Kwanzaa Principles

Nia (NEE-ah): Purpose

          To restore African American people to their traditional greatness. To be responsible to Those Who Came Before (our ancestors) and to Those Who Will Follow (our descendants).

Which holiday do you celebrate? Well, have you ever heard of a holiday called Kwanzaa? This holiday is celebrated by African-Americans.

It is very different than what you might be used to! Kwanzaa can be celebrated many different ways! Each family celebrates it differently, although they all have things in common: family, community, and culture. Each celebration involves songs, dances, African drums, poetry, story telling, reading, and the discussion of the seven principles. The seven principles are African-American's values of their culture. That helps build the African community. Each night one of the seven principles is discussed, the family lights a candle on what is called a kinara. A kinara has seven candles to light. Kwanzaa is celebrated for seven days, December 26-January 1. The name Kwanzaa comes from the saying,“matunda ya kwanza.” That means first fruits in Swahili. Kwanzaa is a very interesting holiday.

There are many holidays that you can celebrate, but what’simportant is that we all come together to worship each other and our community. Don’t you think?

Kwanzaa Principles   

  * Ujima (oo-JEE-mah): Collective work and responsibility.

          To build and maintain your community together. To work together to help one another within your community.

    * Ujamaa (oo-jah-MAH): Collective economics.

          To build, maintain, and support our own stores, establishments, and businesses.

Umoja (oo-MOH-jah): Unity.

          Success starts with Unity. Unity of family, community, nation and race.

    * Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah): Creativity.

          Using creativity and imagination to make your communities better than what you inherited.

Kujichagulia (koo-jee-chah-goo-LEE-ah): Self-Determination.

          To be responsible for ourselves. To create your own destiny.

Citations:

 http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=

Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=353&display_order=1&mini_id=1047

http://kwanzaa.123holiday.net/kwanzaa_history.html

http://www.holidays.net/kwanzaa/principles.htm

 Imani (ee-MAH-nee): Faith.

    Believing in our people, our families, our educators, our leaders, and the righteousness of the African American struggle.