What Does the Nguzo Saba Sound Like?
The seven principles of the Nguzo Saba are designed to help us reflect on community building and communal advancement. Unlike its holiday counterparts, Christmas and Hanukkah, there is no canon of Kwanzaa songs. For ethnomusicologists like us this was a delightful challenge to confront. The following playlists are our interpretation of what the music of Kwanzaa could sound like. We hope that listening to each playlist is a launching pad for you to think of your own songs that reflect the spirit of Kwanzaa.
Umoja Musical Selection. Credits: Bob Marley by Eddie Mallin, Sweet Honey in the Rock by Singitonline at http://flickr.com/photos/11415966@N06, Afrika Bambaataa and James Brown at http://hardcore-pedradanacara.blogspot.com/2010/05/afrika-bambaataa-james-brown-unity.html, and Roy Ayers by Werner Nieke at http://www.flickr.com/photos/wnieke/4744292442/
Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
1. Nommo by Max Roach
2. Unity Part by Afrika Bambaata & James Brown
3. What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
4. Africa Unite by Bob Marley & The Wailers
5. Spread Love by Take 6
6. Are We a Nation? by Sweet Honey In The Rock
7. Red, Black & Green by Roy Ayers
Kujichagulia Musical Selection. Credits: Dianne Reeves by Rich Moffitt, Earth Wind and Fire by Chris Hakkens, Jill Scott by Simba Madziva, Curtis Mayfield by AVRO at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVRO, Mavis Staples by Jalylah Burrell at http://www.flickr.com/people/sherealcool/, The Stylistics at http://www.forevermoremusic.com/ArtistsProfile/RussellThompkinsJrNewStylistics/tabid/63/Default.aspx, and Stevie Wonder by Antonio Cruz/ABr
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves stand up.
1. To Be Young, Gifted And Black by Donny Hathaway
2. You Gotta Be by Des’ree
3. Move on Up by Curtis Mayfield
4. Eyes On The Prize by Dianne Reeves
5. Brotha by Jill Scott
6. You Will Rise by Sweetback
7. Keep Your Head To The Sky by Earth, Wind & Fire
Ujima Musical Selection. Credits: Dianne Reeves by Rich Moffitt, Earth Wind and Fire by Chris Hakkens, Jill Scott by Simba Madziva, Curtis Mayfield by AVRO at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVRO, Mavis Staples by Jalylah Burrell at http://www.flickr.com/people/sherealcool/, The Stylistics at http://www.forevermoremusic.com/ArtistsProfile/RussellThompkinsJrNewStylistics/tabid/63/Default.aspx, and Stevie Wonder by Antonio Cruz/ABr
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems, and to solve them together.
1. People Get Ready by Aretha Franklin
2. You’re Not Alone by Mavis Staples
3. We Can Work It Out by Stevie Wonder
4. People Make the World Go Round by The Stylistics
5. Lean On Me by Bill Withers
6. Brother Sister by The Brand New Heavies
7. Get Up, Get into it, Get Involved by James Brown
Ujamaa Musical Selection. Credits: The O’Jays by RaymondBoyd51 at http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:RaymondBoyd51&action=edit&redlink=1, Rachelle Ferrell at http://www.rachelleferrell.com/, Angie Stone by Bengt Nyman at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Flickr, and Sly & the Family Stone in 1969 by Stephen Paley
Ujamaa (family): The belief in family and general communal understanding.
1. Brotha by Angie Stone
2. Grandma’s Hands by Bill Withers
3. Cousin Mary by John Coltrane
4. Sista by Rachelle Ferrell
5. Family Affair by Sly & The Family Stone
6. We Are One by Maze (feat. Frankie Beverly)
7. Family Reunion by O’Jays
Nia Musical Selection. Credits: India.Arie by Chris Hakkens, Michael Jackson by http://www.michaeljackson.com/us/home, and NAS by kokuziu at http://www.flickr.com/people/kokuziu/
Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
1. Free by Goodie M.O.B.
2. I Can by Nas
3. Woke Up This Morning with My Mind by Sweet Honey in the Rock
4. Headed in the Right Direction by India.Arie
5. Higher Ground by Stevie Wonder
6. Wake Up Everybody by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
7. We Are Here to Change the World by Michael Jackson
Kuumba Musical Selection. Credits: FertileGround at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/fertileground3, Eryka Badu by Najmudeen at http://flickr.com/photos/najmudeen/316578497/, Mos Def at http://www.souldoutfestival.com/mos-def, and George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic by Richard Anderson
Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Black is by Fertile Ground
Individuality (Can I Be Me?) by Rachelle Ferrell
Cloud 9 by Donnie
Umi Says by Mos Def
Cleva by Erykah Badu
Chocolate City by Parliament
Free Your Mind by En Vogue
Imani Musical Selection. Credits: Lizz Wright by Tom Beetz at http://home.hetnet.nl/~tbeetz/index.html and Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir at http://www.berkeleyagency.com/blues/linda-tillery.htm
Imani (Faith): To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
1. Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly by Lizz Wright
2. There’s Hope by India.Arie
3. Optimistic by Sounds of Blackness
4. On the Ocean by K’Jon
5. Testify by Dianne Reeves
6. Tomorrow (A Better You Better Me) by Tevin Campbell
7. Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing by Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir
CONTEST: In the spirit of giving, we are offering a signed musical gift from Tulani Kinard, former member of Sweet Honey in the Rock to one randomly chosen person who leaves a comment below. Contest Details: Contest starts Thurs., Dec. 22, 2011 and ends Wed., Dec. 29, 2011 at 8 p.m./EST. Winner announced on Sat., Dec. 31, 2011. Contest open to residents of the continental United States, excluding Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. foreign territories. No additional purchase or shipping expenses are necessary. Prize cannot be exchanged. Must provide an email used only to notify the winner and for shipping information.
About
Aja & Free are ethnomusicologists who are speedily completing their doctoral work at University of Michigan and Indiana University respectively. As ethnomusicologists, Aja & Free are concerned with how people use music to live their lives. This can be as simple as considering how parents teach their kids the “alphabet song” to help them become literate members of Western society or thinking about how iPods allow each of us to become a curator of our own individualized musical experiences. We believe that looking at music of a specific genre, culture, or context are significant ways to capture how people are creating themselves and their lives…and even better, explore the possibilities of what their lives could be. Follow us on Twitter @ajaandfree and visit our website at AjaAndFree.com.
About Sanura
Kwanzaa Culinarians 
what an awesome post. every playlist is on fire! especially ‘Nia’ – does anyone know if the Blackalicious album is dedicated to this? I’m really enjoying discovering more about African musicology, please keep posting!
LikeLike
Have you heard the song “IMANI” by “Lonnie Liston Smith”?
LikeLike
Hi! I love this post. I will be thinking of others to add. I, too, celebrate Kwanzaa, and this helps me share with others who are learning more about the holiday.
Thanks!!
LikeLike
This is such a great post! I’ve been celebrating Kwanzaa for many years and would often feel frustrated with the lack of musical tributes to the holiday. I definitely will be adding some new songs to my playlist this year.
LikeLike