Kwanzaa, founded by Dr. Maulana Karenga, is “a celebration of family, community and culture” from December 26 through January 1. The Nguzo Saba, also known as the Seven Principles, are featured during this time. The Seven Principles are:
Day 1: Umoja-Unity: To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
Day 2: Kujichagulia-Self Determination: To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
Day 3: Ujima-Collective Work and Responsibility: To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and solve them together.
Day 4: Ujamaa-Cooperative Economics: To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Day 5: Nia-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: Kuumba-Creativity: To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Day 7: Imani-Faith: To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
As we begin a new day in a new year, let us model, apply, and practice these principles in our daily living.
More information on Kwanzaa can be found on the official Kwanzaa website
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