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KWANZAA An Afrikan American Celebration

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KWANZAA An Afrikan American Celebration

2016 Is The 50th year Anniversary of KWANZAA

KWANZAA is a Pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated from 26 December thru 1 January, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name. The name Kwanza is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits" in Swahili, a Pan-African language which is the most widely spoken African language. We must remember that the seasons are in reverse south of the Equator. Even though it is cold in North America, It is Summertime and harvest season below the equator. The Father of KWANZAA is Dr. Mulana Karenga. KWANZAA with the extra "A" is also an acroynim abreveating the the 7 youth participants of the first experience.

The 7 Days of KWANZAA is an African American Holiday celebration, commencing on the day after Winter solstice, December 26th until January 1st. KWANZAA means, "the first fruits of the harvest." We use the African Market trade language of Ki Swahili to express a universal Pan-African heritage. Habari Gani is a Swahili word for "what's the news." We use this word to announce each day of KWANZAA. The answer for the first day is 1. UMOJA! (unity) 2. KUJICHAGULIA (self determination) 3. UJIMA (collective work and responsibility) 4. UJAMAA (cooperative economics) 5. NIA (purpose) 6. KUUMBA (creativity) 7. IMANI (faith)

The first-fruits celebrations are recorded in African history as far back as ancient Kemet and Nubia and appear in ancient and modern times in other classical African civilizations such as Ashantiland and Yorubaland. These celebrations are also found in ancient and modern times among societies as large as empires (the Zulu or kingdoms (Swaziland) or smaller societies and groups like the Matabele, Thonga and Lovedu, all of southeastern Africa. Kwanzaa builds on the five fundamental activities of Continental African "first fruit" celebrations: ingathering; reverence; commemoration; recommitment; and celebration. Kwanzaa,


First, KWANZAA was created in 1966 to reaffirm and restore our roots in African culture. It is, an expression of recovery and reconstruction of African culture. Secondly, KWANZAA was created to serve as a regular communal celebration to reaffirm and reinforce the bonds between us as a people. It was designed to be an ingathering to strengthen community and reaffirm common identity, purpose and direction as a people and a world community. Thirdly, KWANZAA was created to introduce and reinforce the Nguzo Saba (the Seven Principles.) Seven symbols are displayed during the Kwanzaa ceremony to represent the seven principles of African culture and community. The seven communitarian African symbols are:

Mkeka (M-kay-cah) - This is the mat (usually made of straw, but it can also be made of fabric or paper) upon which all the other Kwanzaa symbols are placed. The mat represents the foundation of African traditions and history.

Mazao (Maah-zow) - The crops, fruits and vegetables, represent traditional African harvest celebrations and show respect for the people who labored to grow them.

Kinara (Kee-nah-rah) - The candle holder represents the original stalk from which all African ancestors came. It holds the seven candles.

Mishumaa (Mee-shoo-maah) - In the seven candles, each candle represents one of the seven principles. The candles are red, green, and black -- symbolic of the African people and their struggles.

Muhindi (Moo-heen-dee) - The corn represents African children and the promise of their future. One ear of corn is set out for each child in the family. In a family without children, one ear is set out symbolically to represent the children of the community.

Kikombe cha Umoja (Kee-com-bay chah-oo-moe-jah) - The Unity Cup symbolizes the first principle of Kwanzaa -- the unity of family and of the African people. The cup is used to pour the libation (water, juice or wine) for family and friends.

Zawadi (Sah-wah-dee) - The gifts represent the labors of the parents and the rewards of their children. Gifts are given to educate and enrich the children -- they may include a book, a piece of art or an educational toy. At least one of the gifts is a symbol of African heritage.

Seven candles are placed inside the Kinara. In the center is a black candle representing the first principle: unity (Umoja). To the left of the black candle are three red candles representing the principles of self-determination (Kujichagulia), cooperative economics (Ujamaa) and creativity (Kuumba). To the right of the black candle are three green candles representing the principles of collective work and responsibility (Ujima), purpose (Nia) and faith (Imani).

This stress on the Nguzo Saba was at the same time an emphasis on the importance of African community values in general, which stress family, community and culture and speak to the best of what it means to be African in the fullest sense.