By Jessica Marie Smith

© Copyright 2014, by Jessica Marie Smith

Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that a royalty must be paid for every performance, whether or not admission is charged. All inquiries regarding rights should be addressed to Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., PO Box 4267, Englewood, CO 80155.

All rights to this play—including but not limited to amateur, professional, public reading and translation into foreign languages—are controlled by Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., without whose permission no performance, reading or presentation of any kind in whole or in part may be given.

All other rights in this play, including radio broadcasting, television and motion picture rights, are controlled by JESSICA MARIE SMITH to whom all inquiries should be addressed c/o Pioneer Drama Service, Inc. PO Box 4267, Englewood, CO 80155-4267.

These rights are fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America and of all countries covered by the Universal Copyright Convention or with which the United States has reciprocal copyright relations, including Canada, Mexico, Australia and all nations of the United Kingdom.

ONE SCRIPT PER CAST MEMBER MUST BE PURCHASED FOR PRODUCTION RIGHTS.

COPYING OR DISTRIBUTING ALL OR ANY PART OF THIS BOOK IN ANY MANNER IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN BY LAW.

On all programs, printing and advertising, the following information must appear:

1. The full name of the play2. The full name of the playwright3. The following notice: “Produced by special arrangement with

Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., Englewood, Colorado”

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This play came together very similar to storyline of Bone Soup. I needed some help casting the show and so, I called upon friends and community members to lend a hand by suggesting actors they knew who could bring the play to life. Who knew that these friends (some who had never celebrated Kwanzaa before) would become the actors who ended up performing in the play? Thank you catching the Kwanzaa spirit and for helping over 1,000 audience members to become educated and excited about its principles during the Kwanzaa play tour. You all deserve the Kwanzaa Spirit Award for your amazing work! I would also like to dedicate this play to all of the Culture Kingdom Kids participants, parents, clients and other supporters who have been involved in the program since 2010. I truly appreciate your support in making my dreams come true. Happy Kwanzaa today and forever!

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PHOTOCOPYING THIS SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS

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BONE SOUP: A KWANZAA STORY

By JESSICA MARIE SMITH

CAST OF CHARACTERS# of lines

GRIOT...........................storyteller and a citizen of Culture 30 Kingdom

CULTURE QUEEN ...........queen of Culture Kingdom; part warrior 13 queen, part superhero who uplifts the citizens of Culture Kingdom through education and inspiration

MAULANA .....................wise scholar and native Culture 19 Kingdom citizen; sibling of Karenga; named after Dr. Maulana Karenga, the founder of Kwanzaa

KARENGA .....................wise scholar and native Culture 20 Kingdom citizen; sibling of Maulana; named after Dr. Maulana Karenga, the founder of Kwanzaa

NEIGHBOR ONE .............president of the University of Culture 18 Kingdom

NEIGHBOR TWO ............farmer and business owner 13NEIGHBOR THREE .........butcher and wealthy business owner 14NEIGHBOR FOUR ...........spice grower 7

SETTINGPlace: Culture Kingdom.Time: During the time of recession.The Pan-African flag makes up the UPSTAGE backdrop. A full Kwanzaa table with all elements is also UPSTAGE. All items on the Kwanzaa table are oversized so that the AUDIENCE can see them.

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BONE SOUP: A KWANZAA STORY

AT RISE: GRIOT ENTERS, crosses to the storyteller’s position at the edge of the stage, then speaks directly to the AUDIENCE.GRIOT: Once upon a time, in a land called Culture Kingdom, not too far

from (insert name of the city where performance is taking place), lived people who celebrated Kwanzaa, an African American holiday that celebrates culture, family and community! (NEIGHBORS ENTER.) Each day, the citizens sang their national anthem together in the spirit of Umoja, the Kwanzaa principle for Unity. (GRIOT and NEIGHBORS create a beat and rap to the rhythm.)

“Kwanzaa Spirit Rap”GRIOT/NEIGHBORS: Habari gani?!

What’s the news?The Kwanzaa spirit lives in you!Umoja!Ujima!Kuumba and Nia!Ujamaa!Imani and Kujichagulia!With these seven principles combined,We are the spirit of Kwanzaa time!Harambee!Harambee!Let’s pull together! (NEIGHBORS lie on the floor in sleeping positions.)

GRIOT: Each morning, the citizens of Culture Kingdom woke up and gave thanks to the creator. (As NEIGHBORS stretch to wake up.) Then, they asked themselves, “What is my Nia?” or “What is my purpose?” (NEIGHBORS pantomime asking questions, then pause in a thinking position.) Once they figured it out, they would use Kujichagulia, the Kwanzaa principle for Self Determination to decide how they would carry out their goals for the day. (NEIGHBORS chant reflectively.)

