Nya Akoma is the greeting on Black Love Day. It is pronounced N-yah Ah-coma". It means "get a heart, be patient". The Akoma is an ancient African symbol. It is NOT a Valentine. The history of Valentine's day includes the the co-opting of this symbol to represent romance. For the true confusing history of Valentine's Day, read The Black Love Book - an anthology on Love and Guide to the wholyday - Feb. 13th - Black Love Day". The Black Love Book 3rd Ed (E-Book) by Ayo Handy-Kendi by Ayo Handy Kendi NOTE: Original essay was written in 1995. Ironic, here in 2019, as much as things have changed, they still remain. In the climate in which many were working on the destructiveness of Black on Black crime and the sad reality that Black youth had a 1 in 4 chance of being killed or incarcerated before age 21, Black Love Day was born. During a time in humanity in which many people were struggling with spirituality and inter-personal issues of identity and roles, prompting many relationships and marriages to fall apart, Black Love Day was born. At a period in history, in which the fast pace of American life produced high levels of stress and achievement pressure, causing many to struggle with substance abuse, food, sex, gambling or some other addiction just to cope, Black Love Day was born. At a time in the world in which “intimacy” diseases were taking out people in large numbers in their early 20.s and 30.s, Black Love Day was born. Within this critical time period, where many adults didn.t know if they.d have a job from week to week to be able to take care of their families; with poverty rampant in a land of plenty, with a widening gap growing between the haves. and have-nots, Black Love Day was born. In a frightening period of time, in which we read of children being abused by adults in frightening ways; where alienated, White youth were killing their classmates, committing suicide at alarming rates, and carrying out racial hate crimes like their parents, Black Love Day was born. At the dawning of the new millennium which promised “Age of Aquarius”, humanitarian behavior, yet still faced with Klan rallies, church burnings, continued brutal lynchings of Blacks by Whites, noose hanging threats and news reminders of the existence of fear and racial polarization in the Nation, Black Love Day was born . Many of the relationship issues, today, are similar to those that were seen at the beginning of Black Love Day ( BLD) envisioned and proclaimed in 1993 by Sister Ayo Handy Kendi, a community organizer in Washington, D.C. She is the Founder / director of the African American Holiday Association (AAHA), a non-profit, tax- exempt, 501 (c)(3) membership organization. A spiritual message, from the Creator, was given to Sister Ayo inspiring her to develop BLD. The concept has been gaining greater acceptance each year. Black Love Day (BLD) is a commemorative holiday or "wholyday” of observance, celebration, reconciliation, atonement, and demonstration of love, showing at least 5 specific acts (tenets) of love – towards the Creator, for self, for the family, for the Black community and for the Black race. Whites show “love in action” for Blacks and inspect their own racial attitudes. The objective of BLD is to encourage Blacks to take a day to actively raise themselves up through Black self-love instead of self-hatred, by demonstrating love through service, celebration, forgiveness, apology, public and private rituals of reconciliation and for Whites to take the same day to raise themselves up, by being more reflective of their racial attitudes of fear, guilt, denial and negative behaviors of white privilege, white supremacy, prejudice, segregation and bigotry . BLD offers a chance to use the transformational, spiritual power of love, as a healing tool on the day of Feb. 13. February 13 was chosen by the founder of BLD because February is the month for the observance of Black History Month and the number 13, in astrology and metaphysics, is the number of spiritual transformation. As Black people put love in action and involve themselves in the love rituals of BLD, and as Whites take personal inventory of their attitudes and be more mindful in their demonstration of loving acts of service and kindness towards Blacks, this will help all people grow more spiritual. As one grows spiritually, this increases the ability to love. The return to love is a healing force and can be used as a tool to address many of the destructive behaviors, disrespectful attitudes, abusiveness and self-hatred which fuels much of today's family disruption, violence, racism, crime, anger and race polarity. BLD offers just one solution to make a difference to increase the peace and stop the violence for all people. BLD offers a cultural and wholistic alternative to Valentine's Day whose primary focus on romantic love between couples, is based on pagan European culture and rituals, and encourages Blacks to be mere consumers, buying the customary Valentine tokens of affection. Instead, BLD offers each individual or family member, every neighbor, co- worker, or gang member; any organization, group and all citizens of the world-wide community -- a chance to make a difference by giving of themselves, through loving acts and by being more mindful of love for a day to actively, rejuvenate relationships. The rituals and symbols of BLD are a synthesis of spiritual, metaphysical, African and African America customs which aid in heightening Black cultural pride and self- esteem. Gifts can be given if one desires to express their love, however, gifts must be purchased only from Black merchants, in the spirit of Ujamaa (cooperative economics) to recycle money within the Black community. It is recommended that gifts be made or chosen to enhance the spirit, mind and body or chosen to reflect the love of African Diaspora culture and heritage, instead of the impractical trinkets and unhealthy, sugar- laden gifts traditionally given for Valentine's Day. BLD gives both Black and White communities one day to rejuvenate their relationships; a day of harmony in the Black community and a day of honesty in the White community. Hopefully, this one day of reconciliation will feel so good in both communities, that they will want to re-create these feelings again and again. Just possibly, this chain reaction of love will transform the nation as never before. We know of the heart as a symbol for Valentine.s Day. Yet, long before Europeans used decorative, lace hearts to symbolize romance, this ancient African, Adinkra (pronounced Ah-dink-rah) symbol was called The Akoma (pronounced Ah co mah). The Akoma means literally “the heart” and symbolizes love, patience, goodwill, faithfulness and endurance, with its origin traced to the Asante people of Ghana and the Gyaman people of Cote' d'Ivoire. This symbol, as well as other Adinkra symbols, have been re- discovered and re-popularized, in modern times, by African-Americans in search of their stolen, African cultural legacy. Thus, the Akoma was adopted as the symbol for BLD. The greeting on BLD is Nya Akoma (pronounced N-yah Ah-coma) which means “be patient, get a heart”. On the day of February 13th, take 24 hours to be more mindful of love, be patient, get a heart and return to love. In the Spirit of the Akoma,
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Ayo Handy-Kendi is reknown as the Breath Sekou, which means in the Guinea language "a master teacher". She has worked with breath techniques for over 50 years and loves teaching "the power of the breath". She has created a system called Optimum Life Breathology (O.L.B.) which teaches 12 common breath techniques with 4 breath practices. As a Wholistic Practitioner she incorporates sound healing, laughter yoga, Reiki, healing touch, movement, behavior modification and stress management and oxygen concepts, such as water hydrotherapy, Aroma-therapy, nutrition, into her trainings.She is creating a "breath movement" to wake people up to their joy and positivenergy with the belief that when you breathe better, you live better. She is also known as Mama Ayo, when sharing cultural presentations or performing as a storyteller, actor, author or speaker. She is the founder of Black Love Day, Feb. 13, the Ritual of Reconciliation, founder/director, African American Holiday Association (AAHA) and founder/CEO, PositivEnergyWorks.
Archives
May 2024
Categories |