ALTAR IDEAS, ACTIVITIES, & MAGIC

Many of the symbols and activities both magical and mundane come from African-American culture and also cultures from all across Africa from Ghana to Mozambique to Nigeria to South Africa. You might have noticed that each day’s colors and some of the symbols are inspired by an orisha from Yoruba culture. I included saying a prayer to each one who corresponds with their day as a completely optional activity that is okay for non-initiates to do, but remembers that the religion of the Yoruba people is initiatory and requires lots of study for in-depth practice.

All these ideas are just suggestions, so feel free to create your own so long as it’s in the spirit of the day’s Nguzo Saba principle. I recommend studying the holiday Kwanzaa in more depth, since that will help you better understand the Nguzo Saba and how to honor them!

UMOJA: We Stand Together

To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.

Umoja Altar Ideas:

White cloth and candles to symbolize peace, unity, and connectedness

Cowrie shells for the prosperity and growth of black people everywhere

A cup or chalice filled with salt water to represent the Atlantic Ocean where many of our ancestors crossed or now rest and our shared struggles and journey across the waters and around the world (inspired by the kikombe cha umoja of Kwanzaa)

Activities for Umoja:

Plan a dinner or gathering with family, friends, or your community

Practice cooking some family recipes

Go to a black arts, music, food, or cultural festival

Make some language goals for the year to learn some Swahili (Pan-African language) or another African language

Read some books about the history or culture of an African country

Take a moment to share a drink out of your unity cup (kikombe cha umoja) with someone you care about or are close to

Bring out your Afrocentric clothing! I’m talking full Africa earrings or necklaces, kente prints, ankhs, dashikis, and anything else you got

Umoja Spirituality & Magic:

Love and friendship magic

Wear matching sigils with someone

Peace and conflict resolving spells

Digging into the roots of Africana traditions and magic

Pray to Obatala, orisha of reason, leadership, and peace (Yoruba culture)

KUJICHAGULIA: A Fresh Start

To define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves.

Kujichagulia Altar Ideas:

Blue, green, and white cloth and candles to represent our power to choose our own direction by nourishing and growing our own destiny

Arrowheads for the agency and independence to pick our path

Eggs decorated with Adrinkra symbols chosen by you to express different values, ideas, or goals you have (inspired by Akan culture)

Activities for Kujichagulia:

Do some journaling or self-reflection blogging

Write a list of your personal values and ethics

Share something about yourself with others that you are proud of

Read about movements and philosophies that support your identity and what you believe in (examples: LGBT+, gender identity, black feminism & intersectionality, Africana womanism, etc.)

Do some spring cleaning and throw away old items you know you don’t need or that are no longer consistent with who you are now

Try some archery (inspired by Yoruba culture)

Wear an outfit with the colors of Kujichagulia (blue, green, white)

Kujichagulia Spirituality & Magic:

Cleansing, centering, and grounding (energy work) 

Uncrossing magic (hoodoo)

Self-care and self-love magic

Meditation and mindfulness

Shadow work (self-reflection magic and divination)

Pray to Ochoosi, orisha of magic and archery (Yoruba culture)

UJIMA: Strong Beginnings

To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and to solve them together.

Ujima Altar Ideas:

Green cloth and candles to represent the healing, growth, and medicine we all have to offer each other in the global diaspora

Seeds for the small beginnings that can lead to greatness

Flowers of different colors as a reminder of the unique contributions each of us can bring to problem-solving as a community

Activities for Ujima:

Reach out to friends, family, or members of your community who you know might need some extra help and support

Donate to organizations the empower black communities

Go to a Black Lives Matter rally and boost their posts online

Consider areas in your life where you may need some support and chose this time to be helpable

Look for volunteering opportunities in your local community

Vote in your local elections and get involved in your community

For students in college, consider an alternative spring break

Wear an outfit with the colors of Ujima (shades of green)

Ujima Spirituality & Magic:

Road opening and crossroads magic (hoodoo)

Healing and cleansing spells (for yourself and others)

Setting up protection spells and wards (for yourself and others)

Offering magic and divination for free to others

Looking for or finding your spirit guides

Pray to Ogun, orisha of clearing obstacles (Yoruba culture)

UJAMAA: Harvesting Together

To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.