“Kujichagulia Chant”NEIGHBOR ONE: Who? Who?NEIGHBOR TWO: Am I…

Really who I say I am?NEIGHBOR THREE: Am I…

All that I ought to be?NEIGHBOR FOUR: Am I…

Really who I say I am?

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Am I…All that I ought to be?

ALL: Am I…Really who I say I am?Am I…All that I ought to be?Am I…Really who I say I am?Am I…All that I ought to be? (NEIGHBORS run OFF. NEIGHBORS ONE, TWO and THREE quickly RENTER with items to prepare for Kwanzaa. NEIGHBOR ONE begins weaving a straw mat. NEIGHBOR TWO carves a wooden candle holder [the kinara]. NEIGHBOR THREE makes red, black and green candles.)

GRIOT: They used Kuumba, the Kwanzaa Principle of Creativity prepare for Kwanzaa.

NEIGHBOR THREE: (To NEIGHBOR ONE.) Jambo, neighbor! What are you doing?

NEIGHBOR ONE: (Holds up the straw mat.) I’m using my Kuumba to weave a mkeka, the mat that we place on the Kwanzaa table. (To NEIGHBOR TWO.) Habari gani, sister?! What are you doing?

NEIGHBOR TWO: (Holds up the candlestick.) I’m using my Kuumba to carve a kinara, the candle holder we place on the Kwanzaa table.

NEIGHBOR ONE: (To NEIGHBOR THREE.) Jambo, brother! What are you doing?

NEIGHBOR THREE: (Holds up the candles.) I’m making red, black and green candles to place in the kinara that goes on the Kwanzaa table.

GRIOT: They used Kujichagulia, Self Determination, to define for themselves, name themselves and create for themselves. (NEIGHBOR THREE EXITS. NEIGHBOR FOUR ENTERS carrying a baby wrapped in kente cloth.)

NEIGHBOR ONE: Jambo, neighbor! What shall you call the baby now that he is born?

NEIGHBOR FOUR: I shall give him a Swahili name. Since he was born during Kwanzaa time, I will call him Zawadi. It means “Kwanzaa gift” in Swahili. (NEIGHBORS place their KWANZAA items on the table.)

GRIOT: The citizens of Culture Kingdom used Ujima, the Kwanzaa principle of Collective Work and Responsibility to work together to solve their problems and meet their needs.

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NEIGHBOR ONE: (Calls NEIGHBORS TWO and FOUR over to him.) Hey, neighbors, since Kwanzaa means first fruits, we must have fresh fruits for the Kwanzaa table. Can you help me pick fruits from my garden?

NEIGHBOR TWO: Sure! I would be glad to help you! We’ll need muhindi or corn to place on the Kwanzaa table. Can you help me pick the corn?

NEIGHBOR ONE: Sure! I’ll get some of my friends to help us, and we’ll finish the harvesting the crops in no time! (NEIGHBORS pantomime gardening chores like picking, weeding, digging, etc.)

GRIOT: Everyone owned a business and supported each other’s businesses around them in the spirit of Ujamaa, the Kwanzaa principle for Cooperative Economics.

NEIGHBOR THREE: (ENTERS, waving the Pan African flag.) Red, black and green flags for sale! Get your Pan African flags for the best prices in Culture Kingdom! (NEIGHBORS ONE and TWO run up, pantomiming money in their hands.)

GRIOT: Through it all, they believed in Imani, the Kwanzaa principle for Faith, which meant to believe and trust in themselves, their parents, their teachers and their leaders and our ability to overcome adversity while making progress as a people. (NEIGHBORS line up DOWNSTAGE.)

NEIGHBOR ONE: When I grow up, I will be like President Barack Obama, the first African American president of the United States.

NEIGHBOR TWO: When I grow up, I will be like (insert name of famous African American inventor), inventor of the (insert their invention).

NEIGHBOR THREE: When I grow up, I will be like (insert name of a famous African American leader), the first African American to (insert accomplishment).

NEIGHBOR FOUR: When I grow up, I will be just like (insert name of a famous African American youth) the youngest African American to (insert accomplishment).

