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The History of Kwanzaa
December 26th - January 1st
Kwanzaa, an African-American holiday which celebrates family, community, and culture, is
the fastest growing holiday in the U.S. An estimated 18 million Africans celebrate Kwanzaa
each year around the world, including celebrants in the U.S., Africa, the Caribbean, South
America, especially Brazil, Canada, India, Britain and numerous European countries. The
holiday was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a scholar-activist who is currently professor
and chair of the Department of Black Studies at California State University at Long Beach.
Several cities in the U.S. have issued proclamations in honor of the celebration of
Kwanzaa. Among them are Baltimore, Buffalo, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New Orleans, New
York, and Philadelphia.
Kwanzaa as an African-American holiday belongs to the most ancient tradition in the
world, the African tradition. Drawing from and building on this rich and ancient
tradition, Kwanzaa makes its own unique contribution to the enrichment and expansion of
African tradition by reaffirming the importance of family, community, and culture.
In his book titled, The African-American Holiday of Kwanzaa: A Celebration of
Family, Community, and Culture, Dr. Karenga explains that KWANZAA is based on ancient
African harvest celebrations. The word KWANZAA comes from the Swahili phrase "matunda
ya kwanza" which means "first fruits." KWANZAA is celebrated seven days,
from December 26th through January 1st, a period which represents the end of an old year
and the beginning of a new one. This time in African culture is called "the time when
the edges of the year meet," which is a time of celebration, focus, and assessment.
African harvest celebrations have five basic aspects which KWANZAA also shares. They
are: 1) in gathering of the people; 2) special reverence for the Creator and creation,
especially thanksgiving and commitment; 3) commemoration of the past, especially paying
homage to the ancestors; 4) re-commitment to our highest ethical and cultural values,
especially Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles); and 5) celebration of the Good of life,
especially family, community, and culture.
Dr. Karenga created Kwanzaa to reaffirm African-Americans' rootedness in African
culture, to reinforce the bonds between them as a people, and to introduce and reaffirm
the value of the Nguzo Saba, The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. The central reason Kwanzaa
is celebrated for seven days is to pay homage to The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa which in
Swahili are: Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba, and Imani. The principles
are also known as The Seven Principles of African American community development and serve
as a fundamental value system.
Kwanzaa is represented by seven symbols: Mazao (crops), Mkeka (mat), Kinara (candle
holder), Mishumaa Saba (seven candles), Muhindi (ears of corn), Zawadi (gifts), and
Kikombe Cha Umoja (unity cup). The candle holder has seven candles, one black, three red
and three green. The colors are black for Black people, red for their struggle and green
for the hope and future that come from the struggle.
Each ear of corn represents the children in the family and community. The gifts are
primarily for the children, but other family members can also receive gifts. The gifts
should include a book and a heritage symbol to stress the ancient and continuing stress on
the value of education and reaffirm the importance of culture and tradition. The unity cup
is used to pour libation for the ancestors and it is drunk from as a ritual to reinforce
unity in the family and community. All seven symbols are put on a Mkeka (straw mat). The
Kwanzaa setting piece which includes the seven symbols is placed on a table or any other
central location in the home.
The lighting of the candles begins on the first day of Kwanzaa, December 26th. The
black candle is the first candle lighted. The second day of Kwanzaa, the black candle is
relighted as well as the first candle to the left, a red candle, December 27th. Each day
every candle which has been lighted is relighted along with the next candle of that day.
Candles are lighted left to right alternately. The lighting practice is ordered to
represent first the people (the black candle), then the struggle (the red candle), then
the future and hope (the green candle) which comes from the struggle.
Dr. Maulana Karenga is professor and chair of the Department of Black Studies at
California State University, Long Beach. He also is the director of the Kawaida Institute
of Pan-African Studies, Los Angeles, and national chairman of the organization Us, a
cultural and social change organization. Moreover, Dr. Karenga is chair of the President's
Task Force on Multicultural Education and Campus Diversity at California State University,
Long Beach.
Dr. Karenga is author of numerous scholarly articles and eight books. His latest works
are Introduciton to Black Studies, 2nd Edition, the most widely used intro text in Black
Studies; his re-translation and commentary on ancient Egyptian texts which is titled,
Selections From The Husia: Sacred Wisdom of Ancient Egypt; The African American Holiday of
Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture; and The Book of Coming Forth By
Day: The Ethics of the Declarations of Innocence.
Dr. Karenga has taught Black Studies at California State University at Los Angeles,
Long Beach, Dominguez Hills, San Diego and the University of California at Riverside.
Moreover, he has served as Visiting Professor, Black Studies at University of Nebraska,
Omaha. An activist-scholar of national and international recognition, he has lectured on
the life and struggle of African peoples on the major campuses of the U.S.A. and in
Africa, the People's Republic of China, Cuba, Trinidad, Britain, and Canada.
Dr. Karenga is also widely known as the creator of Kwanzaa, an African-American holiday
celebrated also in Africa, the Caribbean, South America - especially Brazil, and African
communities in Britain and other European countries. His philosophy of Kawaida is an
ongoing synthesis of the best of African thought and practice in constant exchange with
the world. Moreover, he is the recipient of numerous awards for scholarship, leadership
and community service including: The National Leadership Award for Outstanding Scholarly
Achievements in Black Studies from the National Council for Black Studies; The Diop
Exemplary Leadership Award from the Department of African-American Studies -- Temple
University; and The Citation for Scholarship, Leadership and Creation, Preservation and
Promotion of African-American Culture from the City Council of Philadelphia.
Also, Dr. Karenga has recently received his second doctorate in Social Ethics at the
University of Southern California. The title of his dissertation was "Maat, The Moral
Ideal in Ancient Egypt: A Study in Classical African Ethics." Finally, he recently
served as a member of the executive council of the National Organizing Committee of the
Million Man March/Day of Atonement and authored the Mission Statement for this joint
project.
December 31st is the evening upon which the Kwanzaa Karamu (Feast) is held. This
special evening is a time for feasting upon a variety of African-influenced meals as well
as acknowledging the importance of history, culture, and family. (Check out the Kwanzaa
Recipes in our main collection!)
When preparing for this special evening, special items, or symbols, are necessary.
There are seven symbols. These items should be displayed as part of the Kwanzaa Karamu:
1) Mazao (fruit and vegetables)
2) Mkeka (place mat)
3) Kinara (candle holder for seven candles)
4) Vibunzi (ears of corn reflective of the number of children in the home)
5) Zawadi (gifts - usually for the children)
6) Kikombe Cha Umoja (community cup)
7) Mishumaa Saba (the seven candles)
 visitors since May 26, 1998.
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