Kwanzaa Explained

Observedby:African Americans, parts of African diaspora
Date:December 26 to January 1
Type:Cultural and ethnic
Significance:Celebrates African heritage, unity, and culture
Relatedto:Pan-Africanism

Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day.[1] It was created by activist Maulana Karenga, based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West, East, as well as Southeast Africa. Kwanzaa was first celebrated in 1966. 21st century estimates of how many Americans celebrate Kwanzaa are varied, from as few as a half a million to as many as 12 million.[2] In a 2019 poll by the National Retail Federation, 2.6 percent of people who planned to celebrate a winter holiday said they would celebrate Kwanzaa.[3]

History and etymology

American black separatist[4] Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 during the aftermath of the Watts riots[5] as a non-Christian, specifically African-American, holiday.[6] Karenga said his goal was to "give black people an alternative to the existing holiday of Christmas and give black people an opportunity to celebrate themselves and their history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society."[7] For Karenga, a figure in the Black Power movement of the 1960s and 1970s, the creation of such holidays also underscored the essential premise that "you must have a cultural revolution before the violent revolution. The cultural revolution gives identity, purpose, and direction."[8]

According to Karenga, the name Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning "first fruits".[9] First fruits festivals exist in Southern Africa and are celebrated in December/January with the southern solstice. Karenga was partly inspired by an account he read of the Zulu festival Umkhosi Wokweshwama.[10] It was decided to spell the holiday's name with an additional "a" so that it would have a symbolic seven letters.[11]

During the early years of Kwanzaa, Karenga said it was meant to be an alternative to Christmas. He believed Jesus was psychotic and Christianity was a "White" religion that Black people should shun.[12] As Kwanzaa gained mainstream adherents, Karenga altered his position so practicing Christians would not be alienated, stating in the 1997 book Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture that "Kwanzaa was not created to give people an alternative to their own religion or religious holiday."[13] Many African Americans who celebrate Kwanzaa do so in addition to observing Christmas.[14]

After its creation in California, Kwanzaa spread outside the United States.[15] In December 2022, Reverend Al Sharpton, Mayor Eric Adams, businessman Robert F. Smith, Reverend Conrad Tillard, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, and Elisha Wiesel joined to celebrate Kwanzaa and Hanukkah together at Carnegie Hall.[16] [17] [18] [19]

Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles)

Kwanzaa celebrates what its founder called the seven principles of Kwanzaa, or Nguzo Saba (originally Nguzu Saba – the seven principles of African Heritage). They were developed in 1965, a year before Kwanzaa itself. These seven principles are all Swahili words, and together comprise the Kawaida or "common" philosophy, a synthesis of nationalist, pan-Africanist, and socialist values.

Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the principles, as follows:[20]

  1. Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
  2. Kujichagulia (Self-determination): To define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves.
  3. 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.
  4. Ujamaa (Cooperative economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
  5. Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
  6. 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.
  7. Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Symbols

Kwanzaa celebratory symbols include a mat (Mkeka) on which other symbols are placed:

Supplemental representations include a Nguzo Saba poster,[23] the black, red, and green bendera (flag), and African books and artworks—all to represent values and concepts reflective of African culture and contribution to community building and reinforcement.[24]

Observances

Families celebrating Kwanzaa decorate their households with objects of art, colorful African cloth such as kente, especially the wearing of kaftans by women, and fresh fruits that represent African idealism. It is customary to include children in Kwanzaa ceremonies and to give respect and gratitude to ancestors. Libations are shared, generally with a common chalice, Kikombe cha Umoja, passed around to all celebrants. Non-African Americans also celebrate Kwanzaa. "Joyous Kwanzaa" may be used as a greeting during the holiday.[25] [26] [27]

A Kwanzaa ceremony may include drumming and musical selections, libations, a reading of the African Pledge and the Principles of Blackness, reflection on the Pan-African colors, a discussion of the African principle of the day or a chapter in African history, a candle-lighting ritual, artistic performance, and, finally, a feast of faith (Karamu Ya Imani).[28] [29] The greeting for each day of Kwanzaa is Habari Gani?,[30] which is Swahili for "How are you?"[31]

At first, observers of Kwanzaa avoided the mixing of the holiday or its symbols, values, and practice with other holidays, as doing so would violate the principle of kujichagulia (self-determination) and thus violate the integrity of the holiday, which is partially intended as a reclamation of important African values. Today, some African American families celebrate Kwanzaa along with Christmas and New Year.[32]

