What are the seven principles of Kwanzaa?
Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday observed from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 each year that is designed to celebrate African heritage, unity, and community building.
Kwanzaa, instituted in 1966 by African American professor and activist Dr. Maulana Karenga, takes place annually from December 26th to January 1st.
The non-religious holiday was created to commemorate African heritage, foster unity, and promote community building. It distinguishes itself as a cultural celebration, prioritizing values and principles over religious observance.
Kwanzaa is built around seven core principles, known as Nguzo Saba, which represent values for community building and personal development. These principles are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
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What are the seven principles of Kwanzaa?
The word “Kwanzaa” is derived from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza”, which means “first fruits.” Each day of the festivities is dedicated to one of these principles. According to the celebration’s official website, these are the meanings of each for those who observe the tradition.
Umoja (Unity)
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
Kujichagulia (Self-determination)
To define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves.
Ujima (Collective work and responsibility)
To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems, and to solve them together.
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Ujamaa (Cooperative economics)
To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Nia (Purpose)
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
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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.
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.