222 Culture, Identity, and Community: From Slavery to the PresentNia (purpose): As the fi ft h principle of Kwanzaa, Nia
is a commitment to the understanding that Africans are a
people whose legacy has contributed to the world as it is
known today and thereby links Africans to a specifi c cul-
tural and historical identity.
Kuumba (creativity): Th e sixth principle of the Nguzo
Saba is based on African spiritual beliefs that view creativ-
ity as an imitation of the original act of the Creator. As a
principle of Kwanzaa, Kuumba addresses the responsibility
of Africans in making the community more beautiful than
the previous generation had.
Imani (faith): Th e fi nal principle of the Nguzo Saba is
to remind Africans that they are capable of victory.
During the week of December 26 through January 1,
celebrants meditate on one of the Nguzo Saba principles
each day. Th e family usually gathers at some time during
the day to discuss the principle, recommit to its basic value,
and practice tambiko, or the pouring of libation from the
kikombe cha umoja, or unity cup. During this gathering,
the family congregates in a space decorated according to
Kwanzaa practice.
In a central location in the family home or community
institution, a mkeka (or straw mat) is placed to symbolize
the cultural and historical foundation on which Kwanzaa is
based. On top of this mkeka are placed mazao (the crops)
that symbolize the rewards of collective labor; the kinara
(candleholder) symbolizing the roots of African people
found on the African continent; the muhindi (ears of corn) to
symbolize the children; the mishumaa saba (seven candles)
to symbolize the seven principles of Kwanzaa; the kikombe
cha umoja (unity cup) to symbolize unity; zawadi (gift s)
to symbolize the reciprocal relationships between parents,
through labor and love, and their children, through their
commitments made and kept; and occasionally the bendera
(fl ag) to symbolize the struggle (red), people (black), and
the future (green).
Once everyone has gathered, it is common for one to
ask “Habari gani?” or “What is the news?” A one-word re-
sponse is given according to the principle of the day, for ex-
ample, “umoja.” Each day, candles are lit to commemorate
the value of the day. Each candle in the kinara represents a
single principle. Th e center candle is black and represents
the people. Th is is the fi rst candle lit during the celebration
and symbolizes the principle of umoja, or unity. To the left
of this candle are three red candles symbolizing the prin-
ciples kujichagulia, ujamaa, and kuumba. To the right ofaft er African harvest festivals, Kwanzaa gets its name from
the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza” or “fi rst fruits.”
Th ough the holiday was begun in the United States during
the Black Power movement, it is based on communitarian
value systems practiced in Africa for thousands of years and
therefore available to all descendants of Africans, regard-
less of where they live. As part of a larger Kawaida cultural
theory, Kwanzaa is usually celebrated by people of African
ancestry who are interested in reclaiming and reconstruct-
ing their cultural heritage.
Kwanzaa was started by Maulana Karenga through the
US Organization and is based on fi ve fundamental activi-
ties performed by its practitioners: (1) ingathering of the
people, (2) reverence for the creator and creation, (3) com-
memoration of the past, (4) recommitment to the highest
cultural ideas, and (5) celebration of the good. Th e cultural
holiday is not religious and can be celebrated by Africans
regardless of religious affi liation.
At its core, Kwanzaa is based on a matrix of seven gov-
erning principles that are meant to help Africans build up
and reinforce the African culture and worldview. Collec-
tively known as the Nguzo Saba, the seven principles were
selected for their recurrence in communitarian African so-
cieties, their relevance to the African American struggle for
equality, the cultural and spiritual importance of the num-
ber seven in African cosmology, and the manageability of
this number in learning and teaching the principles. Cre-
ated as an Afrocentric value system, the Nguzo Saba is also
regarded as contributing to the building up and reinforcing
of family within the Pan-African community. Th e seven
principles of Kwanzaa are as follows:
Umoja (unity): Umoja is the fi rst principle; it is con-
sidered foundational in the celebration of Kwanzaa because
without it, the remaining six principles suff er.
Kujichagulia (self-determination): Succinctly, kujich-
agulia expresses the importance of self-defi nition and the
right of a people to defi ne and develop themselves outside
of external infl uences.
Ujima (collective work and responsibility): Th is third
principle emphasizes the need for all Africans to work to-
gether on issues aff ecting the entire collective. As defi ned
by Karenga, this principle regards “African” as more than an
identity; it is also a duty and a responsibility.
Ujamaa (cooperative economics): Th is principle of the
Nguzo Saba stresses the relevance of shared wealth and so-
cial responsibility and is based on communitarian values.