History

Kwanzaa is a non-religious, all inclusive holiday founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga author, activist, and professor of Africana Studies. "The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits" in Swahili."
Dr. Karenga's Purpose: To celebrate African-American culture and bring the people together by ways of the Seven Principles.
The bendera (flag) of Kwanzaa is the "colors of the Organization Us, black, red and green; black for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future and hope that comes from their struggle. It is based on the colors given by the Hon. Marcus Garvey as national colors for African people throughout the world."

Celebrate!

Who? Although it was founded as an African-American and Pan-African celebration, regardless of religion or cultural background, everyone is welcome to celebrate Kwanzaa.
What? Uplift your Family, Community, & Culture with the Seven Principles.
When? It is a yearly celebration from December 26 - January 1.
Where? Celebrate in your home and/or with local Kwanzaa celebrations.
Why? Promote Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work & Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith.
​How? Watch the below videos, attend community Kwanzaa events, visit the official site, and visit my Pinterest folder for tips.

7 Principles/Nguzo Saba

DAY 1 DEC 26: Umoja - Unity
"To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race."
DAY 2 DEC 27: Kujichagulia - Self Determination
"To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves."
DAY 3 DEC 28: Ujima - Collective Work & Responsibility
"To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems, and to solve them together."
DAY 4 DEC 29: Ujamaa - Cooperative Economics
"To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other business, and to profit from them together."
DAY 5 DEC 30: Nia - Purpose
"To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness."
DAY 6 DEC 31: 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."
DAY 7 JAN 01: 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."

7 Symbols

Mazao - Crops - "These are symbolic of African harvest celebrations and of the rewards of productive and collective labor"

Mkeka - Place Mat - "This is symbolic of our tradition and history and therefore, the foundation on which we build."

Kinara - Candleholder - "This is symbolic of our roots, our parent people -- continental Africans." There are traditional kinaras, but there are also homemade creative DIYs.

Muhindi - Corn - "This is symbolic of our children and our future which they embody."

Mishumaa Saba - 7 Candles (1 Black, 3 Red, 3 Green) Red represents the Struggle. Green represents the Hope - "These are symbolic of the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles, the matrix and minimum set of values which African people are urged to live by in order to rescue and reconstruct their lives in their own image and according to their own needs."

Kikombe cha Umoja - Unity Cup - "This is symbolic of the foundational principle and practice of unity which makes all else possible."

Zawadi - Gifts - "These are symbolic of the labor and love of parents and the commitments made and kept by the children."
Resources: Official Kwanzaa Website, Dr. Maulana Karenga Website, The Organization Us, Youtube
Page Written & Compiled By Chong Laoshi   #thechonglaoshi