The symbolic representation of Ma’at as a human figure with outreached hands and wings is the Netcher of the weighing of the soul in ancient Kemet. The heart of the deceased was believed to be the seat of the soul and it was weighed on the scale of the Netcher Ma’at, against a feather, which represented the principles of the truth and righteousness (two f the seven cardinal virtues). This symbolic weighting of the heart against the feather of the truth Ma’at was performed to establish the righteousness of the deceased. The scale of Ma’at was balanced after the recitation of the “42” Declarations of Innocence or Admonitions of Ma’at.

TRUTH, ORDER, JUSTICE, BALANCE, RECIPROCITY, HARMONY and RIGHTEOUSNESS

NGUZO SABA (SEVEN PRINCIPLES)

UMOJA (UNITY)

To strive for and maintain togetherness in family, community, nation and race.

KUJICHAGULIA (SELF-DETERMINATION)

To define ourselves, name ourselves and speak for ourselves instead of being, named and spoken for by others.

UIMA (COLLECTIVE WORK and RESPONSIBILITY)

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

UJAMAA (COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS)

To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses, and to profit fro the collectively.

NIA (PURPOSE)

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

KUUMBA (CREATIVITY)

To always do as much as we can, however we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful, safe and prosperous.

IMANI (FAITH)

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