Welcome to the third day of Kwanzaa, or Ujima (oo-GEE-mah). Ujima is collective work and responsibility: to build and maintain the community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.

I saw this principle in action in Rwanda this past June. Once every 4 weeks, the entire nation takes a Saturday to do community good. This could be cleaning the sidewalks, picking up trash, fixing a communal building, painting or something that benefits the entire community. We asked what happened if a family only wanted to clean in front of their own home, for example, and were told that while no one would physically force them to participate, it would definitely be frowned upon. What a remarkable concept! Can you imagine the force for good we would have here in the United States if every family participated in a community-building project every single month? Wow. I love it!

Here is more information about “Vibunzi”, or the stalk of corn. This is my favorite symbol! I need a large mkeka to place one ear of corn for each child. I have also seen - literally - how the village steps in to raise a child, or children when the parents can not, or when they need help. It’s the most amazing thing, really. In Zambia, we met a grandmother in her 80's raising 10 children, all left orphans by her children and grandchildren. MY grandmothers are both in their 80's and while I love them dearly, I just can’t visualize them “starting over”. So, once again from the History.com website, here is the information you’ve just been dying to have!

Vibunzi: Ear of Corn
The stalk of corn represents fertility and symbolizes that through the reproduction of children, the future hopes of the family are brought to life. One ear is called vibunzi, and two or more ears are called mihindi. Each ear symbolizes a child in the family, and thus one ear is placed on the mkeka for each child in the family. If there are no children in the home, two ears are still set on the mkeka because each person is responsible for the children of the community. During Kwanzaa, we take the love and nurturance that was heaped on us as children and selflessly return it to all children, especially the helpless, homeless, loveless ones in our community. Thus, the Nigerian proverb "It takes a whole village to raise a child" is realized in this symbol (vibunzi), since raising a child in Africa was a community affair, involving the tribal village, as well as the family. Good habits of respect for self and others, discipline, positive thinking, expectations, compassion, empathy, charity, and self-direction are learned in childhood from parents, from peers, and from experiences. Children are essential to Kwanzaa, for they are the future, the seed bearers that will carry cultural values and practices into the next generation. For this reason, children were cared for communally and individually within a tribal village. The biological family was ultimately responsible for raising its own children, but every person in the village was responsible for the safety and welfare of all the children.

Here is another spot for some fun Kwanzaa coloring pictures.

And finally, here’s a recipe for African Vegetarian Stew:

4 sm Kohlrabi or parsnips, peeled and cut into chunks
1/2 c Couscous or Bulgar Wheat
1 lg Onion, chopped
1/4 c Raisins, dark or golden
2 Sweet Potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
1 tsp Ground Coriander
1/2 tsp Ground Turmeric
2 Zucchini, sliced thick
1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
5 Tomatoes, fresh or 16 oz Can Tomatoes
1/2 tsp Ground Ginger
1/4 tsp Ground Cumin
15 oz Can Garbanzo beans
3 c Water
Combine all the ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.

Note: Serve the couscous separately, if desired.

Yield: 8 servings