Week #12:
Our Final Celebrations of 2020!
Happy Kwanzaa
the special 7-day celebration of Black heritage, family, community and culture from December 26 to January 1st
According to history.com, Dr. Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966. He combined aspects of several traditional harvest celebrations, such as those of the Ashanti and Zulu peoples. Each day of Kwanzaa a candle is lit and one of the following seven principles or ideals (Nguzo Saba) are emphasized and celebrated.
Unity: Umoja (oo–MO–jah) To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
Self-determination: Kujichagulia (koo–gee–cha–goo–LEE–yah) To define ourselves and speak for ourselves.
Collective Work and Responsibility: Ujima (oo–GEE–mah) To build and maintain our community and to solve our problems together.
Cooperative Economics: Ujamaa (oo–JAH–mah) To build and maintain our own businesses and to profit together.
Purpose: Nia (nee–YAH) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community
Creativity: Kuumba (koo–OOM–bah) To do as much as we can to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Faith: Imani (ee–MAH–nee) To believe with all our heart in our people and the righteousness of our struggle.