Siku ya Taamuli and The Odu Ifa

January 1

(From The Official Kwanzaa Web Site, www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org)

Siku ya Taamuli (Day of Meditation):
"Historically this has been for African people a time of sober assessment of things done and things to do, of self-reflection on the life and future of the people and of recommitment to their highest cultural values in a special way. Following in this tradition, it is for us then a time to ask and answer soberly and humbly the three Kawaida questions: Who am I; am I really who I say I am; and am I all I ought to be? And it is, of necessity, a time to recommit ourselves to our highest ideals, in a word, to the best of what it means to be both African and human in the fullest sense."

The Odu Ifa

"Let us not engage the world hurriedly.
Let us not grasp at the rope of wealth impatiently.
That which should be treated with mature judgment,
Let is not deal with in a state of anger.
When we arrive at a cool place,
Let us rest fully;
Let us give continuous attention to the future;
and let us give deep consideration to the consequences of things.
And this because of our (eventual) passing."

---Eji Ogbe, The Odu Ifa
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