Kwanzaa is a unique African American celebration with focus on the traditional African values of family, community responsibility, commerce, and self-improvement. It is not a political or religious tradition and it is not a substitution for Christmas. It was created to reaffirm and restore our roots in African culture as well as to serve as a regular communal celebration to reaffirm and reinforce the bonds between us as a people.
Kwanzaa was founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga and is an adaptation of the traditional African first harvest celebration. It is celebrated from December 26th thru January 1st. The term Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits.” It is said that an extra ‘a’ was added to the end of spelling to differentiate that African American tradition from the African celebration.
The American celebration is based on the African concept of the Nguzo Saba, which are seven basic values of African culture and each day recognizes one of those principles. Nguzo Saba is more commonly known as the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. They are Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). On each day of Kwanzaa family and friends come together to reflect on the meaning of each principle.
The daily ceremony may consist of the lighting of the candle(s) followed by a statement about the day's principle and its meaning. Then possibly a passage or poem is spoken or read which relates to what the principle means and how it relates to their life. Finally, the family shares the Unity cup and they may exchange education and/or artistic gifts and then the candles are extinguished. This is the basic ritual except for on the sixth day. On the sixth day, which occurs on New Years Eve, the Kwanzaa Karamu or Kwanzaa Feast is held. This is a day of great celebration. Often in many communities a celebration is held for the entire community. Kwanzaa is a tradition that we can and should embrace this holiday season. It is a way to reconnect with the ancestors as well as to reaffirm our connection to our culture and belief system.
The Seven Principles
The seven principles, or Nguzo Saba are a set of ideals. Each day of Kwanzaa emphasizes a different principle.
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.
Mkeka - (Mmm-KAY-kah) a straw mat, which represents our reverence for tradition (a prayer mat). The mat symbolizes the foundation of real knowledge.
Vibunzi - (vee-BOON-zee) an ear of corn. There should be one for each child member of the family. (We are all someone's children and an ear of corn can be placed for each family member as well.) Also called Muhindi.
Zawadi - (zah-WAH-dee) gifts, preferably educational or African influenced gifts. The family should spend time making them instead of buying them. Zawadi are gifts to help the children keep their promises to themselves and to their people. During Kwanzaa, children are usually the only ones to receive gifts, but these gifts should be presented only to those who have made and kept to their commitments from the previous year.
Kikombe cha umoja - (kee-KOM-bay CHA oo-MOH-jah) a communal cup for libation. While most libations are done with an alcoholic beverage, this one can, and should, be made with fruit juice.
Kinara - (kee-NAH-rah) a seven branched candleholder. This candleholder symbolizes Africa and her people.
Mishumaa saba - (mee-SHOO-mah SAH-bah) the seven candles of the Kinara. These candles symbolize the principles of the Nguzo Saba or seven principles of Kwanzaa - values to build a new people and a new world. (There are three red candles, three green candles and one black candle. The black candle is placed in the center of the kinara, the red on the left and the green on the right.)
The greetings during Kwanzaa are in Swahili. Swahili is a Pan-African language and is chosen to reflect African Americans' commitment to the whole of Africa and African culture rather than to a specific ethnic or national group or culture. The greetings are to reinforce awareness of and commitment to the Seven Principles. It is: "Habari gani?" and the answer is each of the principles for each of the days of Kwanzaa, i.e., "Umoja", on the first day, "Kujichagulia", on the second day and so on.
The Symbols
Mazao - (mah-ZOW-oh) fruits and vegetables, which stand for the family's and the community's effort at unification and the rewards for the work we do.
Vibunzi - (vee-BOON-zee) an ear of corn. There should be one for each child member of the family. (We are all someone's children and an ear of corn can be placed for each family member as well.) Also called Muhindi.
Zawadi - (zah-WAH-dee) gifts, preferably educational or African influenced gifts. The family should spend time making them instead of buying them. Zawadi are gifts to help the children keep their promises to themselves and to their people. During Kwanzaa, children are usually the only ones to receive gifts, but these gifts should be presented only to those who have made and kept to their commitments from the previous year.
Kikombe cha umoja - (kee-KOM-bay CHA oo-MOH-jah) a communal cup for libation. While most libations are done with an alcoholic beverage, this one can, and should, be made with fruit juice.
Kinara - (kee-NAH-rah) a seven branched candleholder. This candleholder symbolizes Africa and her people.
Mishumaa saba - (mee-SHOO-mah SAH-bah) the seven candles of the Kinara. These candles symbolize the principles of the Nguzo Saba or seven principles of Kwanzaa - values to build a new people and a new world. (There are three red candles, three green candles and one black candle. The black candle is placed in the center of the kinara, the red on the left and the green on the right.)
The Greeting
The greetings during Kwanzaa are in Swahili. Swahili is a Pan-African language and is chosen to reflect African Americans' commitment to the whole of Africa and African culture rather than to a specific ethnic or national group or culture. The greetings are to reinforce awareness of and commitment to the Seven Principles. It is: "Habari gani?" and the answer is each of the principles for each of the days of Kwanzaa, i.e., "Umoja", on the first day, "Kujichagulia", on the second day and so on.
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