Guide to Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a festive occasion that is mainly celebrated in the United States to honor African culture and heritage. This week-long celebration takes place from the 26th of December to the 1st of January. It was created by an African American man named Ron Karenga in the year 1966. The 1960s was a decade that was marked by cultural reformation and many African Americans became disillusioned as they were searching for their cultural identity. Karenga saw a need to help them come to terms with their African roots and he therefore created the Kwanzaa festival. In its early years, Kwanzaa served as an alternative festival to Christmas, which was regarded as a white man’s holiday by Karenga. Later in 1997, he said that even practicing Christians can take part in the celebrations. Today, Kwanzaa is celebrated by millions of people of African descent in the United States as well as other parts of the world.
The term “Kwanzaa” came from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza”, which means “first fruits” in Swahili. Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is celebrated to promote one of “The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa”. The first principle is “umoja”, which means “unity”, and celebrants pledge to strengthen the unity of their families, communities, and nation on the first day of Kwanzaa. The second day is dedicated to the principle of “kujichagulia”, which means “self-determination”, and is celebrated with personal pledges to work towards a positive future. “Ujima”, or “collective work and responsibility” is the third principle, and the third day of the festival is marked by vows to help others in the community solve their problems. The fourth day is “ujamaa”, meaning “cooperative economics”, and is dedicated to the improvement of businesses in the community. The fifth day of Kwanzaa is “nia”, or “purpose”, and celebrants vow to build a strong foundation for the future development of their children. On the sixth day “kumba”, meaning “creativity”, pledges are made to beautify the community and make use of personal talents to provide guidance for children. The last day of the festival is “imani”, which means “faith”, and all celebrants will pledge to dedicate their hearts and minds to the betterment of the community.
During the festival, celebrants will display a number of items that are symbolically related to Kwanzaa. The first item is a table cloth, which represents the “Black National Flag”. The second item is a “mkeka”, a straw mat that symbolizes African traditions. A candle holder, “kinara”, and seven candles, “mishumaa saba”, are displayed as symbols of the African continent and “The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa” respectively. Other items include “mazao” or crops that represent the origins of Kwanzaa as a harvest festival; “muhundi” or “vibunzi”, meaning “ears of corn”, symbolize fertility and offspring; “kikombi cha umoja” is a “unity” cup that represents the first principle of Kwanzaa. The “nguzo saba” poster, a “Seven Principles” poster, shows the role of each principle in Kwanzaa culture; and lastly, “zawadi” is a gift that symbolizes the importance of culture and education.
Kwanzaa is celebrated with much feasting and merrymaking. There are interesting activities for adults and children throughout the seven-day celebration, most are aimed at promoting appreciation of African culture. Traditional African meals are prepared in the homes of Kwanzaa celebrants. These meals are made from ingredients that are commonly used in Africa, such as sweet potato, African yams and squash, black-eyed peas, okra, and others. It is also a Kwanzaa tradition to play “oware”, an African strategy game that is played by moving seeds around a board with holes. Generally, any activity that exposes participants to African culture is encouraged during the Kwanzaa festival.