Ujamaa Altar Ideas:

Dark red and black candles to symbolize the hard work and determination of the global black community

Bowl of fruit for the fruits of our labor and collective success

Kente cloth which represents the richness and value of black culture (inspired by Akan culture)

Activities for Ujamaa:

Support black-owned businesses as much as possible (boost posts on social media, tell friends, buy their products)

Donate to one of these black-owned non-profits making a difference

Consider buying stock in black-owned businesses and brands

Work on your own budgeting and personal finances

Read about the economic concept of ujamaa

Wear an outfit with the colors of Ujamaa (dark red and black)

Ujamaa Spirituality & Magic:

Buy magical tools and supplies from black-owned businesses

Manifestation, money-making, and prosperity magic

Create a new mojo bag

Look for and appreciate the bright star Sirius (inspired by Kemetic celebrations of summer solstice)

Pray to Oya, orisha of the marketplace (Yoruba culture)

NIA: Dreaming with Purpose

To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Nia Altar Ideas:

Bright red and white cloth and candles to symbolize a fierce and unstoppable passion for the future

Lightning-shaped decorations for the energy and power we put into making our dreams a reality

Affirmations or quotes that represent your dreams, goals, and pieces of inspiration for yourself, your family, your local community, and the global black community

Activities for Nia:

Start a vision board, put up images related to your goals and ideas

Make long-term plans for projects, work/school, or personal life

Talk about what you want and hope for the future of the black community with friends and family

Think of black role models in your life and how you are role model too

Watch or engage (safely) in some wrestling, boxing, or martial arts (inspired by Igbo and Hausa traditional celebrations)

Wear an outfit with the colors of Nia (red and white)

Nia Spirituality & Magic:

Writing or creating new spells and rituals

Meditation and reflection on your goals and future plans

Re-organize your grimoire and/or magical tools

Path-finding and decision-making divination

Pray to Shango, orisha of fire and lightning, warrior-king (Yoruba culture)

KUUMBA: Black is Beautiful

To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Kuumba Altar Ideas:

Yellow, white, and orange cloth and candles to symbolize optimism for the future, creativity, and the beauty of life

Jars of honey for the sweetness of life that comes from hard work

An afro pick or comb to represent pride and joy in our own beauty and the beauty of our people

Activities for Kuumba:

Rep #blackisbeautiful, #blackgirlmagic, #melanin pride

Appreciate some black art, black music, black films, etc.

Check out a West African dance class

Look into recycling, composting, and sustainable living options 

Wear your hair natural

Glow up with Rhassoul clay (Berber culture, Morocco) or Marula oil (Tsonga People of South Africa and Mozambique)

Wear an outfit with the colors of Kuumba (yellow, white, and orange)

Kuumba Spirituality & Magic:

Self-confidence, empowerment, and body-positivity spells

Braid some ashe (energy) and intent into your hair

Art magic! Energy signature paintings, drawing sigils, you name it

Decorate your grimoire or spellbook pages with some Afrocentric designs

Try some African drumming or dance styles during a ritual

Pray to Oshun, the orisha of beauty, love, and prosperity (Yoruba culture)

IMANI: Faith in Each Other

To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Imani Altar Ideas:

All colors of cloth and candles to represent the infinite number of ways that faith and hope can manifest in our lives

Yams in honor of the great harvest that is the legacy of our ancestors

Photos of great heroes and leaders in black history to show our respect to those who paved the way for us beyond our blood family

Activities for Imani:

Go to a black history museum

Read some books or watch movies on the American Civil Rights Movement, the Transatlantic Slave Trade, Apartheid, or African history

Learn to say “Heri ya mwaka mpya” (happy new year in Swahili)

Write some thank you letters to friends, teachers, mentors, and family members you admire and appreciate (even if you don’t actually send it)

Eat some yam (inspired by Igbo and Akan cultures)

Wear rainbow colors in the spirit of Imani

Imani Spirituality & Magic:

Create an ancestor altar if you don’t yet have one

Spend the day saying prayers and giving offerings to your ancestors

It’s traditional to pour out some offerings to the ancestors onto the earth as well (freshwater recommended!)

Say a prayer to Oshumare, the orisha of reincarnation and our connection to the realm of the ancestors (Yoruba culture)

Great time for spirit communication and divination in general

KWANZAA: A Joyous Time

Principle: All seven (one for each day of Kwanzaa)

Resources for learning how to celebrate Kwanzaa:

What is Kwanzaa?

How to Celebrate Kwanzaa

Official Kwanzaa Site