Learn About Kwanzaa

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Information contained in this section is taken from the book Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture by Dr. Maulana Karenga / University of Sankore Press: Los Angeles.

What is Kwanzaa?

Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday, created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga and the Organization Us, that celebrates family, community, and culture. It is a seven-day holiday celebrated between December 26 and January 1 of each year, and it is modeled after traditional African first harvest celebrations, from which it takes its name.

The name Kwanzaa 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.

Why was Kwanzaa created?

Kwanzaa was created for three reasons.

First, Kwanzaa came into being during the Black Freedom Movement of the 1960’s as a way to reaffirm and restore our connection to the best African cultural traditions that we were disconnected from through the Holocaust of Enslavement and subsequent periods of oppression.

Second, Kwanzaa was created to serve as a regular communal celebration to reaffirm and reinforce the bonds between us as a people.

Third, Kwanzaa was created to introduce and reinforce the Nguzo Saba (the Seven Principles), a communitarian African value system.

About Kwanzaa

To understand what Kwanzaa is about is to understand the Nguzo Saba.

The Values of Kwanzaa

The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa (Nguzo Saba) are as follows (first in Swahili then in English.):

Umoja (Unity): To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and worldwide African community.
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Imani (Faith): To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

THERE IS NO WAY TO UNDERSTAND and appreciate the meaning and message of Kwanzaa without understanding and appreciating its deep and profound concern with values. In fact, Kwanzaa's reason for existence, its length of seven days, its core focus and its foundation are all rooted in its concern with values.

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

The Symbols of Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa has seven basic symbols and two supplemental ones. Each represents values and concepts reflective of African culture that contribute to community building and reinforcement. The basic symbols in Swahili and then in English are:

Mazao (The Crops)
These are symbolic of African harvest celebrations and of the rewards of productive and collective labor.
Mkeka (The Mat)
This is symbolic of our tradition and history and therefore, the foundation on which we build.
Kinara (The Candle Holder)
This is symbolic of our roots, our parent people -- continental Africans.
Muhindi (The Corn)
This is symbolic of our children and our future which they embody.
Mishumaa Saba (The Seven Candles)
These are symbolic of the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles, the minimum set of values which African people are urged to live by in order to rescue and reconstruct their lives in their own image and best interest.
Kikombe cha Umoja (The Unity Cup)
This is symbolic of the foundational principle and practice of unity which makes all else possible.
Zawadi (The Gifts)
These are symbolic of the labor and love of parents and the commitments made and kept by the children. The two supplemental symbols are:
Bendera (The Flag)
The colors of the Kwanzaa flag are the colors of the Organization Us, black, red and green; black for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future and hope that comes from their struggle. It is based on the colors given by the Hon. Marcus Garvey as national colors for African people throughout the world.
Nguzo Saba Poster (Poster of The Seven Principles)

Fundamental Activities

There are five fundamental activities that make up a Kwanzaa celebration. They are:

Ingathering: a time of ingathering of the people to reaffirm the bonds between them;
Special Reverence for the Creator and Creation: a time of special reverence for the creator and creation in thanks and respect for the blessings, bountifulness, and beauty of creation;
Commemoration of the past: a time for commemoration of the past in pursuit of its lessons and in honor of its models of human excellence, our ancestors;
Recommitment to Our Highest Values: a time of recommitment to our highest cultural ideals in our ongoing effort to always bring forth the best of African cultural thought and practice; and
Celebration of the Good: a time for celebration of the Good, the good of life and of existence itself, the good of family, community, and culture, the good of the awesome and the ordinary, the good of the divine, natural, and social.

Ritual Activities

There are several ritual activities that make up a Kwanzaa celebration. They are:

Pouring of Libation – Praise and commitment to ancestors and continuing their good works
Raising the Names of the Ancestors – Calling out or raising the names of ancestral heroes, heroines and departed relatives in a meaningful and spiritually uplifting ritual.
Lighting of the Mishumaa (Candles) – One candle is lit for each night of Kwanzaa, beginning with the black candle for Umoja (Unity), then proceeding to the red candles, and then the green candles for each of the remaining principles.
The Karamu (Feast) – Celebrating the harvest and the good in the world.
Harambee – communal ceremony to pull together in our collective best interests and for the good of the world.
The Day of Meditation and Assessment – The last day of Kwanzaa is January 1. Historically, this has been a day of sober assessment and reflection on things done and things to do concerning the life and future of the people. It is also a day to recommit to following the Nguzo Saba everyday throughout the coming year.

Colors and Decorations

The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green as noted above and can be utilized in decorations for Kwanzaa. Also decorations should include traditional African items, i.e., African baskets, cloth patterns, art objects, harvest symbols, etc

Greetings

The greetings during Kwanzaa are in Swahili. Swahili is a Pan-African language and is chosen to reflect African Americans' commitment to the whole of Africa and African culture rather than to a specific ethnic or national group or culture. The greetings are to reinforce awareness of and commitment to the Seven Principles. It is: "Habari gani?" and the answer is each of the principles for each of the days of Kwanzaa, i.e., "Umoja", on the first day, "Kujichagulia", on the second day and so on.

An Important Distinction

Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, but a cultural one with an inherent spiritual quality as with all major African celebrations. This inherent spiritual quality is respect for the Transcendent, the Sacred, the Good, the Right. Thus, Africans of all faiths can and do celebrate Kwanzaa, i.e., Muslims, Christians, Black Hebrews, Jews, Buddhists, Bahai and Hindus as well as those who follow the ancient traditions of Maat, Yoruba, Ashanti, Dogon, etc. For what Kwanzaa offers is not an alternative to their religion or faith but a common ground of African culture which they all share and cherish. it is this common ground of culture on which they all meet, find ancient and enduring meaning and by which they are thus reaffirmed and reinforced.

