Kwanzaa, (matunda ya kwanza, Swahili for “first fruits”),
an African American holiday observed by African communities throughout the
world that celebrates family, community, and culture. It is a seven-day holiday
that begins December 26 and continues through January 1. Kwanzaa has its roots
in the ancient African first-fruit harvest celebrations from which it takes its
name. However, its modern history begins in 1966 when it was developed by
African American scholar and activist Maulana Karenga.
Kwanzaa is organized around five fundamental activities common to
other African first-fruit celebrations: (1) the ingathering of family, friends,
and community; (2) reverence for the creator and creation (including
thanksgiving and recommitment to respect the environment and heal the world);
(3) commemoration of the past (honoring ancestors, learning lessons and
emulating achievements of African history); (4) recommitment to the highest
cultural ideals of the African community (for example, truth, justice, respect
for people and nature, care for the vulnerable, and respect for elders); and
(5) celebration of the “Good of Life” (for example, life, struggle,
achievement, family, community, and culture).
Kwanzaa is celebrated through rituals, dialogue, narratives,
poetry, dancing, singing, drumming and other music, and feasting. A central
practice is the lighting of the mishumaa (seven candles) of Kwanzaa. A
candle is lit each day for each of the Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles).
These principles are umoja (unity); kujichagulia
(self-determination); ujima (collective work and responsibility); ujamaa
(cooperative economics); nia (purpose); kuumba (creativity); and imani
(faith). Kwanzaa ends with a day of assessment on which celebrants raise and
answer questions of cultural and moral grounding and consider their worthiness
in family, community, and culture.
