What is Kwanzaa?
Kwanzaa is an annual holiday celebrated by African Americans as well as people of the global African diaspora. It’s a joyful seven-day celebration of Black culture, food, and unity. To celebrate Kwanzaa, people gather together to practice shared values and pass cultural traditions down to younger generations.
Kwanzaa | National Museum of African American History and Culture (si.edu)
Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 as a non-religious holiday for African Americans to honor their African roots and feel pride in their history. The phrase matunda ya kwanza means ‘first fruits’ in Kiswahili and refers to the first crops of the harvest. This holiday is modeled after the harvest celebrations that take place all over the African continent.
Everyone can celebrate Kwanzaa! The whole community can come together to enjoy storytelling, dancing, music, and the Karamu feast. It’s a time to learn about and participate in Black cultural traditions.
Nguzo Saba - 7 Principles
What Is the Meaning of Kwanzaa and Its Seven Principles?, opens a new window The seven days of Kwanzaa start on December 26 and end on January 1. Each day focuses on one of the seven principles or Nguzo Saba.
Day 1: Umoja-Unity - to strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and culture
Day 2: Kujichagulia-Self-Determination - to define ourselves, name ourselves, and speak for ourselves, instead of being defined and spoken for by others
Day 3: Ujima-Collective Work and Responsibility - build and maintain our community and solve problems together
Day 4: Ujamaa-Cooperative Economics - building and maintaining our own stores, shops, and other businesses to profit from them together
Day 5: Nia-Purpose - It’s our collective vocation to develop our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness
Day 6: Kuumba-Creativity - It means to do all we can to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than how when we inherited it
Day 7: Imani-Faith - It means to believe with all our heart in our family, our teachers, our leaders, our people and the righteousness and victory of our struggle
In celebrating Kwanzaa, consider some ways that you can practice the Nguzo Saba throughout the year!
Ways to Celebrate with AC Library!
In celebration of Kwanzaa, check out this featured event for children and families:
- Kwanzaa Storytime at Centerville Library on Thursday, December 26 at 5 pm.
Community Events
- The Kwanaa Project: Dance, Drumming, and Song at Golden Safari in Hayward on Saturday, December 14.
- The Kwanzaa Project: California Griot Art of Storytelling at Hayward Library on Monday, December 16 and Friday, December 20.
- Kujichagulia Kwanzaa Celebration at OakStop Event Center in Oakland on Friday, December 27.
- 2024 Annual Kwanzaa Celebration - East Bay Church, opens a new window at East Bay Church in Oakland on Saturday, December 28.
Booklists
Kwanzaa is an annual African American celebration based on African harvest festival traditions. Kwanzaa is celebrated December 26 through January 1. These books teach about the history of Kwanzaa, symbols, crafts, foods, and the Nguzo Saba (the seven principles) celebrated each day.
Celebrate Kwanzaa and learn more about the holiday with these titles! Kwanzaa is observed every year from December 26 to January 1. Each of the seven days celebrates one of the Nguzo Saba (or Seven Principles): Umoja (Unity) Kujichagulia (Self-determination) Ujima (Collective work and responsibility) Ujamaa (Cooperative economics) Nia (Purpose) Kuumba (Creativity) Imani (Faith)
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