GRIOT: One day, a terrible plague called “The Recession” hit Culture Kingdom. (SOUND EFFECT: THUNDER. ALL shudder in fear at the sound. During the following, NEIGHBORS slowly turn and cross UPSTAGE, depressed and sad, and form a line with their backs to the AUDIENCE.) Once the recession hit the kingdom, it affected everyone in many ways. People lost their families, jobs, cars, businesses and their homes. Pretty soon, everyone forgot to celebrate the Kwanzaa principles because they were all so stressed out. This left the community very depressed and even more disconnected. It was a very sad time. (MAULANA and

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KARENGA ENTER with their travelling bags.) Several months later, two scholars Maulana and Karenga returned to their homeland Culture Kingdom after a yearlong study abroad trip in Africa. (SOUND EFFECT: MAGICAL WIND CHIME. [NOTE: Whenever anyone says “Africa,” it’s spoken as if it is a magical and fascinating place.]) They had visited all 54 countries on the continent of Africa… (SOUND EFFECT: MAGICAL WIND CHIME.) …to learn about its many cultures and diverse people. (MAULANA and KARENGA cross the stage and pantomime traveling through Africa, sightseeing, taking pictures, meeting with people, trying new foods, etc.) They were so excited to share with their community all the knowledge they had obtained, but when they got home, they were sadly surprised at how much their kingdom had changed for the worse. The first thing they noticed was that they could not find employment. Though they were highly-qualified, they could not find jobs as professors or in any other field. Day by day, they began to run low on resources. They hoped to get the support of the citizens of their hometown. They stopped at the University of Culture Kingdom and knocked on the door of the university President. (MAULANA and KARENGA cross to the line of NEIGHBORS. MAULANA knocks. SOUND EFFECT: KNOCK. NEIGHBOR ONE turns around.)

MAULANA: Excuse me. We have just returned home from a yearlong study abroad trip to the continent of Africa… (SOUND EFFECT: MAGICAL WIND CHIME.) …and would be honored to teach at your fine university. Are you hiring?

NEIGHBOR ONE: Absolutely not! We are in a recession— (SOUND EFFECT: THUNDER. EVERYONE shudders.) —and I have had to let go most of the professors. Come back next year. Good day!

GRIOT: Now, the travelers had the spirit of Imani, the Kwanzaa principle for Faith, and were not ones to give up easily. They decided to keep trying and went to a successful business owner near the University of Culture Kingdom. (MAULANA and KARENGA move down the line. KARENGA knocks. SOUND EFFECT: KNOCK. NEIGHBOR TWO turns around.)

KARENGA: Pardon me. We have just returned home from a yearlong study abroad trip to continent of Africa… (SOUND EFFECT: MAGICAL WIND CHIME.) …and are looking for work. Are you hiring any workers for your business?

NEIGHBOR TWO: I most certainly am not. We are in a recession! (SOUND EFFECT: THUNDER. EVERYONE shudders.) I’ve had to downsize my company. I barely have enough work to give my workers let alone some strangers. I’m sorry.

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GRIOT: The scholars went to the office of another successful business owner, one who was known for being very wealthy. (MAULANA and KARENGA move down the line. MAULANA knocks. NEIGHBOR THREE turns around.) They asked him if they could work for him to earn some money and his response was—

NEIGHBOR THREE: Absolutely not! We are in a recession! (SOUND EFFECT: THUNDER. EVERYONE shudders.) I have worked very hard to have a life of luxury. Why would I want to share it with a stranger? Happy holidays!

GRIOT: No matter where the scholars Maulana and Karenga went everyone said the same thing— (NEIGHBOR FOUR turns to join them.)

NEIGHBORS: We are in a recession! (SOUND EFFECT: THUNDER. EVERYONE shudders.)

GRIOT: The travelers became very disappointed in the citizens of Culture Kingdom.

MAULANA: This is not the Culture Kingdom we left one year ago. Maybe we should move to another kingdom. Our own people have not welcomed us as we expected. (MUSIC CUE: “Culture Queen’s Theme Song.” [See PRODUCTION NOTES.].)

CULTURE QUEEN: (From OFF.) “Up, you mighty race! You can accomplish what you will!” (CULTURE QUEEN surprises MAULANA and KARENGA by “flying” IN from the back of and the AUDIENCE. She wears a cape and a crown, a royal superhero.)

GRIOT: Just then, out of nowhere appeared the superfly, black-history-knowing, pride-showing, race-upholding super-heroine Culture Queen. Culture Queen was the queen of Culture Kingdom. She was part warrior queen, part superhero on a mission to uplift the citizens of Culture Kingdom—

CULTURE QUEEN: Through education and inspiration! (CITIZENS cross to CULTURE QUEEN, walking reverently. One CITIZEN is holding a baby doll wrapped in kente cloth and gives it to GRIOT.)

