering training sessions at all levels, in a vast variety of areas in almost every industry, driven by the vision of The University of Sankore.
Our team has distilled 40 years of training, coaching and consulting along with the most current information into 139 professional development certificate courses focusing on essential business and soft skills.
This has evolved and brought into being the Sankore Professional Development Institute.
Discover how our courses are designed to embody the same dedication to excellence and intellectual rigor to solve today’s challenges.
Step into success with Sankore – Powered by Above or Beyond. Connect with Sankore and begin your transformation journey by visiting the Sankore Professional Development Institute website, where they can explore over 150 essential business courses designed to elevate their careers.