Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African heritage that is celebrated for a full week by many African-Americans living in the U.S. and abroad. The holiday was the first to ever celebrate Black history and is named after the Swahili phrase that describes the first fruits gathered during the harvest season.

 

 

Kwanzaa celebrations vary from family to family. Some families stick with strictly Kwanzaa related practices, while other families mix elements of Kwanzaa into their Christmas celebrations. However, most Kwanzaa celebrations are based on Nguzo Saba – or the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

1. Umoja (Unity): Striving for and maintaining unity in the family and the community
2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): Defining oneself and speaking for oneself
3. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): Building and maintaining a community and making our brother’s and sister’s problems our own and solve them together
4. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): Building and maintaining our businesses for ourselves and each other
5. Nia (Purpose): To build and develop our collective communities together
6. Kuumba (Creativity): To do whatever we can to leave our communities more beautiful than when we inherited them
7. Imani (Faith): To believe with our hearts in our people, our families and the righteousness of our struggle