Knowra Kwanzaa Kwanzaa Kwanzaa is a seven-day African American cultural holiday celebrated from December 26 through January 1. It honors African heritage and community through seven guiding principles called the Nguzo Saba.
Nguzo Saba : The seven principles of Kwanzaa: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Each day of Kwanzaa centers on one of these principles.
Maulana Karenga : An African American activist and scholar who created Kwanzaa in 1966. Karenga designed the holiday and its principles amid the Black freedom movement.
Kwanzaa candle-lighting ceremony : A daily Kwanzaa ritual in which a candle is lit and the corresponding principle is discussed. The ceremony gives each of the seven principles a shared daily observance.
African American cultural nationalism : A political and cultural current emphasizing Black identity, institutions, and self-determination. Kwanzaa expresses cultural self-definition through shared symbols and community practices.
Kinara : A candleholder used during Kwanzaa, holding one black, three red, and three green candles. Its seven candles represent the Nguzo Saba and are lit across the holiday.
Black freedom movement : A broad struggle for Black liberation, civil rights, and self-determination in the United States. Kwanzaa emerged in the movement’s late-1960s emphasis on cultural identity and community.
Kwanzaa gifts : Gifts exchanged during Kwanzaa, often emphasizing education, creativity, or African heritage. Thoughtful gifts connect celebration with learning and the principle of creativity.
Black Power movement : A movement advocating Black pride, self-determination, and political and economic power in the United States. Kwanzaa’s founding drew on the movement’s call for cultural pride and collective agency.
Mishumaa Saba : The seven candles used in Kwanzaa, comprising one black candle, three red candles, and three green candles. Their colors and order of lighting connect each day to Kwanzaa’s principles.
Watts riots : A six-day uprising in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles in August 1965, following an encounter between police and residents. Karenga created Kwanzaa after the uprising, seeking to foster community and cultural affirmation.
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