Unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith: these are all virtuous qualities that define a strong people.
For the week following Christmas, African Americans usher in the New Year and celebrate their heritage with Kwanzaa from December 26 to January 1 by magnifying the seven principles listed above. Over 28 million people participate in Kwanzaa, particularly in the United States and Trinidad.
Kwanzaa, which means First Fruits in Swahili, was first created by Black Nationalist and Parsonburg, MD native Maulana Ron Karenga in 1966. He was first quoted saying that Kwanzaa was designed “to give Blacks an alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society.” As it was a common belief of Black Nationalists and Pan-Africanists at the time, Karenga wanted Kwanzaa to counteract the “white religion” and perverse image of Jesus during Christmas by partaking in Eastern African communitarian philosophies. However, the 70-year-old scholar and professor have since pulled back from his hardline stance against mainstream holidays, as he was quoted in Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture in 1997, "Kwanzaa was not created to give people an alternative to their own religion or religious holiday." Fortunately today, most African-Americans who celebrate Kwanzaa practice it in conjunction with Christmas.
For 45 years, African Americans have used the holiday as a time to preserve the principles of their African ancestry through seven African principles, also known as Nguzo Saba. The seven principles, Umoja (Unity); Kujichagulia (Self-determination); Ujima (Collective work and responsibility); Ujamaa (Cooperative economics); Nia (Purpose); Kuumba (Creativity); and Imani (faith) are each represented by a candle. The seven candles, sometimes called mishumaa saba, consist of three red ones on the right end of the kinara (candleholder), three green ones on the left end and a single black one in the center. The kinara sits on top of an Mkeka, or Kwanzaa mat, which is traditionally a straw-cloth. Surrounding the kinara should be an arrangement of muhindi, or ears of corn, to represent each child in the household — this is a part of Eastern African traditions of harvesting. Perhaps the single most significant necessity for Kwanzaa is the kikombe cha umoja: a communal cup that represents unity.
During each night of Kwanzaa celebration, a candle is lit up (usually by the children), starting from Umoja on the far right. Afterwards, family members pass around the kikombe cha umoja (communal cup), educational gifts or culturally enriching gifts (also known as Zawadi) and a basket of mazao, or fresh fruits and vegetables, from the Mkeka (Kwanzaa mat).
Most importantly, family members reflect and encourage one another to manifest the Kwanzaa principle of the day throughout their everyday lives. For example, you may want to celebrate Umoja by having dinner with your neighbor, Kuumba by writing slam poetry or rap lyrics with your little nephew and grandma (Why not? This is a fun way to make it a cross-generational family experience), and of course, Imani, by going to Grace Baptist Church of Christ with your friends and family for a day of prayer and worship.
On the seventh day, gifts, laughs and fellowship exude at the dinner table for the Kwanzaa feast, or Karamu, on January 1. This should be a good way to relax and enjoy your family as you bring in the New Year after a long watch night and family worship service back-to-back combination at Grace. This is also the time to bring out your best gifts for the children.
But Kwanzaa cannot be complete without one of the most pivotal rituals of the holiday. Make sure you don’t forget to fill the kikombe cha umoja with water for the libation ceremony. Libation is a powerful cross-cultural practice of the Ancient Israelites (Genesis 35:14), Greeks, Japanese, Africans, Shamans, Celtics and many others. Libation is used as a means to preserve the legacy and presence of your ancestry so that they may watch over you and live side-by-side with the family from Kwanzaa onward. In African cultic traditions, libation is practiced by the pouring of water from the kikombe cha umoja as participants yell out the name of those who have crossed-over. Thus, even those who have passed, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, are still the most common participants of Kwanzaa.
As you celebrate Christmas this year, consider adding Kwanzaa to your holiday line up. It is a great way to celebrate your culture, family and ancestry as you bring in the New Year and reflect on the powerful contributions and principles that define your heritage and future.
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