* ' ;jj
the Chronicle
Community Focus
,
Winston-Salem Greensboro High Point
siction C 2 5, 1997
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Celebrate Kwanzaa with
?. ?
Zawadi gifts that spring :
from the Spirit of Kuumba \
By FELEC1A P McMlLLAN
Community Correspondent
The gifts that are given on the last
day of Kwanzaa'are called Zawadi (zah
WAH-dee), and they represent a reward
for work well done. It is very important
that these gifts come out of the Kuumba
spirit of creativity, because it makes
them more meaningful than store
bought gifts. Kuumba means thinking of
new ways to do things, new ways to solve
problems and answer questions. It also
means creating something with one's
own mind or hands. When zawadi gifts
are exchanged, they are usually band
made items that offer spiritual or intel
lectual uplift. Some of the gift items
highlighted include textbooks written by
professors of English at the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
African artifacts, black art, ethnic attire,
furniture, greeting cards, and other
Zawadi gift ideas.
Professors of English at UNC-CH
produce the fruits of Kwanzaa
Writing or editing a textbook calls
upon many of the principles of the
Nguzo Saba including Umoja (unity),
Kujichagulia (self-determination) Ujima
(collective work and responsibility), Nia
(purpose), and Kuumba (creativity). Dr.
William L. Andrews, Dr. Trudier Harris,
and Dr. Frances Smith Foster of Emory
University collaborated on the editing of
The Oxford Companion to African
American Literature. Andrews is the E.
Maynard Adams professor of English
and interim chair of the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill
*
Department of English; Harris is the J.
Carlyle Sitterson professor of English at
the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill; Foster is the Candler pro
fessor of English and women's studies at
Emory University. Published this year,
the Companion has become just that for
many scholars of African-American his
tory and literature and lay people who
want to know more about African
American culture.
According to Andrews, it is a gifT
that can be used frequently by those whd
are interested in reading, history and
culture. "It is so wide-ranging that it is
an all-purpose reference book," he said.
Harris refers to the Companion as an
"encyclopedic resource" that can be use
ful for high school students, college stu
dents, graduate students and teachers on
all levels who study African-American
literature and culture. The Companion
includes biographies of writers, musr
cians, sports Figures, political leader^
activists, and artists who have influenced
African-American literature. For exam
ple, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison,
Jackie Robinson, Marcus Garvey, John
Coltrane, Harriet Beecher Stowe and
Harriet Tubman are a few who have dis
tinguished themselves as noteworthy
leaders.
In addition, more than 150 articles
on major African-American texts of
poetry, drama, autobiography, essay col
lections, children's and young adult liter
ature are included. More than 60
prominent literary characters such as
See KUUMBA on C2
Purity Kuchugo
front Konyo mti
on a labia drum
that would ho
usod at furnlturo
In Afrka. Hor
shop if loeatod at
tho King Plaza
Plaa Markmt on
Waughtown
Stroot In Wlnston
Solum.
i
-J . ;
Brmnda Dalton
Jammt usod htr ~
Kwansao display to '
tooth p workshop
on Itto sovon printi
plos or tho Nguio
Saba at tho
UJAMAA Markot In
Oroonsboro.
Willi* Richard ton, Mcrvtary of Fan African Imagary, iharot fh* African
batikc with a cuttommr.
(Left to right) Dr.
Trudimr Harris,
Dr. William L
Andrews, and Dr. J.
loo Or?no, j
prafossors of
English at UNC-CH,
havm written and
odltod critical
rosourcms for
undorstanding
African-Amorican
litoraturo and
history that arm
rich wMf tho spirit
of Kuvmbat Tho M
Oxford Companion
to African Amorican
Litoraturo and
Hacks In Idon.