Nevaeh Modlin, Senior
In 1966, African Americans were not seeing social changes. As a result Dr. Maulana Karenga, a Black Studies professor at California State University, created this holiday as a way to bring African Americans together as a community.
The origin of the word “Kwanzaa”, Kwanzaa is taken from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza” meaning first fruits. Most families celebrate Kwanzaa with their own spin on the holiday, but for the most part, Kwanzaa is celebrated with dancing and music. Storytelling, African drums, a large meal, and poetry readings are just some of the traditions involved in the celebration of Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26th - January 1st. On each night of this week long celebration, a child of the family lights one candle on the Kinara. After each candle is lit, one of the seven principles are discussed. On December 31st, an African feast called “Karamu” is held.
Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles)
The seven principles were set ideals created by Dr. Karenga. Those same seven principles are values the African culture uses to contribute to bringing the community together. Meanwhile, there are seven symbols that represent the values. Each day of Kwanzaa emphasizes a principle. On the first night, the black candle that sits in the middle is lit.
Unity: Umoja (oo–MO–jah) To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race. Self-determination: Kujichagulia (koo–gee–cha–goo–LEE–yah) To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves. Collective Work and Responsibility: Ujima (oo–GEE–mah) To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together. Cooperative Economics: Ujamaa (oo–JAH–mah) To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together. Purpose: Nia (nee–YAH) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. Creativity: Kuumba (koo–OOM–bah) 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. Faith: Imani (ee–MAH–nee) To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
The Seven Symbols
Mazao, the crops (fruits, nuts, and vegetables)
The Mazo represents work and the historical background of Kwanzaa. History states that the “gathering of the people that is patterned after African harvest festivals in which joy, sharing, unity, and thanksgiving are the fruits of collective planning and work. Since the family is the basic social and economic center of every civilization, the celebration bonded family members, reaffirming their commitment and responsibility to each other”. Within this symbol family is very important, Africans consider everyone to be apart of their family. To demonstrate the Mazo, celebrants of Kwanzaa place nuts, fruits, and vegetables on the Mkeka.
Mkeka: Place-mat
The Mkeka is a place-mat made from straw and cloth. The mkeka expresses culture, tradition, and history. “It symbolizes the historical and traditional foundation for us to stand on and build our lives because today stands on our yesterdays.” During Kwanzaa, celebrants are meant to reflect on their role as being apart of the legacy and history.
Vibunzi: Ear of Corn
A stalk of corn represents fertility. History states that “One ear is called vibunzi, and two or more ears are called mihindi. Each ear symbolizes a child in the family, and thus one ear is placed on the mkeka for each child in the family. If there are no children in the home, two ears are still set on the mkeka because each person is responsible for the children of the community. During Kwanzaa, we take the love and nurture that was heaped on us as children and selflessly return it to all children, especially the helpless, homeless, loveless ones in our community.”
Mishumaa Saba: The Seven Candles
Candles are considered to be ceremonial objects, having two vital primary objectives. The objectives of candles are to re-create symbolically the sun’s power and to provide light. History states that “Mishumaa saba are the seven candles: three red, three green, and one black. The back candle symbolizes Umoja (unity), the basis of success, and is lit on December 26. The three green candles, representing Nia, Ujima, and Imani, are placed to the right of the Umoja candle, while the three red candles, representing Kujichagulia, Ujamaa, and Kuumba, are placed to the left of it. During Kwanzaa, on candle, representing one principle, is lit each day. Then the other candles are relit to give off more light and vision”.
Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican political leader, created the symbolic colors for the candles. The colors are a representation of African gods. Red is for Shango, the Yoruba god of fire, lightning, and thunder. Shango is said to live in the clouds and when angry he throws down thunderbolts. Red is also known to represent the struggle for self-determination and freedom by people of color. Black represents creativity, hope, and faith. Lastly, green represents divination, employment, and provides hope.
Kinara (the candle holder)
The Kinara is a representation of where celebrants come from, meaning the ancestors. Other than being made from many materials, most celebrants make the Kinara themselves. Kinaras can be made from fallen branches, wood, or any other natural resources. In many African festivals, the ancestors are honored and remembered.
Kikombe Cha Umoja: The Unity Cup
The kikombe cha umoja is a special cup that is used to perform the libation (tambiko) ritual during the Karamu feast on the sixth day of Kwanzaa. In many African societies libation are poured for the living dead whose souls stay with the earth they tilled. In Nigeria, the Ibo believe that if the last portion of the libation is drank, the libation is to invite the wrath of the spirits and the ancestors. During the Karamu feast, the kikombe cha umoja is passed to family member and guests, who drink from it to promote unity. Then, the oldest person present pours the libation (tambiko), usually water, juice, or wine, in the direction of the four winds – north, south, east, and west – to honor the ancestors. The eldest asks the gods and ancestors to share in the festivities and, in return, to bless all the people who are not at the gathering. After asking for this blessing, the elder pours the libation on the ground and the group says “Amen.”
Zawadi: Gifts
On the last day of the celebration, celebrants give meaningful gifts to the immediate family to encourage growth, self-determination, achievement, and success. The exchanging of gifts are vital to the children to show self determination. History states that, “Accepting a gift implies a moral obligation to fulfill the promise of the gift; it obliges the recipient to follow the training of the host. The gift cements social relationships, allowing the receiver to share the duties and the rights of a family member.”
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