GRIOT: As a baby, she was given the seven super powers of Kwanzaa by the Almighty Ancestors. Umoja! Kujichagulia! Ujima! Ujamaa! Nia! Kuumba! Imani! With those powers combined, she inspired her citizens to turn the world right side up. (CULTURE QUEEN stands in an empowered “warrior woman” position with her legs about shoulder width apart, one hand on her hip and a fist in the air.) Now, Culture Queen wasn’t the type of ruler to just sit high and mighty upon her throne while her people were suffering. Nor did she try to solve all of their problems. (CITIZENS start pantomime like they are bickering about a problem.) Instead, Culture Queen used her super powers to inspire her people to uplift themselves.

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(CULTURE QUEEN gestures over the CITIZENS, who pantomime their reconciliation by hugging and shaking hands.) No one knew just how old she might be, but many of the great leaders throughout Black History had spoken of having encounters with Culture Queen during the times when they were about to give up on their dreams. Yes! All of these great leaders were inspired by Culture Queen. Today, Culture Queen had come to speak to Maulana and Karenga. (CULTURE QUEEN gives an impassioned, rhythmic plea to the CITIZENS.)

“Culture Queen’s Charge”CULTURE QUEEN: I said, “Up, you mighty race!

You can accomplish what you will!”Open your mind!Where is your pride?All that you need lives inside.You can’t give up!You can’t give in!That’s not the way of black Americans! (NEIGHBORS scatter OFF.)

The Ishango bone’sThe world’s oldest known.Found in the country of Congo. (NEIGHBORS FOUR ENTERS with a large bone, the Ishango Bone, and hands it over to CULTURE QUEEN, who then offers it to KARENGA.)

It was given to me.I pass it on to you.Use it to make a special soup. (CULTURE QUEEN makes a magical motion as OTHER NEIGHBORS bring ON a large cauldron and place it CENTER.)

Habari gani?!What’s the news?The Kwanzaa spirit lives in you!Umoja! Ujima!Kuumba and Nia!Ujamaa! Imani and Kujichagulia!With these seven principles combined,You are the spirit of Kwanzaa time!

“Let’s Pull Together”Harambee!Harambee!Let’s pull together! (CULTURE QUEEN models for MAULANA and KARENGA how to make the “Harambee motion” by reaching one hand in the air as if grasping something from the sky and then pulling it down seven times to the beat.)

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Say it seven times to make our world better!Harambee!Harambee!Harambee!Harambee!Harambee!Harambee!Harambeeeeee!Happy Kwanzaa!Happy Kwanzaa!Happy, happy, happy, Kwanzaa! (MAULANA and KARENGA join in and repeat the “Harambee motion” with CULTURE QUEEN. Her charge to the CITIZENS complete, CULTURE QUEEN dances OFF.)

MAULANA: I can’t believe that all that she gave us was this rickety old bone. What are we supposed to do with an old rickety bone?

KARENGA: Well, my friend, times certainly are hard, but we must put our heads together and come up with a plan. (MAULANA and KARENGA create a beat and rap to the rhythm.)

“Let’s Get Organized!”MAULANA/KARENGA: Let’s get organized!

Let’s get organized!Let’s get organized!Let’s get organized!We’ve got to strategizeHow to get organized.We’ve got to strategizeHow to get organized.Let’s get organized!Let’s get organized!We’ve got to strategize how to get organized.We can’t operate’Til we cooperate.Let’s get organized!Let’s get organized! (MAULANA and KARENGA dig into their travelling bags.)

GRIOT: So, the scholars looked into their bags to see what other items they had brought back from their travels that they could use. In Karenga’s bag was a beautifully carved wooden spoon.

MAULANA: (Pulls a wooden spoon from her bag.) Hey! I have an idea that is so crazy it just might work! Just follow my lead. Let’s make bone soup.

KARENGA: Bone soup? Wait a minute! You might be onto something here. My grandmother always puts a neck bone in her soups,

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greens and stews. She says it gives it lots of flavor. I can almost taste her homemade soup now! But where are we going to get the rest of the ingredients for the soup?

MAULANA: We are just going to step out on Imani… Faith! Just follow my lead. Sometimes you have to fake it until you make it! Our ancestors have made something out of nothing for centuries! (MAULANA and KARENGA create a beat and rap to it.)

“Bone Soup Rap”MAULANA/KARENGA: Bone soup!

Bone soup!Trusting in Faith to make some food!Making the best soup you ever knewWith the Kwanzaa principles to see us through. (MAULANA and KARENGA lean over the cauldron. KARENGA puts the bone into the pot. MAULANA stirs.)

GRIOT: So, the two scholars went to work, stirring and acting like they were making bone soup, when one of the neighbors walked by.

NEIGHBOR ONE: (ENTERS.) What are you two cooking there in the middle of the street?

