wanza is a celebration of African-American and panafrican culture celebrated during the last week of the year created by activist Milana Kanga based on various African Harvest Traditions it was first celebrated in Los Angeles in 1966 two years later according to Clayborn Benson the founder and director of Wisconsin's black historical society and museum Milwaukee became the second City to celebrate Konza when Kanga visit vised our city and held a k Quanza ceremony at the Panthers Den K Quanza celebrations became a staple of the museum in the 1980s and grew to accommodate hundreds of participants up until the pandemic since then the number of attendees has been smaller but is picking back up we thought this would be a good time though to ask Clayborn Benson about Quanza and its importance the seven principles of the uzo Saba UMO unity moja means family sticking together identifying knowing who you are understanding your mission and your [Music] goal cooi chagala self-determination COI chalia cooi chalia cooi chalia it means to self-determination when I say it it's supposed to ring my soul because it's the energy I need to get off my butt and do those things that I want to [Music] do ujima Collective work and responsibility uima Collective work and responsibility it takes all of us to do this not just one person not just a daddy or just a mama it takes the collective to make that movement occur uh in in your life and every to learn uh to keep the house together to work the job everybody's supposed to support each other AMA Cooperative economics Cooperative economics how do we spend our money how do we manage those dollars in a way in which they benefit not just this moment in time but long term through insurance through education through uh purchasing of a car all of the things in terms of how we manage our [Music] money Nia purpose neara that Vision that third eye that Vision into tomorrow are we planning are we thinking about the future what is it we want to do how do we navigate our way to accomplish this goal near that third out that Vision oh also to see beyond the presence to somebody say s Santa Claus is coming down the street I know Santa Claus ain't coming down the street but that near that third eye gives me the vision know the truth and not truth NE important person important that Vision that think about tomorrow Kumba creativity kba oh my goodness Kumba tells us that everybody has value everybody is speci use the term creativity but all of us are different every one of us not just in terms of art but in our Behavior The Way We Walk the way we talk all of us even if you come from the same roots in the same beginning and it's important to recognize differences and love and embrace differences imanii faith imman the last and the most important one imman to have faith that always is always give the your brothers and sisters Grace and understand that we all make mistakes let's not triple that mistake and make more mistakes imman to have faith that this is going to be okay whatever it is that you found yourself into IM those are the seven principles of the negotia saas and and certainly a tools to use to govern your life by 365 days out of a year [Music]