Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a secular holiday celebrated by many African-American communities.  It is a celebration of Family, Community, and Culture.

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a relatively new holiday created in 1966 by professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, Dr. Maulana Karenga.  It was created in an attempt to bring the community back together after the Watts riots.  It has roots in many African harvest festivals.

The word "Kwanzaa" is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza", which translates to "First Fruits".  Celebrations include song, dance, drums, poetry, and a large feast.

Kwanzaa has 7 principles that coincide with 7 candles lit on 7 nights.  Those principles are:

Unity:Umoja (oo–MO–jah) To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.

Self-determination: Kujichagulia (koo–gee–cha–goo–LEE–yah) To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.

Collective Work and Responsibility: Ujima (oo–GEE–mah) To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together.

Cooperative Economics: Ujamaa (oo–JAH–mah) To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.

Purpose: Nia (nee–YAH) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Creativity: Kuumba (koo–OOM–bah) 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.

Faith: Imani (ee–MAH–nee) To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

And 7 symbols which are:

Mazao, the crops (fruits, nuts, and vegetables)

Mkeka: Place Mat

Vibunzi: Ear of Corn

Mishumaa Saba: The Seven Candles Mishumaa saba’s symbolic colors are from the red, black, and green flag (bendara)

Kinara: The Candleholder

Kikombe Cha Umoja: The Unity Cup

Zawadi: Gifts

To my African American colleagues and friends, Happy Kwanzaa and Habari Gani!