By Rosemary Fetter
On the first night, of Kwanzaa, someone in the family lights the black candle in the center of the Kinara (candle holder) and a discussion of the first principle ensues. On subsequent evenings the six other principles are discussed and candles are lit.
The observance of Kwanzaa (or Kwanza) is a relatively recent addition to the holiday season that has roots in African traditions and culture. Although there is no comparable celebration in Africa, the observance from Dec. 26 – Jan. 1 combines several different year-end African harvest festivals, including the Ashanti and Zulu, to create a new, non-religious event. The name, derived from the Kiswahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” means first fruits of the harvest. Kiswahili (or Swahili) was chosen because it is a non-tribal language spoken in many parts of the country. Kwanzaa focuses on paying tribute to the rich cultural roots of the African Diaspora, a.k.a. people who have left the ancestral homeland.
The celebration began in the United States, shortly after the five-day Watts riots in Los Angeles in August 1965, in which 34 people were killed. The riots were precipitated by efforts of certain states to circumvent the Civil Rights of 1964, when several states, including California, moved to block the fair housing section of the act. The most violent episode of racial tension up to that point, Watts symbolized the struggle for racial equality that was still central to the American scene.
The following year, a California State University professor named Maulana Karenga, a professor of Black Studies, created Kwanzaa in order to bring African-Americans together to celebrate their heritage, culture and community and inspire those who were working toward progress. Karenga also founded the organization Us as an alternative to the more radical Black Panthers.
During the week of Kwanzaa, participants focus on seven principles, or Nguzo Saba, created by Karenga. They include Unity: Umoja (oo–MO–jah); Self-determination: Kujichagulia (koo–gee–cha–goo–LEE–yah); Collective Work and Responsibility: Ujima (oo–GEE–mah); Cooperative Economics: Ujamaa (oo–JAH–mah;) Purpose: Nia (nee–YAH); Creativity: Kuumba (koo–OOM–bah) and Faith: Imani (ee–MAH–nee).
On the first night, of Kwanzaa, someone in the family, usually a child, lights the black candle in the center of the Kinara (candle holder) and a discussion of the first principle ensues. On subsequent evenings the six other principles are discussed. Families celebrate differently, sometimes with parties, singing, dancing, crafts projects and games and activities for children.
Each of the principles has a symbol. For example, Mazo, (fruits, nuts and vegetables) on the first night symbolizes work and the basis of the holiday, in which joy and thanksgiving are the fruits of collective work. Celebrants drink from kikombe cha umoja, or the unity cup, to honor their ancestors. The symbols of Kwanzaa are arranged on the mkeka, or mat, to honor the foundation upon which communities are built.
Celebrants of Kwanzaa drink from kikombe cha umoja, or the unity cup, to honor their ancestors.
On Dec. 31, a feast or gathering of many families, called karamu, is usually held at a church or community center. Participants enjoy traditional dishes from various regions in Africa, many of them made with ingredients Africans brought to the United States, such as sweet potatoes, sesame seeds and peanuts. During the feast, the Kwanza colors of red, black and green are prominent, important symbols in ancient Africa. Green stands for the fertile African land, black stands for the color of the people and red symbolizes blood that was shed in the struggle for freedom. On Jan. 1, the last day of Kwanzaa, children receive educational and cultural gifts, or zawadi.
The popularity of Kwanzaa has increased substantially since its 1966 founding. An estimated 18 million people celebrate in the United States, and many more around the world. Although Kwanzaa has its critics (some have called the holiday “socially divisive and toot recently invented” and question Karenga’s motives) the celebration of community is a universal that everyone can appreciate. And the food is fabulous, from sweet potato pie and fritters to benne cakes, peanut soup and potato biscuits.
