Commemorative Dates of the Alkebu-Lan

 Tarehe za ukumbusho za Alkebu-Lan

 

1. BINAFSI [Self]

Tafakari ya kibinafsi mara mbili kwa mwaka [Self-Reflecting]

·        These days occur twice in the calendar year; April 1st and October 1st.

·        It’s an opportunity for the individual to assess their life and take inventory of their values and principles holding themselves accountable to abide by them.

·        The individual must identify their most significant asset/attribute and develop on that through the year.

·        The individual must also identify 3 things they can do better concerning their life and commit to doing so. ***

·        Mara ya kwanza should be used for setting expectations, mara ya pili should be used for assessing progress and accountability.

 

2. JAMAA [Family]

Upande wa Nyumbani [Home Front]

·        Celebrated 4th weekend of March (long weekend, beginning Friday ending Sunday).

·        The authorship of FAMILY will be reinforced.

·        Purpose defined.

·        Role of parents [father and mother].

·        Role of children [inclusive of being siblings].

·        Role of kin clarified.

·        One commitment to the family will be made by each member of the immediate household.

·        The family tree will be explored [history], documented, discussed and celebrated on the last day with a meal.

 

3. KIROHO [Spiritual]

Wiki ya Kanuni za Ma’at [Week of Ma’at Principles]

·        Last full week of November.

·        Each day a specific Principle will be dedicated to being analyzed, understood and exemplified in activities.

·        A fast will be declared the last day and a rededication to living by all Principles.

 

4. PAMOJA [Togetherness]

Msaada kwa Jirani [Neighbor Assistance]

·        Third (3^rd) weekend of December.

·        Observers will seek to do something of value contributing (clean, cut grass wash car etc. for a neighbor in their immediate neighborhood.

·        Get to know more about your neighbors.

·        The importance of knowing who you live around must be emphasized.

·        On the third day, the neighbor will in turn share in a nice meal with the family and give counsel to the children with gratitude.

*** Within the Institution, learners must share in what was done. Each will have 5 minutes.

 

5. SIKU YA WATOTO [Day of the Children]

·        June 16th in commemoration of the events of Mzanzi June 16th, 1976

·        Pictures must be shown and the story retold

·        The child and children must be re-emphasized as the SOLE importance of tomorrow.

·        Parents and adults must verbally dedicate an executable commitment to the child/children and see to doing for the year.

 

6. SIKU YA UBUNTU [Ubuntu Day – Reconnection to Essence]

·        Second (2^nd) Tuesday of July.

·        Reinforce the Ethic of Ubuntu (I am, because you are, and you are, because we are).

·        Emphasize the individual as a significant member of the greater whole, so decisions go beyond only affecting the individual to impacting others beyond the individual…ALWAYS.

·        REMEMBER THIS! - Sankofa (know the history of your journey to life, those before you and pave for those to come).

·        Learn the lessons, build on the values, note the mistakes and purpose to do better.

·        Reminisce on all those that have contributed to your journey of life and those that have not, celebrate the good, weed out the weights.

·        Recommit to living the ethic of Ubuntu.

 

7. HESHIMA KWA JINSIA YA KIKE [Veneration of Female]

·        This is designated for the first month of the calendar year (January).

·        The female essence will be enshrined in the minds of all - A female of

·        historical note (could be alive) will be identified and their life (childhood,

·        struggles, victories and contributions) explored, understood and celebrated

·        for the whole month.

·        Using the person in observation, observers will commit to identifying one thing exemplary they will adopt in their own life and one thing in the lesson they will do better.

*** Within the Institution, learners must produce a summarized report of the selected person(s).

 

8. HESHIMA KWA JINSIA YA KIUME [Veneration of Male]

·        This is designated for the second month of the calendar year (February).

·        The male essence will be enshrined in the minds of all - A male of historical note (could be alive) will be identified and their life (childhood, struggles, victories and contributions) explored, understood and celebrated for the whole month.

·        Using the person in observation, observers will commit to identifying one thing exemplary they will adopt in their own life and one thing of the lesson they will do better.

*** Within the Institution, learners must produce a summarized report of the selected person(s).

 

9. MWEZI WA MASHUJAA [Month of Heroes]

·        In the month of October, a person or group of people who have added significant value to the people of Alkebu-Lan will be remembered and honored.

·        On the twentieth (20^th) day of October, libation has to be poured.

·        The chosen, females and/or males, must NOT be for cosmetic purposes, but their contributions must be of substantive transformative relevance in a betterment to the lives of a people.

·        Within institutions noted persons can be within the locale of the establishment or beyond.

·        Observers, on a private level, may also choose family members who they consider heroes to them, and their lessons from their lives can be learned, honored and celebrated with others.