Preparing To Celebrate

There is a traditionally established way of celebrating Kwanzaa. We should therefore observe these guidelines to make our Kwanzaa the most beautiful and engaging one and to keep the tradition. Without definite guidelines and core values and practices there is no holiday.

First, you should come to the celebration with a profound respect for its values, symbols and practices and do nothing to violate its integrity, beauty and expansive meaning.

Secondly, you should not mix the Kwanzaa holiday or its symbols, values and practice with any other culture. This would violate the principles of Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) and thus violate the integrity of the holiday.

Thirdly, choose the best and most beautiful items to celebrate Kwanzaa. This means taking time to plan and select the most beautiful objects of art, colorful African cloth, fresh fruits and vegetables, etc. so that every object used represents African culture and your commitment to the holiday in the best of ways.

Questions from the internet

Answers to popular Kwanzaa-related web searches.

(Shown as they appear on the internet with errors included.)

1Is it correct to say Happy Kwanzaa?

Absolutely. “Happy Kwanzaa” should be received as best wishes for a good season celebrating and practicing the Seven Principles. In the language of Kwanzaa, Kiswahili, the greeting would be “Heri za Kwanzaa.”

2Who invented Kwanzaa?

Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga and the Us Organization in 1966 after the youngest daughter of an Us member asked a question about how African people celebrate holidays.

3Why does Kwanzaa look like menorah?

Like other cultural holidays, a Kwanzaa setting includes candles and a candleholder called a kinara. The Kwanzaa Kinara looks similar to candleholders used in other traditions because of the common shape of candleholders.

4What do you say to someone celebrating Kwanzaa?

The Kwanzaa greeting is “Habari gani?” – which means “What’s the news?” The appropriate response during Kwanzaa is to state the principle for the day, and then return the greeting.

5What fruit is on Kwanzaa?

A Kwanzaa arrangement includes a abundant array of fresh fruits and vegetables reflecting a harvest celebration.

6Why is corn part of Kwanzaa?

Corn (Muhindi) is used as a symbol for children. People without children are still encouraged to include at least two ears of corn / muhindi with their Kwanzaa display to represent community children.

7What is the most popular Kwanzaa food?

The most popular food for Kwanzaa is whatever favorite traditional African, African American, or Pan African foods the hosts enjoy most.

8 Why is it called Kwanzaa?

The name “Kwanzaa” was adapted from the Kiswahili word “Kwanza,” which is interpreted to mean “first fruits.” The extra “a” was added during the first Kwanzaa celebration to accommodate participation of a seventh child who was present.

9 How long does Kwanzaa last?

Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration from December 26 thru January 1 each year.

10What do the 7 days of Kwanzaa mean?

The seven days of Kwanzaa are individually linked to one of the Seven Principles in this order – (1) Umoja / Unity, (2) Kujichagulia / Self-Determination, (3) Ujima / Collective Work and Responsibility, (4) Ujamaa / Cooperative Economics, (5) Nia / Purpose, (6) Kuumba / Creativity, and (7) Imani / Faith. See above for definitions.

11Who invented Kwanzaa and why?

Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga and the Us Organization in 1966 to serve as an annual celebration of family, community, and culture; to help reconnect Black people with knowledge of African traditions once lost and denied to us; and to promote the Nguzo Saba / Seven Principles – a communitarian African values system.

12Can you celebrate Kwanzaa if you're not black?

Other people are allowed and encouraged to participate in public rituals and practices involved with Kwanzaa. However, as with other cultural holidays, other people should never lead or conduct Kwanzaa rituals or practices.

13Do Muslims do Kwanzaa?

Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday, not a religious holiday, so Muslims and Black people of all religious traditions — or no religious tradition — are able to find common ground celebrating our shared culture through Kwanzaa.

14Is Kwanzaa meant to replace Christmas?

No. Kwanzaa was created to give Black people an active and meaningful way to celebrate ourselves, our history, our ancestors, and our contributions to human history. Celebrating Kwanzaa is a self-conscious choice, then, and not a replacement for anything.

15Is Kwanzaa about God?

Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, but it does have a universal spiritual quality where reverence is shown for the Creator and creation in a non-religious way.

16Does Kwanzaa have a Santa Claus?

No. Kwanzaa does not have a symbolic personality or central character like other holidays. All efforts to link Kwanzaa with other traditions in this way violate the integrity of Kwanzaa, and the other traditions, which, themselves, were never intended to be mixed.

17What is the Kwanzaa candle called?

The word for candles in the Kwanzaa tradition is the word for candles in the Swahili language – mishumaa. Since Kwanzaa has seven candles, they are referred to as the “Mishumaa Saba” meaning “Seven Candles.”

18What is the last day of Kwanzaa called?

Imani / Faith is the principle celebrated on the last day of Kwanzaa. Since Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, it does not use a religious definition for faith. Instead, the Kwanzaa definition for faith centers around believing in ourselves and our capacity to create the good world we want and deserve to live in. The last day of Kwanzaa is also referred to as the "Day of Meditation."

19Is Hanukkah and Kwanzaa the same thing?

No. Kwanzaa is a Pan African cultural celebration. Hanukkah is a Jewish cultural celebration.

20Is Kwanzaa a copy of Hanukkah?

No. Kwanzaa is a Pan African cultural celebration. Hanukkah is a Jewish cultural celebration. Besides being cultural celebrations, there are no similarities in their meaning.