MAULANA/KARENGA: We’re making our world famous bone soup.NEIGHBOR ONE: Bone soup?KARENGA: Yes! Bone soup! It’s an old family recipe passed down from

our ancestors from generation to generation.NEIGHBOR ONE: I’ve never heard of such a thing. That’s preposterous!MAULANA: This world famous bone soup is really starting cook but

it could sure use some water to bring out the flavor locked deep inside the bone.

NEIGHBOR ONE: I have some water at home. I’ll go get it.MAULANA: Oh, yes, please! Water is a necessary ingredient for bone

soup. Asante sana! Thank you! (NEIGHBOR ONE crosses and grabs a basket from OFFSTAGE.)

GRIOT: So, the neighbor went home to get some water. When he got there, he realized that he didn’t have enough water to fill the soup pot. So he asked some of his friends to help him. (MUSIC CUE: “Culture Queen’s Theme Song” plays as she “flies” IN.)

CULTURE QUEEN: Ujima means Collective Work and Responsibility. Let’s practice Ujima by working together to help our neighbor out. Let’s make a big river of flowing water with our arms like this— (Models for the AUDIENCE how to move their arms like waves.)

NEIGHBOR ONE: Greetings, neighbors! By chance, do you have some water I could have? I’m trying to fill a pot to make some soup. If you share the water that you have, we will have just enough to fill

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the pot. (CULTURE QUEEN guides AUDIENCE to move their arms like waves and EXITS. NEIGHBOR ONE dips his bucket into the water. To AUDIENCE.) Asante sana! Thank you! (Crosses to MAULANA and KARENGA and pours the “water” into the cauldron.) Here’s the water!

“Bone Soup Rap”ALL: Bone soup!

Bone soup!Trusting in Faith to make some food!Making the best soup you ever knewWith a pot, a bone and water, too!

NEIGHBOR ONE: What else do you need make this world famous bone soup?

KARENGA: Well, some vegetables would be great to make the bone soup hearty and nutritious.

NEIGHBOR ONE: My friend is a gardener who grows the best vegetables in town. I’ll go get her. (EXITS.)

GRIOT: The neighbor went to go get his friend, the organic gardener.NEIGHBOR TWO: (ENTERS with a basket.) My friend told me about

this world famous bone soup you were making. I’ll go pick some vegetables from my garden.

GRIOT: So, the neighbor went to her vegetable garden to pick some vegetables for the delicious soup. On the way, she decided to ask for help from some of her farmer friends so that she would have enough vegetables for the soup.

NEIGHBOR TWO: (Crosses into the AUDIENCE.) Farmers, can you spare some extra vegetables for a soup I am helping my friends to make? (To a specific AUDIENCE MEMBER.) What vegetable would you like to share? (Waits for response.) Oh, (insert whatever vegetable is named) will make the soup (colorful, fresh, crunchy, yummy, delicious, healthy, tasty, mouthwatering, etc.)! (Pantomimes picking and sniffing the vegetable, then placing it into her basket.) I can almost taste it now! (NEIGHBOR TWO repeats this sequence alternating the language as needed until she has collected several imaginary vegetables from the AUDIENCE. She crosses to MAULANA and KARENGA and gives them the basket.)

MAULANA: Asante sana! Thank you! (Pours the “vegetables” into the soup.)

“Bone Soup Rap”ALL: Bone soup!

Bone soup!Trusting in Faith to make some food!

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Making the best soup you ever knewWith a pot, a bone and veggies, too!

NEIGHBOR TWO: What else do you need to make this world famous bone soup?

KARENGA: Well, the soup is almost done! We could sure use some meat to make this soup hearty and succulent. I can almost taste it now!

NEIGHBOR TWO: I know a friend who is a butcher. I’ll go get him. (EXITS.)

GRIOT: The neighbor went to go get his friend the butcher.NEIGHBOR THREE: (ENTERS with a basket.) My friend told me about

this world famous bone soup that you were making. My freezer is full of meat. Surely, I can spare some.

GRIOT: So, the neighbor went to his freezer to select the best cuts of lean meat for the delicious soup. On the way, he decided to ask some for help from some of his butcher friends so that he would have enough meat for the soup.

NEIGHBOR THREE: (Crosses into the AUDIENCE.) Butchers, can you spare some extra meat for a soup I am helping my friend to make? (To a specific AUDIENCE MEMBER.) What type of meat would you like to share? (Waits for response.) Oh, (insert whatever meat is named) will make the soup (tender, juicy, flavorful, delicious, healthy, tasty, appetizing, mouthwatering, etc.)! (Pantomimes sniffing the meat and placing it into his basket.) I can almost taste it now! (NEIGHBOR THREE repeats this sequence alternating the language as needed until he has collected several imaginary meats from the AUDIENCE. He crosses to MAULANA and KARENGA and gives them the basket.)

