Kwanzaa

   Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan African Holiday founded by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966, with the intent to bring the black community together.  Observed over a period of seven days from December 26th to January 1st, this celebration of family, community and culture is now practiced by over 18 million people worldwide. A non-religious holiday meant to bring all of the African diaspora together, the celebration was designed to strengthen community, reaffirm common identity, purpose and direction.  

The word Kwanzaa is drawn from the Swahili phrase “Matunda Ya Kwanza”, which means first fruits. Swahili is a trade language used to facilitate communication between different language groups, this became a popular language in the Pan-African movement who sought to bring together Africans from all back grounds. Kwanzaa introduces and reinforces the Nguzo Saba (the Seven Principles.) The seven basic values of African culture that contribute to building and reinforcing family, community and culture.  The Nguzo Saba both reinforce and enhance the building blocks of community. Each day of Kwanzaa is focused on the reflection and practice of one of these principles.   

1.   Umoja (Unity)  To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.  
2.   Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)  To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.    
3.   Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)  To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together. 
4.   Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)  To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.   
5.   Nia (Purpose)  To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. 
6.   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. 
7.   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.    tml>