Harambee! Let's Get Together and Celebrate Kwanzaa!
by Tammy Weisberger
From December 26th through January 1st many African Americans celebrate a non-denominational
holiday called Kwanzaa. During the 7 days of Kwanzaa, African Americans focus their attention
on rededicating themselves to the 7 Principles (the Nguzo Saba) that form the structure of
Kwanzaa. These 7 Principles are designed to be a guide for establishing a way of life that
will provide African Americans with a method for relating to the past, understanding the
present, and living life as a strong community in the future. Kwanzaa is, first and foremost,
a holiday dedicated to strengthening and building a dynamic and rewarding African American
community.
History and Tradition
An African American scholar and activist named Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga first developed
Kwanzaa in 1966. Dr. Karenga felt that African Americans needed a holiday that related to
the growth and development of the African American community and that would encourage social
change. Every aspect that makes up the 7 days of Kwanzaa is specially designed to create an
atmosphere that supports and aids the African American community in internalizing the Nguzo
Saba. Every day the question "Habari Gani?" is asked. It means "What's the news?" The answer
to this question is always one of the 7 Principles.
The Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles)
Umoja (unity)
Kujichagulia (self-determination)
Ujima (collective work and responsibility)
Ujamaa (cooperative economics)
Nia (purpose)
Kuumba (creativity)
Imani (faith)
Each night of Kwanzaa a candle is lit in the kinara (candelabra) to represent one of the nguzo
saba principles. When the candle is lit a member of the household will discuss the principle
of the day by telling personal anecdotes, historical stories or introducing songs that
represent the principle's meaning. Gifts called zawadi, that relate to or help teach the
day's Principle, are given to help people either further internalize the day's principle,
or to keep the principle at the forefront of peoples' minds. At the end of each evening,
the word Harambee (which means Let's Get Together) is shouted. Harambee is shouted once for
each day of the holiday. On the first day Harambee is shouted once, on the second day it is
shouted twice. You get the picture, on the seventh day Harambee is shouted 7 times!
The Importance of Colors and Candles
The colors of Kwanzaa are very important to the celebration. Houses are decorated in red,
green, and black (the colors of the African flag) and the kinara is lit with red, green
and black candles. The candles in the kinara are arranged so that there are 3 red candles
on the right side of the kinara, a black candle in the center, and 3 green candles on the
left side. Red represents the bloodshed and struggle of the African people; black represents
unity; and green represents freedom and hope for the future. The candles in the kinara are
lit in a particular order: the center (black) candle is lit on the first night of Kwanzaa.
The lighting on the following nights alternates from the left to right side. Every night,
when the kinara is lit, a member of the family will discuss the principle of the day. Everyone
in the family will often get a chance to explain what the principle means to them and how they
intend to keep the principle active in the year to come.
It's Karamu Time!
On December 31st it is time for bringing the entire week of Kwanzaa together and having a
night of story telling, songs, and feasting! The feast on this night of festivity is called
Karamu. Everyone joins together to participate in the lighting of all seven candles in the
kinara. A different person lights each candle, and explains what each of the principles means
to them. After the discussion of the 7 Principles, the feasting begins. Often, the feast
itself is a communal event, with everyone pitching in and bringing a dish to share. Dishes
made for Karamu can be almost any type of food, but there is usually at least one dish made
of vegetables that were introduced to America by Africans. Okra and taro root are two
vegetables that are commonly cooked up to fulfill this tradition.