KARENGA: Asante sana! Thank you! This bone soup looks so tasty!“Bone Soup Rap”

ALL: Bone soup!Bone soup!Trusting in Faith to make some food!Making the best soup you ever knewWith a pot, a bone and proteins, too!

NEIGHBOR THREE: What else do you need to make this world famous bone soup?

KARENGA: Well, the soup is almost done! We could sure use some spices to season the soup with lots of exotic flavors.

NEIGHBOR THREE: I know a friend who is a spice grower. I’ll go get her. (EXITS.)

GRIOT: The neighbor went to go get his friend, the spice grower.

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NEIGHBOR FOUR: (ENTERS with a basket.) My friend told me about this world famous bone soup that you were making. I have the finest spices from all over the world, especially from the wonderful continent of Africa. Surely, I can share some to put in your soup.

GRIOT: So, the neighbor went to her spice rack to select the most exotic jars of spices the bone soup. On the way, she decided to ask some for help from some of her friends so that she would have enough for the soup.

NEIGHBOR FOUR: (Crosses into the AUDIENCE.) Oh, Spice Growers, can you spare some extra seasonings for a soup I am helping my friend to make? (To a specific AUDIENCE MEMBER.) What spices would you like to share? (Waits for response.) Oh, the (insert whatever spice is named) will make the soup (aromatic, tangy, zesty, fragrant, savory, flavorful, delicious, tasty, appetizing, mouthwatering, etc.). (Pantomimes sniffing the spice and placing it into her basket.) I can almost smell it now! (NEIGHBOR FOUR repeats this sequence alternating the language as needed until she has collected several imaginary spices from the AUDIENCE. She crosses to MAULANA and KARENGA and gives them the basket.)

MAULANA: Asante sana! Thank you! This bone soup smells so savory! (NEIGHBORS ONE, TWO and THREE ENTER as MAULANA and KARENGA sprinkle the spices into the cauldron.)

“Bone Soup Rap”ALL: Bone soup!

Bone soup!Trusting in Faith to make some food!Making the best soup you ever knewWith a pot, a bone and spices, too!

NEIGHBORS: What else do you need for this world famous bone soup?MAULANA: The world famous bone soup is now ready to be served,

but we don’t have any bowls to put the soup in.NEIGHBOR ONE/NEIGHBOR TWO: We have bowls!NEIGHBOR THREE/NEIGHBOR FOUR: And spoons, too! (NEIGHBORS

run OFF and quickly RE-ENTER with bowls and spoons.)KARENGA: Asante sana! Thank you for helping us to make this world

famous bone soup. Since you all contributed, we invite you all to have some.

GRIOT: And so, the villagers all took part in the Karamu or Great Feast. Because everyone worked together, they had enough soup to share with all the neighbors in the community. Everyone exclaimed that this was the best soup that they had ever tasted!

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ALL: (LOUDLY slurp the soup.) This bone soup is (tangy, flavorful, delicious, healthy, tasty, appetizing, mouthwatering, colorful, crunchy, yummy, delicious, healthy, tasty, scrumptious, savory, etc.)!

MAULANA: This was great, but what are we going to do now? We still need to eat tomorrow and the next day after that. What are we going to do?!

GRIOT: Suddenly, Maulana remembered the words of Culture Queen. (MUSIC CUE: “Culture Queen’s Theme Song.”)

CULTURE QUEEN: (From OFFSTAGE.) “Up, you mighty race! You can accomplish what you will!” (CULTURE QUEEN “flies” IN and “lands” between MAULANA and KARENGA and gives another impassioned, rhythmic plea to the CITIZENS.)

“Culture Queen’s Charge”Open your mind! Where is your pride?All that you need lives inside.You can’t give up! You can’t give in!That’s not the way of black Americans!It’s the principles of Kwanzaa that you’ll needTo help Culture Kingdom to succeed.You made the soup, and you made it well.Now use it to bring Culture Kingdom wealth.

MAULANA: Hey! I have an idea. Our soup was a hit in this community! We should write down the recipe and sell it to make money.

KARENGA: Yes, that sounds good, but I have an even better idea. Why don’t we make the soup and sell it to restaurants and to people on the Internet? Then, we could really make some money to get all our citizens out of the recession. (SOUND EFFECT: THUNDER. EVERYONE shudders.)

MAULANA: But where will we get all the ingredients to make so much soup?

KARENGA: Just follow my lead.GRIOT: So, the two scholars called all the citizens together for a

community meeting.“Let’s Get Organized!”

KARENGA: (Leads the rap.) Let’s get organized.We’ve got to strategizeHow to get organized.We’ve got to strategizeHow to get organized. (ALL spread out across the stage and chant to themselves, reflectively.)

