Kwanzaa is an annual cultural observance, which is recognized by Pan-African people from December 26th thru January 1st each year. Kwanzaa is non-political. Kwanzaa is non-religious. Kwanzaa is not related to Christmas.

The concept of Kwanzaa was formulated, devised, developed, and initiated by Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga, on December 26, 1966 based on the premise of Kawaida: ” that social revolutionary change for Black American can be achieved by the act of revealing and disclosing individuals to their cultural African heritage. 

Annual Kwanzaa observances serve to reinforce manifesting the principles of Kwanzaa, as a way of life, on a daily basis – by reflecting on the past, in order to understand the present and plan for the future. Kwanzaa focuses on seven (7) principles, with particular emphasis on the social, political, economic, and cultural needs of Black people. 

The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa are called the Nguzo Saba, which represent the living practices which helped and inspired our African ancestors to endure oppression, under the unjust global system of White Supremacy, functional racism.

Day #1: December 26
Nguzo Saba Kwanzaa Principle #1

Umoja (oo-MOE-jah) = Unity: to strive for a principled and harmonious togetherness in the family, community, nation, and Pan-African community.

Day #2: December 27
Nguzo Saba Kwanzaa Principle #2
Kujichagulia (koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-ah) = Self-Determination: to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.

Day #3: December 28
Nguzo Saba Kwanzaa Principle #3

Ujima (oo-JEE-mah) = Collective Work & Responsibility: to build and maintain our community together and to make our Brothers’ and Sisters’ problems OUR problems and to solve them together.

Day #4: December 29
Nguzo Saba Kwanzaa Principle #4
Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah) = Cooperative Economics; to build our own businesses, control the economics of our own community and share in all its work and wealth.

Day #5: December 30
Nguzo Saba Kwanzaa Principle #5

Nia (nee-AH) = Purpose: to make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Day #6: December 31
Nguzo Saba Kwanzaa Principle #6
Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) = Creativity: to do always as much as we can in the way that we can in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than when we inherited it.

Day #7: January 1
Nguzo Saba Kwanzaa Principle #7 (Day of Meditation)
Imani (ee-MAH-nee) = Faith: to believe, with all our heart, in our Creator, our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness, and victory of our struggle.

Harambee: Let’s Pull Together!