1. Kwanzaa:
A Celebration of Principles
Najmah Thomas, PhD
AFAM B201: Introduction to African American Studies
2. Presentation Objectives
Describe the purpose of Kwanzaa
Identify the Kwanzaa principles
Practice the Kwanzaa principles
Participate in or host a Kwanzaa celebration
3. Presentation Topics
What is Kwanzaa?
Translation
Founder
Timeframe
Why was Kwanzaa
created?
Connect African Diaspora
Reclaim African core values
Stimulate Self-
Determination
Who can celebrate
Kwanzaa?
The Nguzo Saba (The
Seven Principles)
The Symbols of Kwanzaa
Sample Kwanzaa
Celebration
Sample Karamu (Kwanzaa
feast) Menu
4. What is Kwanzaa?
First fruits festivals - “Matunda Ya
Kwanza”
Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa founder:
Professor and Chair, Black Studies
Program, CSULB
Executive Director, Institute of Pan-African
Studies
Founder of US, political prisoner*
Celebrated December 26 – January 1:
1966, inaugural celebration
Embraced by millions nationally and
internationally
Not a replacement to Christmas
5. Why was Kwanzaa created?
The African Diaspora:
Descendants of those forcibly
removed from the continent
African language, values, principles,
cultural and spiritual practices
diminished or eliminated
Reclaiming African Core Values:
Positive practices and history of
Africa
Collective consciousness across the
Diaspora
Stimulating Self-Determination:
Change from within
Speaking, defining and creating for
self
A framework for living and leaving a
legacy
6. Who can celebrate Kwanzaa?
All people – Kwanzaa calls
for unity in diversity:
Anyone with an
appreciation of diversity
can celebrate
Public celebrations should
be led by a person of
African descent
Follow sample program
format (slide 10)
8. The symbols of Kwanzaa
Bendera (Bain-DAY-rah): a banner or flag
Kikombe cha umoja (Kee-KOM-bay
CHAH oo-MO-jah): the unity cup
Kinara (kee-NAH-ra): a candleholder
Mazao (mah-ZAH-o): fruits and
vegetables
Mishumaa saba (mee-SHOO-ma SAH-
bah): the seven candles
Mkeka (em-KEH-kah): mat
Muhindi (moo-HEEN-dee): ears of corn
The Nguzo Saba (N-GOO-zo SAH-bah):
The Seven Principles
Zawadi (zea-WAH-dee): the gifts
9. The Nguzo Saba
Principle Meaning Day
Umoja Unity December 26
Kugichagulia Self-Determination December 27
Ujima Collective Work and
Responsibility
December 28
Ujamaa Cooperative Economics December 29
Nia Purpose December 30
Kuumba Creativity December 31
Imani Faith January 1
10. Sample Kwanzaa Celebration
Prelude: Drumming
Processional: Lift Every
Voice and Sing
Permission of Elders
Opening Prayer
Opening Statements:
Habari Gani
Libation
Meditation
The Nguza Saba: Call
and respond
Harambee! (x7)
Musical Selection
Poetry
Gift Offering
Announcements
Closing Payers
Recessional
12. FAQs
Why Swahili?
Dr. Karenga selected this Pan-African language because it is
a non-tribal language spoken by many nations in Africa
Aren’t these universal principles?
“The essence…is ancient and has proven to positively
impact people of all ages, races, ethnic and socio-
economic groups”
Is Kwanzaa celebrated in Africa?
A wide variety of holidays and festivals are celebrated
across the continent; however, Kwanzaa is an African-
American holiday, created specifically for people of African
descent who do not live on the continent of Africa.
Others?
13. References
Anderson, D. A. (1993). Kwanzaa An Everyday Resource and
Instructional Guide. New York: Gumbs & Thomas.
Ase Chicago Association of Black Storytellers. Retrieved from
http://www.aseblackstorytellers.org/ on November 27, 2016
Cox, Anyanwu. Kwanzaa: The Unity Way!
Gayle, S. (1994). Kwanzaa, An African American Holiday. Mahwah,
NJ: Watermill Press.
Karenga, M. (1989). The African American Holiday of Kwanzaa: A
Celebration of Family, Community & Culture. Los Angeles:
University of Sankore Press.
Languages of Africa. Retrieved from http://www.africa.com/many-
african-languages/ on November 27, 2016.
Karenga, M. (1989). Kwanzaa & The Seven Principles: Repairing &
Renewing The World.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lpmZ8KwFK4
Refers to the ‘first fruits festivals’ through out Africa since Nubia and Kemet…but it is NOT an African holiday
The holiday was born in struggle…in 1966 – this is the 50th year of the celebration
After the Watts riots of 1965, Karenga helped establish the Black Congress among residents of the Watts district to help restore the community. US engaged in violent competition with the Black Panther Party in their claim to be a revolutionary vanguard. In 1971, Karenga was sentenced to one to ten years in prison on counts of felonious assault and false imprisonment.
Kwanzaa is a framework for living and leaving a legacy, with particular appeal and relevance to individuals of African descent
Unity in diversity is unity among people without uniformity or fragmentation; shifting from unity based on a mere tolerance of physical, cultural, linguistic, social, religious, political, ideological or other differences towards a more complex unity based on an understanding that difference enriches human interactions.
Principles are to be practiced all year long…call and response for a reasons
Umoja calls us to practice the principle of unity and togetherness
Kujichagulia calls us to practice the principle self-determination, of defining ourselves by the good we do; it involves understanding and rooting oneself in African culture
Ujima (UJeeMah) calls us to practice the principle of working together, collectively identifying and solving problems
Ujamaa (oo-Jah-MAAH) calls us to practice the principle of cooperative economics, understanding that what we want for ourselves we must want for others – the wealth of the world belongs to all the people of the world; all of the great goods are shared goods
Nia – calls on us to practice the principle of purpose, of building, developing and restoring our communities to greatness
Kuumba – calls on us to practice the principle of creativity, with the goal of leaving our community more beautiful and beneficial than we found it
Imani (eee-MA-nee) – calls on us to practice the principle of faith, believing in the good, hoping for the best, and hope and struggle relentlessly to make both a reality
Symbolism is important part of celebrating Kwanzaa…here are 9 main symbols:
Mkeka (mat) symbolizes tradition, history, and building on a solid foundation
Colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green; black for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future and hope that comes from their struggle. The seven candles represent the seven principles. The black candle represents the first principle Umoja (unity) and is placed in the center of the kinara. The red candles represent the principles of Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujamaa (cooperative economics) and Kuumba (creativity) and are placed to the left of the black candle. The green candles represent the principles of Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Nia (purpose) and Imani (faith) and are placed to the right of the black candle. The black candle is lit first on the first day of the celebration. And the remaining candles are lit afterwards from left to right on the following days. This procedure is to indicate that the people come first, then the struggle and then the hope that comes from the struggle.
Specific focus for everyday…light candles everyday
Note about traditional African-American dishes, born out of struggle – skills of African-American cooks making something wonderful out of the only things they had available at that time…combining African foodways with American items
Not only is Africa the second most populous continent in the world with over one billion people, but it is also home to the highest linguistic diversity in the world, with over 1500 (nearly 2,000!) different languages. According to a few sources, Swahili is the most spoken language in Africa, with over 100 million speakers. It is a Bantu language believed to have originated from other languages, mainly Arabic, due to historical interactions between Arabs from the Middle East and East Africans.
Kwanzaa is a framework for living and leaving a legacy, with particular appeal and relevance to individuals of African descent.
