                            THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, December 17, 1995              TAG: 9512180183
SECTION: COMMENTARY               PAGE: J2   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Book Review
SOURCE: BY YOLANDA ROBINSON COLES 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   74 lines

GUIDE CELEBRATES KWANZAA FESTIVAL

THE COMPLETE KWANZAA:

Celebrating Our Cultural Harvest

DOROTHY WINBUSH RILEY

HarperCollins. 387 pp. $23.

Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. Two things make the holiday unique: It is not based on any religious event or beliefs, and it has assigned principles for each day.

The holiday started in December 1966 when Dr. Maulena Karenga, a noted scholar on African and African-American culture, brought his family and friends together for a special celebration.

Karenga organized the holiday according to six criteria relative to people - history, mythology, creativity, social structure, political organization and economics. He then designated within each subject three prime concerns that African Americans needed to address: establishing a sense of purpose, reclaiming and retaining cultural identity, and establishing a meaningful direction in life.

There have been a number of books written about Kwanzaa, but The Complete Kwanzaa: Celebrating Our Cultural Harvest stands as the most definitive. Author Dorothy Winbush Riley, a principal in the Detroit school system, thoroughly details Kwanzaa's Seven Principles - or ``Ngubo Saba'' - its symbols and their meanings, and ways to celebrate the holiday.

The principles, starting with Dec. 26, are Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith). The representative symbols are Mazao (fruits, nuts and vegetables), Mkeka (place mat), Muhindi (ears of corn), Mishumaa saba (the seven candles), Kinara (candleholder), Kikombe cha umoja (communal cup of unity) and Zawadi (gifts).

Riley does not offer hard and fast rituals. Instead, she tries in her explanations of the meaning and preparation of each day's celebration to stimulate imagination and create anticipation.

In chapter one, for example, she uses both poetry and prose to stress the importance of unity. Her examples range from unity within a family to unity based on a common cause. She quotes proverbs from several different African cultures, then ends with ``Thoughts for Umoja,'' focusing on things that can and should be done throughout the year.

Riley takes into account the regional differences among African Americans, demonstrating that celebrations should be tailored to suit each family while maintaining the basic principle. As she often points out, Kwanzaa is a time for inner reflection and a renewal of spirit. It is not a time to feel oppressed or depressed because one's celebration is not a lavish affair.

Riley also presents menus and recipes for the celebration, with ingredients reflective of African, Caribbean and African-American cultures. She shares some of her family's and friends' Kwanzaa stories, giving this reference a welcome personal touch.

Of particular note is a glossary with a pronunciation key and a bibliography. The bibliography includes stories and poems from other African Americans, both those of note and those who have no claim to national prominence.

The Complete Kwanzaa is an excellent resource for planning and implementing your family's celebration. It is truly a guide to be treasured and shared. Harambee! MEMO: Yolanda Robinson Coles is a free-lance children's book critic in Norfolk

and Durham, N.C. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic