Happy Kwanzaa!
KWANZAA
An African American cultural holiday, meaning “first fruits”
Each year, many African American families gather together to unite, celebrate, and renew their commitment to the seven principles of Kwanzaa, called the Nguzo Saba. There are reading passages, educational activities, friendly competitions, honoring of ancestors, gift-giving and a family feast, all which demonstrate the 7th principle Umoja (unity). As African Americans, our roots are African. In 1966, Dr. Maulana Karenga (the founder of Kwanzaa) chose Swahili as the official language of Kwanzaa. Swahili is spoken by approximately 100-250 million people. The greeting, “Habari gani” and closing “Kwanzaa yenu iwe na heri” are Swahili expressions.
From December 26 to January 1, during the daily observance of Kwanzaa, the family will set up the ceremonial table, beginning with the Mkeka (straw mat) which is a prayer mat that honors tradition and represents the foundation for real knowledge. The family then places a seven-branch Kinara (candleholder) on the table. The Kinara holds one black candle in the center, surrounded by 3 red and 3 green candles on either side. On each of the 7 days the family will light one additional candle, which represents the Nguzo Saba principle for that day.
Before the holiday, the family practices two principles: Ujamaa (cooperative economics) -buying supplies for handmade gifts and food items - and Kuumba (creativity) by crafting handmade gifts for one another. On the last day of Kwanzaa, January 1, the family gathers for Karamu (a feast) and gift-giving (Zawadi). The point of Kwanzaa is not one of gift giving or religious celebration, but a commemoration of heritage and togetherness. Family and friends should find Kwanzaa to be a time of sharing and pulling together. The seven guiding principles teach values we tend to lose in a modern and more solitary society. Since the original ideas were to bring forth the harvest, the guiding principles bring people together to remind us how important we are to each other.
Tracy Charles Jackson for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of Westtown Monthly Meeting