" ... OUR rna t definitive condition . that we are a community in
trug, le and our value should t and lend support to thi
truggle. The truggle is none other n the struggle to rescue and
recon truct 0 r history and culture, hape them in our own image
and interest, and elf-consciou l contribute to the forward flow of
human history."
ulan Karen •
The celebration of Kwanzaa was cre ted in 1966 by Dr. Maulana
Karenga to" eaffirm and restore our African heritage and culture;
... to introduc arid reinforce the zo Saba [the Seven Principles];
... to addre the absence of non-heroic holidays in the national
African American community; ... to- serve as a regular communal
celebr . on which reaffirmed and reinforced the bonds between us
as a people."
Kwanzaa "a project which req . e recovering lost models nd
memory, suppre d principle and actipes of African culture,
and putting these in [Black people's] struggle to free themselves
and realize their highest aspirations."
Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili words matunda meaning
"fruits" and ya kwanza meaning "first." The first fruit celebrations
are of very ancient origin. They are recorded in Egyptian and
Nubian history and appear in classical . can civilizations such
as the Shanti and the Yoruba. First fruits cel brations are found
today among many African societies.
Kwanzaa is "rooted in both the cultural values and practice of
Africans on the Continent and in the 'U[nited] S[tates] with strict
attention to cultural authenticity and values for a meaningful,
principled and productive life ... " The values and practices ofKwan­
zaa were selected by Dr. Karenga from African peoples in every
region of Africa. .
. The ingathering of the p ople i "a harv tin of the p ople; a
bringing toge her of he mo t valu bl frui 0 p oduct of he
nation ... the people themselve." he ingatherin of the people is a
bi family reunion in which he bond of lov nd family
strengthened. It i a ritual of communion, of peoplehood bond
which trengthen mutual concern and commitm nt."
The people come together to thank th Cr ator for a bountiful
harvest and a good life. The people pray not only for them elve ,
"but for others, for the strangers in the town, for the long life and
just rule of the king and that those present may return again ne
year."
Commemoration of the pa t is a veneration of the ancestors .
They deserve special veneration because they are " ... a source and
symbol of lineage; ... models of ethical life, ervice and ocial
achievement to the community; and ... because they are piritual
intercessors between humans and the Creators.
The fourth common aspect of African first fruit celebrations
which contributed to the d velopment of Kwanzaa is recommit­
ment to the highest cultural ideals of the community. In this
context culture suggests "a total life pattern involving the spiritual,
historical, social, economic, political, creative, psychological, etc."
This recommitment involves a serious examination of past behav­
ior and renewed promise to ee higher ideals of living.
The African first fruit celebrations are a celebration of all that is
good: divine, natural, cosmic, social. They are a celebration of
family, community and culture.
The
b
zo
The N guzo Saba (the Seven Principles) of Kwanzaa are offered ·
as the" .. minimum set value African Americans need to rescue and
reconstruct their lives in their own image and interest d build
and sustain an Afrocentric family, community and culture." The
seven core principles are:
Fi co on aspec of AfricaIi fir t fruit c lebratio contrib-
uted to the development of Kwanzaa: ingathering of the people, U � (Unity)
reverence for the Creator and creation, commemoration of the past, To strive for a principled and harmonious togetherness in the
recommitment to cultural ideals, and celebration of the good. family, commuruty, nation and world African community.
�ic li (Self-Determination)
To defin ourselves, nam our ely s, cr, at for our elve , and
speak for our elve .
(Collective Work & Respon ibility)
To build and maintain our community to th r nd mak our
i t rs' and brother ' prohl m ur probl m and to olv J,hem
together.
j (Cooperate Economic )
To build and maintain our own bu in , control th conormcs
of our own community, and har in all of it work and walth.
ia(Purpo e)
To mak ur coll ctiv
our community in ord r 0 r
greatne .
buildin and d v 1 pin f·
our p pl to th ir tr di tion 1
(Creativity)
do alw y much w can, in th w' y w can, in ord r to
1 v our community more b autiful and b n .fici 1 than w inh r-
it d it .
..... _ .......... (Faith)
To beli v wi th all our h ·t in ur r tor, our p opl , our
par nts, our tach rs, our 1 ad r.' and th righteou n s and
victo of our truggl for a n wand bett r world.
December 31
thru
J nary 1
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