Back
Did You Know There Is A Week In The U.S Where African-Americans Honor Their Heritage? See How!
Sep 22, 2020
African-Americans honor their African heritage during Kwanzaa, a 7-day holiday from December 26-January 1. Observers celebrate by decorating their homes with African cloth and art. 
Dr. Maulana Karenga introduced the festival in 1966 to the United States as a ritual to welcome the first harvests to the home. Dr. Karenga created this festival for Afro-Americans as a response to the commercialism of Christmas. 
In fact, one might say that Kwanzaa has similarities with Thanksgiving in the United States or the Yam Festival in Ghana and Nigeria. The word "kwanza" is a KiSwahili (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania) word meaning "first." 
Five common sets of values are central to the activities of the week: ingathering, reverence, commemoration, recommitment, and celebration. 
The seven principles (nguzo saba) of Kwanzaa utilize Kiswahili words: unity (umoja), self-determination (kujichagulia), collective work and responsibility (ujima), cooperative economics (ujamaa), purpose (nia), creativity (kuumba), and faith (imani). 
Each of the seven candles signifies the principles. Like the Jewish Hannakah, candles are used to represent concepts of the holiday. The symbols of Kwanzaa include crops (mzao) which represent the historical roots of African-Americans in agriculture and also the reward for collective labor. 
0Shares
0Comments
0Favorites
1Likes
Say something to impress...
Loading...
Comments
Hot

No content at this moment.

Relevant people
Around The World
277398 Followers
Coverage on news from various countries
Related