“Kujichagulia Chant”

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ALL: Am I…Really who I say I am?Am I…All that I ought to be?Am I…Really who I say I am?Am I…All that I ought to be? (They change the beat and rap to it.)

“Let’s Get Organized!”One, two, three, hit it!Let’s get organized!Let’s get organized.We’ve got to strategizeHow to get organized.We can’t operate‘Til we premeditate.Let’s get organized!Let’s get organized.

KARENGA: Citizens of Culture Kingdom! We cannot be defined by the recession! Nor, can we just sit back and wait for this recession to end. We have the power to end it ourselves. We must be determined to make ourselves recession-proof!

ALL: Harambee! Let’s pull together!CULTURE QUEEN: Hey! That’s Kujichagulia, Self Determination!KARENGA: If we keep working together to make more of this bone

soup, we could sell it to make money for our kingdom. All who agree with in the spirit of Umoja or Unity, say, Harambee!

ALL: Harambee!NEIGHBOR THREE: I’ll organize a group to donate more bones for the

soup!CULTURE QUEEN: That’s Ujima!NEIGHBOR THREE: Collective Work and Responsibility!NEIGHBOR TWO: I’ll only purchase produce from farmers in Culture

Kingdom. This way, we’ll always have local, fresh vegetables and make sure the money stays within our kingdom.

CULTURE QUEEN: That’s Ujamaa!NEIGHBOR TWO: Cooperative Economics!KARENGA: I’ve always been good with ideas. I’ll use my skills to write

the business plan that outlines how we will use the soup to make our kingdom recession-proof. Our business will be a success with clear a clear vision and goals!

CULTURE QUEEN: That’s Nia!

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NEIGHBOR ONE: Nia means Purpose!MAULANA: And, I’ll use my artistic talents design a label for the soup

jar and our company website!CULTURE QUEEN: That’s Kuumba!NEIGHBOR FOUR: Kuumba means Creativity!

“Bone Soup Rap”ALL: Bone soup!

Bone soup!Trustin’ Faith to make some food!Cookin’ the best soup you ever knewWith the Kwanzaa principles to see us through. (MUSIC CUE: “Lift Every Voice and Sing” underscores CULTURE QUEEN’S speech.)

CULTURE QUEEN: Citizens of Culture Kingdom, I always had faith that you would come to your senses, because our people are resilient!Facing the rising sun! (CITIZENS file into a single line and face STAGE LEFT with their hands over their hearts.)Of our new day begun!Let us march on until victory is won! (ALL create a beat and rap to the rhythm.)

“Kwanzaa Spirit Rap”ALL: Habari gani!

What’s the news?The Kwanzaa spirit lives in you!

MAULANA: Umoja!KARENGA: Ujima!NEIGHBOR ONE: Kuumba!NEIGHBOR TWO: And Nia!NEIGHBOR THREE: Ujamaa!GRIOT: Imani!CULTURE QUEEN: And Kujichagulia!ALL: With these seven principles combined,

We are the spirit of Kwanzaa time!“Let’s Pull Together”

Harambee! Harambee!Let’s pull together!Say it seven times to make our world better! (ALL do the “Harambee motion” during the following.)

Harambee!Harambee!Harambee!

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Harambee!Harambee!Harambee!Harambeeeeee!

GRIOT: And the citizens of Culture Kingdom went on to work together to make the soup. The bone soup became a scrumptious sensation throughout the land. Even President Barack Obama and his family traveled to Culture Kingdom to have a bowl of the delicious soup. The bone soup became so popular that the citizens of Culture Kingdom opened a restaurant, which they called the…

ALL: Bone Soup Kitchen!MAULANA/KARENGA: Home of the World Famous Bone Soup! Opening

the restaurant provided job openings for the unemployed people in the Culture Kingdom who had been plagued by the recession.

CULTURE QUEEN: The Bone Soup Kitchen is now hiring. Who would like to work here? (NEIGHBORS invite AUDIENCE members to come ONSTAGE.)

GRIOT: The scholars hired the best chefs, managers, waiters, lawyers, farmers, architects, construction workers, janitors and artists to make their business a success. (CITIZENS work with the AUDIENCE MEMBERS ONSTAGE to pantomime building a restaurant, serving soup, etc. as GRIOT speaks.) Pretty soon, the citizens of Culture Kingdom had worked their way out of the recession because they had been reminded what it means to live by the seven principles of Kwanzaa. You see, my friends, though the bone soup was quite tasty indeed, the bone really had nothing to do with how the soup turned out. The secret to the soup was that everyone used their individual talents and worked together to make the soup, and because they did, every family in their community were blessed with a legacy of prosperity for generations and generations to come.

