Kwanzaa is a holiday based on the African tradition of celebrating the harvesting of the first fruits (Kwanzaa means "first"). Kwanzaa was recreated and introduced to black people in the U.S. by California college professor Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga in 1966. The celebration has now spread worldwide; Kwanzaa is celebrated by millions of people in Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and America.

Kwanzaa is a time of year for black people to come together as a community to celebrate the fruits of our labor during the past year. We do this by reflecting, reassessing, recommitting, rewarding and rejoicing in an atmosphere of peace, love and unity. Kwanzaa is a cultural and political expression to reaffirm our African heritage and continue to organize our people for the struggle.

Kwanzaa is celebrated for seven days: December 26th to January 1st. Each day of Kwanzaa stands for a different principle of the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles of Blackness. Each day of Kwanzaa, the family should gather to discuss the principle for the day, lighting a candle on the kinara (candle holder) for each day.

Long before December 26th the family should work together to clean the house in preparation for Kwanzaa. Decorations with the colors red, black and green should be designed and displayed, such as Kwanzaa symbols, ankhs, suns, kinaras or fruit baskets. Kwanzaa symbols should be arranged on a low table or floor as follows:

(1) Spread out the straw mat, or mkeka.

(2) Place the kinara (candle holder) in the center of the mkeka.

(3) Place one ear of corn next to the kinara for each child in the family.

(4) Creatively place the gifts (zawadi), unity cup (kikombe) and a basket of fruit (mazao) on the mkeka.

(5) Place three red, three green and one black candle (mishumaa) in the kinara, with the black candle in the middle and three red candles on one side, three green on the other.

Fasting: Many people fast from sunrise to sunset to cleanse the body and discipline the mind.

Greeting: During Kwanzaa you should greet friends and relatives in Kiswahili by asking "Habari gani?" (Ha-bar-ree gah-nee, or "What's happening?"). The answer is always the principle for that day; for example on December 26th the correct response would be "Umoja".

Libation: An elder should pour a libation of juice or wine from the unity cup onto the ground or into an earth-filled container to honor the ancestors. Deceased family members or leaders like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King should be honored.

Harambee: (Ha-rom-bay): After the libation, the elder drinks from the kikombe and cheers "Harambee" (Let's pull together!), each person then does the same.

Lighting Ceremony: Light one candle for the principle to be celebrated that day, starting with the black candle, representing the first principle, Umoja. Each day thereafter also light red and green candles equal to that the day of Kwanzaa (e.g. five candles on the fifth day). After the candles are lit, discuss the principle of the day with the family. The ceremony should be held when all family members can be present (e.g. in the morning or after dinner). Children should especially encouraged to participate.

Karamu (Feast): The Karamu is held on the night of December 31st and includes food, drink, music, dance, laughter and ceremony. When possible African custom should be observed by enjoying African music, dance and story telling. The libation, Candle lighting and Harambee should all be part of the Karamu.

Zawadi (Presents): Zawadi are not mandatory, but if desired, they can be given in one of two ways:

(1) One gift each day, to reinforce the principle of the day, or

(2) One or more gifts on January 1st, the last day of Kwanzaa.

Personally made gifts are preferred to commercial purchases, but no matter what is given, books and cultural items should be given to reinforce our commitment to education and our rich cultural heritage.

© 2004 Afrique Publications

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