Imani / Faith in the Sacred African Way Through Wo’se:
Standing Worthy Before Ourselves
Copyright © 2024 / Harold Shujaa Baker / All rights reserved
“Imani / Faith – To believe with all our hearts in our parents, our teachers, our leaders, our people, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.”
The definition of the seventh principle, Imani / Faith, in the Nguzo Saba is notably different from the meaning of faith in religion. Yet, there has been confusion about that fact since the founding of Kwanzaa almost sixty years ago. Faith in religion is focused on God – the Creator of the universe – known by many different names. But Imani / Faith in the Nguzo Saba is focused on having faith in ourselves, the best among us, and the good world and future we can create if we work together.
As with most things linked with traditional African culture, there is an inherent spiritual quality to Kwanzaa and the Nguzo Saba. So, while there is no direct link to a divine narrative or deity, there also is no intent to dismiss or compete with any religious tradition or divine faith concept they represent. Kwanzaa’s spirituality is grounded in African people’s spirituality most broadly, and like most major world religions, is influenced by the moral and ethical lessons from Ma’at of ancient Kemet (Egypt). With that being properly understood, there is no conflict between these two different notions of faith.
The focus on having Imani / Faith in ourselves begins with a requirement for committed practice among our people so we can stand worthy before one another as required for faith in each other to exist. This conception of faith has a spiritual foundation, too, because a person’s willingness and capacity for committed practice in community with others relates fully to the state and nature of that person’s spirit.
Since its founding over forty years ago, the Wo’se Community of the Sacred African Way in Oakland and Sacramento, CA has made committed practice a constant vocation by nurturing and developing the heart, mind, and spirit of all who gather in its space to help create a better world. Through its various programs and weekly services, the Wo’se Community seeks to ground their members in an understanding of the best of what it means to be African and human, so we can have the faith required in each other to accomplish the best of what being African and human requires of us.
Wo’se spiritual lessons are based on the same African spirituality that infuses Kwanzaa, and they use the Nguzo Saba / Seven Principles as a fundamental component of their efforts. In fact, Wo’se came into existence as a declared act of Kujichagulia / Self-Determination. When Founding Lead Minister Mxolisi Ozo-Sowande was disciplined for sharing a message with his prior congregation about similarities between teachings of religion and the Nguzo Saba, he and Minister William “Bill” Calhoun set out to form the Wo’se Community of the Sacred African Way. The very first Wo’se service happened on December 7, 1980 with over eighty (80) people in attendance.
Recognizing the importance of taking responsibility for our children’s education, members of the Wo’se Community formed an independent, African centered school in Oakland, CA in 1986 named “Ile Omode.” The words “Ile Omode” are from the Yoruba people of West Africa that translate to mean “House of the Children.” According to the written history of Wo’se, that name was chosen “[to] recognize that we exist so that [the children] may be served. Our school is designed to educate and train young people to become outstanding leaders and workers for our people.” What a beautiful traditional African concept.
The founders and first teachers of Ile Omode were Mothers Oluri Oyin, Okanona Ka Kalungu, and Jasiri Neema Kadiri – three wonderful Black women we could have faith in because of their consistent committed practice of educating our children. Ile Omode currently teaches from preschool thru middle school aged children, with the preschool being renamed “Mama Jasiri Preschool” after her transition in 1996.
Like most institutions, Wo’se has enjoyed periods of growth, challenge, and transition throughout its forty plus year existence, and the community continues to evolve today. Min. Greg Hodge contributed many years of leadership before the current Lead Minister, Imhotep Alkebulan, assumed the role in 2020.
Through their weekly service, schools, and other programs like the Council of Elders and Black Knowledge Matters, the leaders at Wo’se have built their organization to actively develop and reflect Imani / Faith in Black people and our ability to create the world we want to live in, and they’re trying to make it happen…
