Kwanzaa: How To Celebrate African Culture, Properly

Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday but a holiday that celebrates the values of ancient African culture. In addition, it was created to bring inspiration to African-Americans who worked for progress during a great time of social change for blacks in America during the 1960s.

This pan-African holiday was created in 1966 by Maulana “Ron” Karenga, who is now a professor and chairman in the department of Africana Studies at California State University: Long Beach. Born with the birth name Ronald McKinley Everett, he changed his name to Maulana (Swahili-Arabic for “master teacher) and Karenga (Swahili for “keeper of tradition”).

Kwanzaa is based on the year-end harvest celebrations that have been occurring in Africa for thousands of years. Its name comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits of the harvest”.

Below, you will find the day-by-day instruction- the seven principles of the Nguzo Saba– to celebrate the African culture, respectfully.

The Kinara, candleholder, and the Mishumaa Saba, the seven candles for Kwanzaa. (Source: http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/kwanzaa-history)