Kwanzaa

Good web links

www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/celeb-procedures

Kwanzaa History

Kwanzaa was founded by Dr. Maulana Karenga in San Diego, CA in 1966. The word Kwanzaa itself comes from the words "Matunda ya Kwanza" in Kiswahili language (spoken mostly in the East Africa) and means "First Fruits."

The Kwanzaa holiday is probably the most important African American holiday because it transcends religious, ideological, regional, and class boundaries. The celebration of Kwanzaa combines elements from African culture and African American experience.

While the celebration of first fruits is done in Africa to thank the Creator for blessing His people with food, the Kwanzaa holiday celebrated in seven days (December 26 to January 1), reaffirms and restores the African heritage and culture, and introduces the Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles), to establish a non-historic African American holiday and to serve as an annual opportunity for African Americans to reaffirm and reinforce our bond as a people.

According to Cedric McClester, the author of Kwanzaa Everything You Wanted to Know But Didn’t Know Where to Ask, there are over 13 million Americans that observe Kwanzaa.

Seven Principles

PETITIONS BASED ON THE "NGUZO SABA" OR SEVEN PRINCIPLES
(Please note that libation will go along with each petition)

1. UMOJA (Unity)

We pray that all the ethnic groups that represent our community will strive for and maintain togetherness in family, community and nation. In memory of our ancestors,

… we pour libation

2. KUJICHAGULIA (Self-determination)

We pray all the peoples will enjoy the freedom to define themselves, name themselves and speak for themselves instead of being defined and spoken for by others. In memory of our ancestors,

… we pour libation

3. UJIMA (Collective work and responsibility)

We pray that the Spirit of the Lord will help us always care for one another, continue the work of sharing the Good News, and through our good deeds, become the light for our sisters and brothers who haven’t accepted Christ in their lives. In memory of our ancestors

… we pour libation

4. UJAMAA(Cooperative Economics)

We pray that our businesses will strive to service the human needs, especially the need for love of one another and the love of God. In memory of our ancestors,

… we pour libation

5. NIA (Purpose)

We pray that we will make as our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. In memory of our ancestors,

… we pour libation

6. KUUMBA(Creativity)

We pray that we will always do as much as we can in the way we can to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. In memory of our ancestors,

…we pour libation

IMANI (Faith)

We pray that we will believe with our hearts in our people, parents, teachers, leaders, and our God and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. In memory of our ancestors,

… we pour libation