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Celebrating Kwanzaa
Inclusive Excellence – Student Connections and Belonging (IE-SCB) observes Kwanzaa (December 26 to January 1) which was established as a means to help Black Americans reconnect with their African roots.
Kwanzaa was first celebrated in 1966 and is a celebration of community, family, and culture. It was created by Maulana Karenga, and based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of Africa, including West and Southeast Africa. According to Karenga, the name Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning "first fruits". First fruits festivals exist in Southern Africa, celebrated in December/January with the southern solstice, and Karenga was partly inspired by an account he read of the Zulu festival Umkhosi Wokweshwama. It was said that he decided to spell the holiday's name with an additional "a" so that it would have a symbolic seven letters.
Nguzo Saba: The 7 principles described by Dr. Maulana Karenga
Each day of Kwanzaa emphasizes a different principle.The principles, called the Nguzo Saba (seven principles in Swahili) are values of African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing community among African-Americans.
The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa
Umoja (Unity)
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, and nation. Dagi knot - a Pan African symbol of unity found in several African cultures, i.e., Yoruba, Hausa, Bushongo, etc.
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves for ourselves and speak for ourselves. Ahenwa - The Akan throne, symbol of national identity, cultural groundedness and rightful governance
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together. Akoma ntoaso - the Adinkra symbol of shared effort and obligation
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together. Two interlocking half circles - the Nsibidi symbol of togetherness and family
Nia (Purpose)
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. The hieroglyph Nefer - Ancient Egyptian symbol of beauty and good
Kuumba (Creativity)
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. The seven vibrations of divine creation - the Dogon symbol of creativity
Imani (Faith)
To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. The ancient Egyptian double symbol of the ankh (life) and djed pillar (stability, endurance) serves here as a symbol of steadfastness in commitment to the Good, the Right, and the Beautiful in life.