Telling the Whole Story

This article shares the findings of a student-led research project at Nia Natal Academy that explores the life, work, and legacy of Mother Makinya Sibeko-Kouate, a Pan-African educator, organizer, and cultural worker whose labor shaped Kwanzaa as it is practiced today. Drawing from student scholarship, archival records, and primary-source interviews with Mama Ikenna, a protégé of Mother Makinya, this piece documents her role in organizing the first seven-day Kwanzaa celebrations, developing early instructional materials, and teaching the Nguzo Saba as a living family tradition. Written from the perspective of a homeschooling educator, this article centers intergenerational learning, oral history, and the restoration of Black women’s cultural contributions.