What is the first thing you think of when someone mentions the winter holidays? The most common answer would most likely be Christmas, then Hanukkah. But, if you think back to when you were younger, there was one other holiday that your teachers talked about. That holiday is Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is an annual holiday celebrated for seven days, starting on December 26th and ending on January 1st. Kwanzaa is a time for families and communities to unite to remember the past, and to restore African culture, history, and values. This holiday is also the time to reinforce the Seven Principles, or the Nguzo Saba. It’s primarily celebrated in the United States, but it is also celebrated by Africans in Canada and in the Caribbean.

Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, in 1966. It highlights the signifigance of the pan-American family and its corresponding social values. Pan-American is the idea that people of African descent should be united. After the Watts Riots located in Los Angeles, Dr. Karenga wanted to find new ways to bring African Americans together as a community. Kwanzaa has different aspects of many harvest celebrations, such as the Ashanti and the Zulu celebrations. Due to the Afrocentrist movement, which was a cultural, political, and scholarly movement in which research and education on global studies would show the perspective of African people, Kwanzaa began to gain popularity. The colors of Kwanzaa are red, green, and black. Each of the three colors could represent a different African God. Red represents Shango, the god of fire, or the struggle for self determination and freedom of people of color. Green represents the earth, and the hope, determination, and fruits of the harvests that it provides. Black represents the people, the surce of life, creativity, hope, and faith. Kwanzaa is a secular holiday, so it is not religion based. Karenga borrowed the word kwanza from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza which means “first fruits”. Adding the extra a to the end of the word was to represent each of the seven days of the celebration. Each of the seven days of celebration stands for a different principle.

On the first night of Kwanzaa, unity or umoja, is discussed. Umoja is to strive for unity within the family, the community, the race, and the nation. This unity is not simply just being together, it is a harmonious togetherness. “It takes self determination, and all of us together to be unified.” said a member of a local community Kwanzaa celebration. On the second night, self-determination or kujichagulia, is discussed. Self-determination is to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and to speak for ourselves. The principle of self-determination supports the iddeaa that we have the right and responsibility to make our own special contributions to the flow of human history. On the third night, collective work and responsibility or ujima, is discussed within the family. Ujima means to build and to maintain the community together and to help others sove their problems with them. It helps to recognize and respect that working in unity is necessary for progress to be made, and without it, progress is nearly impossible. The principle of Ujima also supports the idea that being African isn’t just an identity, but a destiny, a duty, and a responsibility. On the fourth night of Kwanzaa, cooperative economics or ujamma, is discussed. The principle ujamma is to build and maintain the shops, stores, and businesses and to profit from them as a community. The literal meaning of Ujamma is familyhood and it suggests a sharing of work and wealth in the family. On the fifth night of Kwanzaa, purpose or nia, is discussed within the family. Nia is to make our mutual mission in the building and eveloping of the community, with the purpose of developing the community to restore the traditional African greatness. The official Kwanzaa website states that, “...we as an African people share in the great human legacy Africa has given the world.” while talking about the fourth principle, Nia. On the sixth night of Kwanzaa, the principle of creativity or kuumba is discussed. Kuumba is the importance of leaving the community more beneficial and beautiful than when it was “inherited”. Creativity helps to push back the chaos and decay and restores the spiritual, natural, and cosmic energy of the world. On the seventh and last night of Kwanzaa, faith or imani is discussed. Imani is the belief of the people, parents, leaders, teachers, and the righteousnes and victory of strugglewith all of our heart. Faith is also the commitment to all that we value as a family, community, and culture. Faith and unity are intertwined, as unity brings us together and faith keeps us together. The Seven Principles or, Nguzo Saba, are important in reinforcing parts of African culture and to contribute to the building and supporting of family, community, and heritage of people of African descent.

One important object in a Kwanzaa celebration is the Kinara. The Kinara is the candleholder, and is the center of the Kwanzaa setting. It represents our origin, our ancestry. The kinara can be shaped in lines, spirals, and other shapes, as long as the seven candles are distinct and separated. The kinara symbolizes the ancestors, and helps the people with the reflection of ancestors and their sacrifices in society. The Seven Candles, or Mishumaa Saba, are ceremonial objects. The purpose of the candles is to re-create symbolically the sun’s power, and to provide light. Each candle represents a different principle, and the candle is lit on the day that the principle is discussed. If you’ve ever seen the mishumaa saba, either in a picture or in real life, you will noticie that there are three red, three green and one black candle. The black candle symbolizes Umoja, the foundation principle, and it is lit on December 26th. The three green candles are placed to the right of the Umoja candle, and they symbolize Nia, Uijma, and Imani. The red candles that represent Kuichagulia, Ujamaa, and Kuumba are placed on the left of the Umoja candle. The candles representing the different principals are lit on the nights that the specified principal is discussed. Some other important symbols of Kwanzaa are the Kikombe Cha Umoja (the Unity Cup), Zawadi (gifts), Vibunzi (Ear of Corn), Mazao (the Crops), and Mkeka (place mat).

Kwanzaa is important to all, especially on the community level. Ms Graham, who is the Director of School Consouling of Harborfields High School, helped to host a Kwanzaa celebration for the town. She is the President of the “National Association of Community Leaders” which helped to bring this holiday to life. At the ceremony, they gave out scholarships, which helped to teach economic cooperation and investing in the community. Ms. Graham said that people see pride in Kwanzaa and they are proud of their contribution to American society. Together, they recall their steps, acknowledge in the past, and recognize the ancestors who paved the way. These ancestors included notable leaders, famous people, and even family. Gifts, or Zawadi, are given during Kwanzaa. These presents are usually handmade or something sentimental. “Kwanzaa is less materialistic…When you think about Kwanzaa, you think about long-lasting meaningful gifts.” Ms. Graham comments during an interview. Some key points of the celebration were the food and music. On December 31st, or the sixth night of Kwanzaa, families will have a big feast, called Karamu. Foods that they eat include okra stew, gumbo, jambalaya, collard greens, and fruit. The music that was listened to “spoke to our spiritual esscense”. Together, the community worked together to also inspire the younger generations and learned to respect one another.

The holiday Kwanzaa is very important to African Americans, as it helps to align with their African traditions. Their ancestors are remembered and the future generations are inspired. Just like Hannukah and Christmas, this awe-inspiring holiday should be celebrated and honored throughout the holiday season and beyond.

Let's Talk About It: Kwanzaa