Life
The Ankh symbolizes life within the combined symbol presented for Imani.
Black Storytellers Alliance / Nguzo Saba
Day Seven • Seventh Principle
FAITHIMANI
To believe with all of our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
FAITHLIFESTABILITYENDURANCEUBUNTU
Imani / 01
The principle
Faith sustains what unity begins.
Imani symbolizes steadfastness in our commitment to the good, the right, and the beauty in life.
Imani is a profound and enduring belief in and commitment to all that is of value to us as a family, community, people, and culture.
Imani is put forth as the last principle and Umoja as the first principle of Kwanzaa for a definite reason. Umoja brings us together and harnesses our strength, but faith in each other, the good, the right, and the beautiful inspires and sustains the community to work together and trust one another — Ubuntu: “I am because we are.”
Core thought
Without unity we cannot begin our most important work, but without faith we cannot sustain it.
Stability & endurance
The Djed Pillar represents stability and endurance.
Hold to what is valuable
Imani calls for enduring commitment to the good, the right, and the beautiful.
Imani / 02
The deeper practice
Faith in people and purpose.
Imani connects spiritual belief, community trust, and the endurance required to continue the work.
Believe in our people
Faith begins with belief in our people, parents, teachers, and leaders.
Believe in righteousness and victory
Imani asks for faith in the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Trust one another
Faith sustains the community’s ability to work together and trust in one another.
Imani / 03
Cultural foundation
Alignment, self-mastery, development.
Imani begins with a belief in the Creator and alignment with the divine plan. We are made in the image of the Creator and thus capable of righteousness and creativity through self-mastery and development in the context of positive support.
Begin with belief
Imani begins with belief in the Creator and alignment with the divine plan.
Develop the self
Righteousness and creativity are connected to self-mastery and development.
Grow in community
Positive support provides a context in which people can develop and create.
Imani / 04
Living the principle
Faith is the sustaining force.
The measure of our progress as a race is in precise relation to the depth of faith in our people held by our leaders.
Hold faith in the people and the values that sustain the community.
Remain steadfast through difficulty and struggle.
Carry the work forward after unity has brought people together.