Cultural exhibitions include the Spirit of Kwanzaa, an annual celebration held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts featuring interpretive dance, African dance, song and poetry.[33] [34] [35]

Karamu

A Karamu Ya Imani (Feast of Faith) is a feast that typically takes place on December 31, the sixth day of the Kwanzaa period. The Karamu feast was developed in Chicago during a 1971 citywide movement of Pan-African organizations. It was proposed by Hannibal Afrik of Shule ya Watoto as a communitywide promotional and educational campaign. The initial Karamu Ya Imani occurred on January 1, 1973, at a 200-person gathering at the Ridgeland club.[36]

In 1992, the National Black United Front of Chicago held one of the largest Karamu Ya Imani celebrations in the country. It included dancing, a youth ensemble and a keynote speech by NBUF and prominent black nationalist leader Conrad Worrill.[37]

The celebration includes the following practices:

Adherence

The popularity of celebration of Kwanzaa has declined with the waning of the popularity of the black separatist movement.[38] [39] [40] [41] Kwanzaa observation has declined in both community and commercial contexts.[42] [43] [44] University of Minnesota Professor Keith Mayes did not report exact figures, noting that it is also difficult to determine these for the three other main African-American holidays, which he names as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Malcolm X Day, and Juneteenth.[45] Mayes added that white institutions now also celebrate it.[46]

In a 2019 National Retail Federation poll, 2.6 percent of people who planned to celebrate a winter holiday said they would celebrate Kwanzaa.[47]

Starting in the 1990s, the holiday became increasingly commercialized, with the first Hallmark card being sold in 1992.[48] Some have expressed concern about this potentially damaging the holiday's values.[49]

Recognition

The first Kwanzaa stamp, designed by Synthia Saint James, was issued by the United States Post Office in 1997, and in the same year Bill Clinton gave the first presidential declaration marking the holiday.[50] [51] Subsequent presidents George W. Bush,[52] Barack Obama,[53] Donald Trump,[54] and Joe Biden[55] also issued greetings to celebrate Kwanzaa.

Maya Angelou narrated a 2008 documentary film about Kwanzaa, The Black Candle, written and directed by M. K. Asante and featuring Chuck D.[56] [57]

Practice outside the United States

Other countries that celebrate Kwanzaa include Jamaica, France, Canada, and Brazil.[58]

