Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration of African-American culture, which takes place from 26 December to 1 January. Kwanzaa was conceived to reconnect African-Americans to their African roots. Years of enslavement had left them without knowledge of their past. New rituals based on African traditions created a sense of belonging and community. The holiday fostered unity, pride and hope for the future.
principles
The holiday was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, a professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University. He was persuaded by his experience of the Watts riots in Los Angeles in 1965, which he believed highlighted racial division in the United States. Karenga’s aim was to outline “a necessary minimum set of principles by which Black people must live in order to begin to rescue and reconstruct our history and lives.”
seven days
The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase “mutanda ya kwanza”, which means ‘first fruits’. An extra ‘a’ was added to make it a seven-letter word, as the number seven is significant in Kwanzaa philosophy. Kwanzaa has seven days, seven principles and seven symbols. On each of the days, families get together to light a candle and discuss the principle of the day. The symbols are used to create a Kwanzaa set used in the daily rituals. The set comprises fruits, vegetables and nuts; a straw mat; ears of corn representing fertility; seven candles in the African colours of red, green and black; a candleholder; a communal cup; and gifts.
being human
Kwanzaa is now celebrated by millions of people around the world. People from other ethnicities are also encouraged to take part. In the words of the founder: “Kwanzaa brings a cultural message which speaks to the best of what it means to be African and human in the fullest sense.”
The seven principles of Kwanzaa
Umoja (unity)
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
Ujima (collective work and responsibility)
To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and to solve them together.
Kujichagulia (self-determination)
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
Ujimaa (cooperative economics)
To build and maintain our own stores and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Nia (purpose)
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their greatness.
Kuumba (creativity)
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.
Imani (faith)
To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.