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By Mariam Ayub
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The days leading up to Christmas can be stressful, whether it's overwhelming commercialism or the challenge of trying to get the family together without a war breaking out. Often the meaning of Christmas can get lost in the shuffle. That's why Kwanzaa begins on December 26th, the day after Christmas. For seven days, Kwanzaa speaks a single language of love and acceptance.
Kwanzaa celebrates the African-American experience, while recognizing both Western and African influence and bridging diversity through community. The holiday has its roots in African harvest festivals and its name comes
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Logo courtesy of Kwanzaa Fest.
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from the Kiswahili phrase "matunda ya Kwanzaa," meaning "the first fruits of the harvest." By lighting candles, singing songs and giving gifts, the community demonstrates the year-round spirit of Kwanzaa, the unity of the African-American family.
Founded by black studies professor Ron "Maulana" Karenga in 1966, Kwanzaa was first observed by seven people in California. Its mission was to help African-Americans reconnect with their African heritage and unify their families and communities. Karenga saw the need for African-Americans to have a holiday of their own, especially one that encouraged social change. Today, more than 13 million people celebrate Kwanzaa. Some call it "the best kept secret in the black community."
The Principles of Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa centers around seven principles designed to reinforce community, develop an understanding of diversity and honor the past. These principles help guide people in their daily lives.
- Umoja (oo-MOE-jah): To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
- Kujichagulia (koo-jii-cha-goo-LEE-ah): To define oneself, name oneself, create for oneself and speak for oneself.
- Ujima (oo-JEE-mah): To build and maintain the community together, to make each other's problems our problems and to solve them together.
- Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah): To build and maintain stores, shops and other businesses, and to profit together from them.
- Nia (nee-AH): To make as a collective vocation the building and developing of the community in order to restore the people to their traditional greatness.
- Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah): To do always as much as one can, in the best way possible, in order to leave the community more beautiful and beneficial than before.
- Imani (ee-MAH-nee): To believe in the family, the teachers, the leaders, the people and the righteousness and victory of the African-American struggle.
The Feast
The highlight of Kwanzaa is Karamu, the main feast, on December 31st. Families and friends gather and celebrate the closing of Kwanzaa through prayers, songs, dance and toasts (called tamshi la tambiko) to commemorate their ancestors.
Traditional African dishes—as well as their modern African-American variations—are served at Karamu. Many feature ingredients that traveled with Africans to the Americas—yams, sesame seeds, collard greens and hot peppers. There is always a variety of choices, as everyone takes responsibility for preparing part of the meal.
Before and after the feast, entertainment—both to enjoy and to teach—is presented, as well as formal welcomes, remembrances, reassessments, recommitments and rejoicing.
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