Kwanzaa 2022: See when, why this festival is celebrated

With the onset of winter, many countries and people would celebrate their traditional festivals, like Kwanzaa, where the communities unite to celebrate African culture.

As the Christians will celebrate Christmas and the Jews will mark Hanukkah festival, African Americans will hold Kwanzaa celebrations.

Various African American communities gather around to celebrate Kwanzaa and remember their cultural heritage.


Maulana Karenga was the person, who initiated Kwanzaa, to imbibe and retain African heritage that the African American people left behind in Africa. After the Watts riots, this festival originated. These riots happened when a 21-year-old was arrested by a policeman for drunken driving and mercilessly beaten up when the drunk lad resisted arrest. The word Kwanzaa is in Swahili, meaning “matunda ya kwanza”, which translates as “first fruits”. Many African communities celebrate the first fruits festival in their communities. South Africans have been celebrating this festival for a long time.

Karenga was thinking of putting up Kwanzaa as an alternative to Christmas but later reconciled to the fact that it could not be replaced. The festival became famous over the years with many Africans around the globe who celebrate Kwanzaa, even though it was created in the United States.

The seven days of holidays are the seven principles of Kwanzaa as set in their guidelines in 1965.

Umoja, which means unity. The purpose is to hold on to family and community to latch onto it with the resolve of uniting for a common cause.



Kujichagulia is to determine that the person would speak for the community and self.

Ujima means sharing work or working collectively to unite the community on one human chord.

Ujamaa is to make shops and businesses to bring the community together and share the profits.

Nia is the purpose of taking responsibility for the community members and working for them.

Kuumba is to do as much as possible and “create” an atmosphere of cleanliness and beauty for the benefit of Kwanzaa.

Imani means having “faith” towards the teachers and elders or leaders in the community and believing and glorifying the community’s struggle for victory and righteousness. Kwanza is immediately after Christmas, an extended holiday, which already exists post-Christmas day from December 26 to January 1.

The houses are decorated with traditional artifacts, and people wear conventional African clothing from where they hail, as informed by their ancestors. Karamu is the day of the feast, which occurs on the 6th day.

FAQs:

1. How many African Americans are in the USA?
   46.8 million (13.6 % of the population)
2. When did the USA Post Office release a Kwanzaa stamp?
   1997