Community Celebrations: Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa: Celebrating African and African-American Culture
This seven-day festival celebrates African-American and pan-African culture with food, poetry, music, dance, and activities organized around the Seven Principles, a set of values those who celebrate endeavor to embody:
- UMOJA – Unity
- KUJICHAGULIA – Self-Determination
- UJIMA – Collective Work & Responsibility
- UJAMAA – Cooperative Economics
- NIA – Purpose
- KUUMBA (KARAMU – FEAST NIGHT) – Creativity
- IMANI – Faith
The holiday was created in 1966 by Maulana Ron Karenga as a way for African-Americans to find resilience, solidarity, and identity during a time of unrest as Black Americans fought for their civil rights around the United States. The ideals of the holiday are expressed in Swahili, the most widely-spoken language in Africa. Today the holiday is observed throughout the Black community with celebrations tied to the Seven Principles. This year, there will be events throughout Boston to celebrate.
Recommended Reading and Resources
This list of resources will continue to grow as community members share insights and recommendations. What's your favorite film, book, or story about Kwanzaa? Send it to hello@burlington.buzz.
Listen to Mass Appeal's interview with Sam Bradley, from Springfield's Pan African Historical Museum, to learn more about Kwanzaa.
The National Museum of African-American History and Culture has an informative section on Kwanzaa, including activities for children.
GoodReads has a Kwanzaa shelf that includes books for adults and kids alike.