In Canada it is celebrated in provinces including Saskatchewan[59] and Ontario. Kwanzaa week was first declared in Toronto in 2018.[60] There are local chapters that emerged in the 2010s in provinces like British Columbia, where there are much smaller groups of the diaspora, founding members may be immigrants from countries like Uganda.[61]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Why Kwanzaa Video. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/c-MY8I_kwJY. December 11, 2021 . live. Maulana Karenga. December 7, 2020.
  2. Web site: Kwanzaa celebrates African-American heritage. Here's how it came to be—and what it means today. . https://web.archive.org/web/20210417083943/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/kwanzaa-history-traditions-information . live . April 17, 2021 . Amy McKeever . December 22, 2020 . National Geographic . November 16, 2023.
  3. News: From Umoja to Imani, Kwanzaa has 'won the hearts and minds of African people around the world. USA Today.
  4. Wilde . Anna Day . 7 Mainstreaming Kwanzaa . We Are What We Celebrate . December 31, 2020 . 120–130 . 10.18574/nyu/9780814722916.003.0009. 9780814722916 .
  5. Wilde, Anna Day. "Mainstreaming Kwanzaa." Public Interest 119 (1995): 68–80.
  6. News: The Evening Hours . . December 30, 1983 . December 15, 2006 . Ron . Alexander.
  7. http://media.www.brookhavencourier.com/media/storage/paper807/news/2008/11/24/News/Kwanzaa.Celebrates.Culture.Principles-3560412.shtml Kwanzaa celebrates culture, principles
  8. Book: Mayes, Keith A. . 2009 . Kwanzaa: Black Power and the Making of the African-American Holiday Tradition . 63–65 . Taylor & Francis . 978-0415998550 . December 27, 2015.
  9. Web site: Kwanzaa – Honoring the values of ancient African cultures . Holly Hartman . Infoplease.com . October 25, 2017.
  10. Book: Mayes, Keith A.. Kwanzaa: Black Power and the Making of the African-American Holiday Tradition. 2009 . Routledge . 9781135284008. 84. en.
  11. Book: Mayes, Keith A. . Kwanzaa: Black Power and the Making of the African-American Holiday Tradition . 2009 . Routledge . 9781135284015. 228. en.
  12. Karenga, Maulana (1967). "Religion". In Clyde Halisi, James Mtume. The Quotable Karenga. Los Angeles: University of Sankore Press. pp. 25. 23769.8.
  13. Book: Karenga, Maulana . Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture . 121 . University of Sankore Press . 1997 . 978-0943412214 .
  14. News: In Blacks' Homes, the Christmas and Kwanzaa Spirits Meet . The New York Times . Lena . Williams . December 20, 1990 . May 7, 2010.
  15. Encyclopedia: Kwanzaa – African-American Holiday . Encyclopædia Britannica . Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. . January 6, 2020 . Although Kwanzaa is primarily an African American holiday, it has also come to be celebrated outside the United States, particularly in the Caribbean and other countries where there are large numbers of descendants of Africans. .
  16. Web site: Mayor Eric Adams, Rev. Al Sharpton, others gather for joint Kwanzaa, Hanukkah celebration. December 21, 2022. New York Amsterdam News.
  17. Web site: Kwanzakkah: A way to celebrate dual heritage, and combat hate. December 23, 2022. Stewart Ain and TaRessa Stovall. The Forward.
  18. Web site: Mayor Eric Adams, Rev. Al Sharpton, Robert F. Smith, Robert F. Smith, Rev. Conrad Tillard, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and Elisha Wiesel join together to host '15 Days of Light,' celebrating Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. JNS.
  19. Web site: Black and Jewish Leaders Gather at Carnegie Hall to Take a Stand Against Antisemitism and Racism. Yahoo. December 20, 2022. December 27, 2022. December 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221225013742/https://www.yahoo.com/now/black-jewish-leaders-gather-carnegie-032200862.html. dead.
  20. Web site: Nguzo Saba. Karenga. Maulana. 2008. The Official Kwanzaa Web Site. December 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20191231203612/http://officialkwanzaawebsite.org/NguzoSaba.shtml. December 31, 2019. dead.
  21. Web site: Definition of KINARA. www.merriam-webster.com. en. December 20, 2019.
  22. Book: Raabe, Emily. A Kwanzaa Holiday Cookbook. 2001. Rosen Publishing. 978-0823956296. 12.
  23. Book: Angaza, Maitefa . 2007 . Kwanzaa – From Holiday to Every Day: A complete guide for making Kwanzaa a part of your life . New York . Dafina Books . 56 . 978-0758216656 .
  24. Web site: The Symbols of Kwanzaa. The Official Kwanzaa Website. January 9, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161204005052/http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/symbols.shtml. December 4, 2016. dead.
  25. Web site: Presidential Kwanzaa Message, 2004. December 24, 2007. Bush. George W.. December 23, 2004. Office of the Press Secretary.
  26. News: Clinton offers holiday messages. CNN. December 23, 1997. December 24, 2007.
  27. News: Elaine. Gale. Appeal of Kwanzaa continues to grow; holidays: today marks start of the seven-day celebration of African culture, which began in Watts 32 years ago and is now observed by millions.. Los Angeles Times. December 26, 1998. December 24, 2007. June 5, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130605221130/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/37610058.html?dids=37610058:37610058&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Dec+26%2C+1998&author=ELAINE+GALE&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Appeal+of+Kwanzaa+Continues+to+Grow%3B+Holidays%3A+Today+marks+start+of+the+seven-day+celebration+of+African+culture%2C+which+began+in+Watts+32+years+ago+and+is+now+observed+by+millions.&pqatl=google. dead.
