The Story of Kwanzaa  

Kwanzaa is a very important holiday, especially for African-Americans, that was created during the Civil Rights movement. The holiday was established by Dr. Maulana Karenga, the professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, to celebrate the common culture of the African American community. Dr. Karenga began by researching African “first fruit”, or harvest, celebrations like that of the Zulu or Ashanti tribes. He combined these traditions with local African American Christmas festivities, and based the holiday on basic tenets of the American black community.

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Kwanzaa lasts seven nights and is celebrated differently by each family, but almost all families will sing and dance with African drums, tell stories and poetry, and gather together for large, traditional meals.

The holiday is founded on Nguzo Saba, or Seven Principles that represent important African American values and customs. These 7 principles are Umoja: unity, Kujichagulia: self determination, Kuumba: creativity, Nia: purpose, Imani: faith, Ujima: collective responsibility, and Ujamaa: communal aid. Each night, a child lights a candles on a candle holder called a Kinara, which holds seven candles to represent each value.

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Though Kwanzaa was immensely popular in the 1960s, celebrations have steadily declined over the years. Nonetheless, many African American families still celebrate Kwanzaa instead of, or in addition to Christmas. They are also quick to remind that Kwanzaa is a celebration of African American heritage for ALL races, after all, Kwanzaa is a celebration of our collective African ancestry. Kwanzaa is a very meaningful, relevant celebration. As Dr. Karenga said, “A people without a culture is like a tree without a root”. Kwanzaa serves to unite the African American community and helps many African Americans connect with  their roots.