In 1966, Karenga (left) created Kwanzaa , a celebration to help African Americans reconnect with their African heritage and unify their families and communities. He developed Kwanzaa because he saw a need for African Americans to have a holiday of their own, one that would help them to be proud of their past, and aid in the building of stronger African-American families and communities.

Celebrated from December 26 through January 1, Kwanzaa derives its name from the Kiswahili phrase Amatunda ya kwanzaa, meaning first fruits of the harvest. The celebration has its origins in African harvest festivals and is neither political nor religious, and is not a substitute for Christmas.

The holiday is celebrated all over the world as a harvest celebration -- which is Kwanzaa’s central metaphor and model. Kwanzaa is celebrated by more than 12 million African Americans in the United States, and 8 million people in Africa, Brazil, Canada, the Caribbean, England, Germany, and other countries.

The celebration is based on Nguzo Saba (seven guiding principles), one for each day of observance. According to Karenga, the essential and enduring value of Kwanzaa rests unavoidably in its principles and the practice of bringing and enjoying good are inspired by these principles:

• Umoja (unity) to strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
• Kujichagulia (self-determination) to define oneself, name oneself, create for oneself and speak for oneself.
• Ujima (collective work and responsibility) to build and maintain the community together and to make each other's problems our problems and to solve them together.
• Ujamaa (cooperative economics) to build and maintain stores, shops and other businesses and to profit together from them.
• Nia (purpose) to make as a collective vocation the building and developing of the community order to restore the people to the traditional greatness.
• Kuumba (creativity) to do always as much as one can, in the best way possible, in order to leave the community more beautiful and beneficial than before.
• Imani (faith) to believe in the family, the teachers, the leaders, the people and the righteousness and victory of the African-American struggle.

The Symbols of Kwanzaa

To celebrate the holiday you should decorate an area with Kwanzaa symbols surrounded by an African motif. The Kwanzaa symbols are used for instructional and inspirational purposes and emphasizes aspects of cultural concepts, practices, and historical traditions. Some of the primary symbols of Kwanzaa are:

• Mkeka - a straw mat on which everything is placed
• Kinara - a seven-branched candle holder which represents the seven principles and is placed in the center of the table
• Mshumaa - are the seven candles -- one black, three red, and three green -- represent the seven principles
• Mazao - fruits and vegetables representing the first fruits of the harvest
• Muhindi - ears of corn to represent the number of children in the household and their potential
• Kikombe cha umoja - the communal unity cup used in prayers and blessings
• Zawadi - gifts that are enriching and encourage creativity.

Celebrating Kwanzaa

The celebration of Kwanzaa begins by lighting the black candle placed in the center of the Kinara (right). Each day another candle is lit alternately from left to right. Three green candles should be placed to the left and three red candles should be placed to the right of the black candle. While each candle is being lit, participants recite and discuss the principle of the day. After lighting the candle, a person is selected to pour water or juice from the unity cup into a bowl. That person then drinks from the cup and raises it high saying "Harambee" which means "Let’s pull together." All repeat "Harambee" seven times and each person, in turn, drinks from the cup to pay tribute to their ancestry.

Gifts are exchanged each day of Kwanzaa to reinforce the principle of that day. The gifts represent the fruit of the elders' labor and the rewards of seeds sown by the youth. Traditional Kwnazaa gifts are homemade and include items such as crafts and dolls, games and toys, books written by and about Africans, and African apparel.

A festive celebration for the family and community called the Karamu Feast is held on December 31^st. A ceremonial program consisting of cultural expressions and entertainment is held prior to the feast. Gifts are also opened during this time. During the Karamu Feast traditional African and African-American dishes are served. Some favorites include baked catfish, collard greens, yams, various rice dishes and breads.

According to Karenga, Kwanzaa's stress on the harmonious ingathering of people; special reverence for the Creator and the creation; reflective commemoration of the past; ongoing recommitment to our highest cultural ideas; and joyous celebration of the good -- all speak to Kwanzaa's concern with the cooperative creation of good and collective sharing.

For many African Americans, Kwanzaa is more than an end-of-the-year celebration. Kwanzaa principles, practices and symbols fulfill social and spiritual needs that serve as fundamental standards for everyday life.

Suggested Readings on Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture
by: Dr. Maulana Karenga
Dr. Karenga explains the theories behind Kwanzaa and describes its practice and importance for the African American community.

The Complete Kwanzaa Celebration Book
by: Linda Robertson
A book provides a description of Kwanzaa practices and principles.

My First Kwanzaa Book
by: Deborah M. Newton Chocolate
Introduces the Kwanzaa celebration to young children.

 

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Kwanzaa Websites:

Kwanzaa Information Center
http://www.melanet.com/kwanzaa/

The Official Kwanzaa Web Site
http://www.OfficialKwanzaaWebsite.org/