Kwanzaa, a variation of the Swahili word for "first", is a seven day
holiday observed by many Black Americans. It begins each December 26
and ends January 1. Each day celebrates a different principle:
umoja or unity,
kujichagulia or self-determination,
ujima or collective work and responsibility,
ujamaa or
cooperative economics,
nia or purpose,
ukuumba or
creativity, and
imani or faith.
Kwanzaa is not celebrated in Africa. Instead, it is a distinctly
Black American tradition; however, the ceremonies and traditions of
Kwanzaa are a combination of harvest festival traditions from many
African ethnic groups, including the Ashanti, Zulus, Yourbas and
Ibos.
Kwanzaa was founded by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 (in the wake of the
Watts riots and other civil disturbances) as a culturally unifying
celebration. Although it is a young holiday, as these things go, its
celebration has spread rapidly, making it one of the truly national
Black American holidays.