ALL: Bone soup!Bone soup!Trustin’ Faith to make some food!Cookin’ the best soup you ever knewWith the Kwanzaa principles to see us through!

END OF PLAY

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PRODUCTION NOTES

PROPERTIESStraw mat, wooden candlestick, red, black and green candles, Pan

African flag, doll wrapped in Kente cloth, large bone resembling the Ishango bone, large cauldron, baskets, bowls, spoons (NEIGHBORS)

Travel bag with wooden spoon (MAULANA)Travel bag (KARENGA)

SOUND EFFECTS AND MUSIC

Thunder, magical wind chime, knock, ”Culture Queen’s Theme Song,” (something heroic and empowering, like a 60s or 70s style funk), instrumental version of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

The play uses poetry that is rapped, sung or chanted with rhythm. The beats can be created offstage by other actors or musicians using rhythmic instruments like djembe drums, chimes, kalimbas, jingle bells, maracas, cowbells, tambourines guitars and rhythm sticks to add atmosphere to the play. The sound effects can also be performed live with these instruments. Be creative.

COSTUMES

The colors of Kwanzaa are red, black and green. To honor this, all characters will wear a variety of African print outfits, fabrics and headwear in the colors of red, black and green.

CULTURE QUEEN wears a cape and a golden crown, with more flashes of gold here in there in her boots, jewelry or other accessories.

FLEXIBLE CASTINGAll characters except for Culture Queen can be played by either males or females with a simple change in the pronouns used in referring to them.

GLOSSARY OF KWANZAA AND SWAHILI TERMSUmoja: (oo-MO-jah) Unity; the first principle of KwanzaaKujichagulia: (koo-jee-chah-GOO-lee-ah) Self-determination; the second

principle of KwanzaaUjima: (oo-JEE-mah) Collective work, responsibility; the third principle

of KwanzaaUjamaa: (oo-jah-MAH-ah) Collective economics; the fourth principle of

Kwanzaa

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Nia: (NEE-ah) Purpose; the fifth principle of KwanzaaKuumba: (koo-OOM-bah) Creativity; the sixth principle of KwanzaaImani: (ee-MAH-nee) Faith; the seventh principle of KwanzaaAsante sana: (ah-SAHN-tey ) “Thank you very much!”Habari gani: (Ha-ba-ri ga-ni) “How are you?”; “What is the news?”Harambee: (hah-RAHM-beh) “Pull together.”Ishango Bone: an ancient bone tool from the Congo region with multiple

sets of notches or tally marks from end to endJambo: (ja m boh; or ya m boh) “Hello!”Karamu: (kah-RAH-moo) feastKente cloth: (ken-tey klôTH) a traditional African fabric made of

interwoven strips of clothKinara: (kee-NAH-rah) candlestick; a symbol of Kwanzaa representative

of African heritageKwanzaa: (KWAN-za) Swahili for first fruits; the holiday established by

Dr. Maulana Karenga. It celebrates family, community and culture and is celebrated from December 26 to January 1.

Mazao: (mah-ZAH-oh) crops; a symbol of Kwanzaa representing the rewards of collective labor

Mkeka: (em-KEH-kah) mat; a symbol of Kwanzaa representative of tradition and history, the foundation for building

Muhindi: (moo-HEEN-dee) corn; a symbol of Kwanzaa representing children and the future

Zawadi: (zah-WAH-dee) gifts; a symbol of Kwanzaa representative of love and commitment between parent and child

“Up, you mighty race! You can accomplish what you will!” — Marcus Garvey

ORIGINAL CASTSBone Soup was first performed at the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum during their annual Kwanzaa Festival on December 27th, 2011.Griot .........................................Carlton CurtisCulture Queen ...........................Jessica Marie SmithMaulana ...................................Attiyah JenkinsKarenga....................................Daevon GurleyNeighbor One ............................Bashea Jenkins

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Neighbor Two ............................Nana Malaya RuckerNeighbor Three .........................Elise LoweryMusician ..................................Benjamin SandsCostumes .................................Zoheret ElineerSet Design ................................Carmen Smith

Griot .........................................Carlton CurtisCulture Queen ...........................Jessica Marie SmithMaulana ...................................Shanice JonesKarenga....................................Jared ShambergerNeighbor One ............................Bashea Imana and Jivon JacksonNeighbor Two ............................Lonnie SimmonsNeighbor Three .........................Adjoa Imana and Angela Harvey-

BowenMusician ..................................Benjamin Sands Jr.Costumes .................................Zoheret ElineerSet Design ................................Carmen Smith

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