The African-American celebration of Kwanzaa has both Zulu and Ashanti influences. Maulana Karenga, a professor at California State University created Kwanzaa while living in Los Angeles, as an attempt to bring African-Americans together as a people and community. The first Kwanzaa celebration of family, community, and culture began on this day in 1966. Kwanzaa lasts for seven days, with each day representing a principle, and ends on New Year’s Day. The principles are unity, self-determination, responsibility, purpose, creativity, faith, and economic cooperation. A candle representing the principle is lit each night while the family discusses the chosen principle. The word Kwanzaa is taken from Swahili and means "first fruits".
The principles of Kwanzaa:
UMOJA - (Unity)
KUJICHAGULIA - (Self-Determination)
UJIMA - (Collective Work & Responsibility)
UJAMAA - (Cooperative Economics)
NIA - (Purpose)
KUUMBA - (Creativity)
IMANI - (Faith)
Comments