  28. Book: Johnson . James W. . Johnson . F. Francis . Slaughter . Ronald L. . 1995 . The Nguzo Saba and the Festival of Fruits . Gumbs & Thomas Publishers . 42 . 9780936073200.
  29. Web site: A Great Kwanzaa Feast – Kwanzaa. Epicurious.com.
  30. Web site: The Founder's Message 2000 . The Official Kwanzaa Web Site . December 27, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161204005015/http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/greetings_and.shtml . December 4, 2016 . dead .
  31. Web site: Useful Swahili phrases . Omniglot.com . December 27, 2016.
  32. Web site: Kwanzaa (until Jan 1) in the United States . Timeanddate.com . December 27, 2016.
  33. Web site: The Spirit of Kwanzaa – The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts . Kennedy-center.org . December 27, 2016.
  34. Web site: Dance Institute of Washington. February 21, 2001. October 25, 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20010221084040/http://www.danceinstitute.org/aboutus3g.html. February 21, 2001.
  35. Web site: Kwanzaa Featured on This Year's Holiday U.S. Postage Stamp. October 19, 2004. October 25, 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20041019032411/http://usps.com/communications/news/stamps/2004/sr04_070.htm. October 19, 2004.
  36. Book: Mayes, Keith . The Black Power Movement: Rethinking the Civil Rights-Black Power Era . Taylor & Francis Group . 2006 . 978-0-415-94596-7 . Peniel Joseph . Peniel E. Joseph . 244–245.
  37. News: McFarland . Melanie . December 25, 1992 . Kwanzaa Is A Time Of Reflection . . December 24, 2011.
  38. Book: Stanley, Sharon . An impossible dream? : racial integration in the United States . Oxford University Press . New York . 2017 . 978-0190639976 .
  39. Book: Hall, Raymond . Black separatism and social reality : rhetoric and reason . Pergamon Press . New York . 1977 . 9780080195100 .
  40. Dattel . Gene . Separatism vs. Integration: Can Separate Ever Be Equal? . Academic Questions . 32 . 4 . 2019 . 476–486. 10.1007/s12129-019-09822-4 . January 31, 2024 . 214460772 .
  41. News: Is Kwanzaa Still A Thing?. NPR.
  42. Web site: Polk events celebrate values of African culture. Madison. Fantozzi. The Ledger.
  43. News: Significance Of Kwanzaa Changes Over The Years. NPR.
  44. News: Gaining Or Losing Credibility By Humanizing A Reporter: A Kwanzaa Story. NPR. January 7, 2013. Schumacher-Matos. Edward.
  45. Book: Mayes, Keith . Keith Mayes . Kwanzaa : black power and the making of the African-American holiday tradition . Routledge . New York . 2009 . 9780415998550 . registration . 210,274 .
  46. News: Kwanzaa celebrations continue, but boom is over, popularity fading. Scott. Megan K.. December 17, 2009. The Plain Dealer. December 24, 2017. Associated Press. en-US.
  47. News: From Umoja to Imani, Kwanzaa has 'won the hearts and minds of African people around the world. USA Today.
  48. News: The Marketing of Kwanzaa; Black American Holiday Earns Dollars, Causing Concern. Martin. Douglas. December 20, 1993. The New York Times. December 24, 2017. en-US. 0362-4331.
  49. News: Commercialized Kwanzaa worries enthusiasts. The Billings Gazette. December 24, 2017. en.
  50. Web site: William J. Clinton: Message on the Observance of Kwanzaa, 1997. www.presidency.ucsb.edu. December 31, 2017. December 31, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103648/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=53734. dead.
  51. Pleck. Elizabeth. 2001 . Kwanzaa: The Making of a Black Nationalist Tradition, 1966–1990. 27502744. Journal of American Ethnic History. 20. 4. 3–28. 10.2307/27502744 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170315195135/http://people.duke.edu/~ldbaker/classes/backtoafrica/documents/pleck1.pdf. March 15, 2017.
  52. Presidential Kwanzaa Message, 2004 . December 28, 2020. The White House.
  53. December 26, 2015. Statement by the President and the First Lady on Kwanzaa . December 28, 2020 . The White House.
  54. Presidential Message on Kwanzaa . The White House . December 26, 2019 . December 29, 2019.
  55. As we begin the seven days of Kwanzaa, Jill and I send our best wishes to everyone celebrating. . POTUS . Biden . Joe . 1475126705278828555 . December 26, 2021 . December 24, 2022.
  56. Web site: Kwanzaa Celebration Captured In 'Black Candle' . . December 15, 2008 . National Public Radio.
  57. Chuck D and Maya Angelou in Kwanzaa Documentary . . December 18, 2009 . Essence.
  58. Web site: Lord . Mark . Celebrating the life-affirming tenets of Kwanzaa . Queens Chronicle . December 22, 2016 . December 1, 2022.
  59. Web site: Sask. African Canadian Heritage Museum celebrates Kwanzaa in Regina – CBC News . CBC . December 28, 2019 . December 1, 2022.
  60. Web site: Proclamations declaring Kwanzaa week in Toronto and Brampton a first for Canada . WBFO . December 27, 2018 . December 1, 2022.
  61. Web site: December 14, 2021 . Kwanzaa, the 7 most important days of the year, approaching for many African-Canadians . December 30, 2023 . Saanich News.

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