Kwanzaa principles and symbols
Kwanzaa celebrates African culture out of Africa.
According to Dr. Karenga, the 7 Kwanzaa Principles were designed to solidify the values of African culture. These principles are based on family, culture and community among all African Americans regardless of their religious affiliations. Known as Nguzo Saba, these principles are the basic foundation upon which all values are reinforced and in which a solid commitment is formed.
The 7 Kwanzaa Principles Explained
In order to appropriately cite these principles, the officialkwanzaawebsite.org describes these 7 Kwanzaa Principles, authored by Maulana Karenga, in this way:
Umoja or Unity: To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
Kujichagulia or Self-Determination: To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
Ujima or Collective Work and Responsibility: To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together.
Ujamaa or Cooperative Economics: To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Nia or Purpose: To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Kuumba or Creativity: To do always as much as we can, in any way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Imani or Faith: To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness will victory of our struggle.
Note that the 7 Principles incorporate the words first in Swahili and then English.
The 7 Kwanzaa Principles are also known as Kawaida, a term used to define a system of beliefs. Born out of the civil rights movement in the 60’s, Dr. Karenga felt there was a need for all African Americans to reconnect with their historical and cultural heritage.
It is also interesting to note that at the time Dr. Karenga established the USO or United Slaves Organization, better known today as Organization Us, there were seven children in this organization. Since each child wanted to represent each letter in Kwanzaa, the additional letter “a” was added at the end to acknowledge their wishes.
The 7 Symbols of Kwanzaa
In addition to the 7 Kwanzaa Principles established by Kwanzaa founder Dr. Karenga, there are also the 7 Symbols of Kwanzaa. Each of these symbols represents the values of the African culture and is used to reinforce one’s commitment to community, family and unity.
The following symbols are appropriately cited from the officialkwanzaawebsite.org wherein much of Dr. Karenga’s beliefs as well as information pertaining to the origin of Kwanzaa emanate.
Note the symbols are written in Swahili and English.
Mazao or The Crops: These are symbolic of African harvest celebrations and of the rewards of productive and collective labor.
Mkeka or The Mat: This is symbolic of our tradition and history and therefore, the foundation on which we build.
Kinara or The Candle Holder: This is symbolic of our roots, our parent people -- continental Africans.
Muhindi or The Corn: This is symbolic of our children and our future which they embody.
Mishumaa Saba or The Seven Candles: These are symbolic of the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles, the matrix and minimum set of values which African people are urged to live by in order to rescue and reconstruct their lives in their own image and according to their own needs.
Kikombe cha Umoja or The Unity Cup: This is symbolic of the foundational principle and practice of unity which makes all else possible.
Zawadi or The Gifts: These are symbolic of the labor and love of parents and the commitments made and kept by the children.
In addition, Dr. Karenga has added two additional symbols; one of which is the Bendera or The Flag which consist of the three colors of Organization Us. The colors are red, black and green. The second symbol is the Nguzo Saba Poster which is consistent with the Poster of the Seven Principles.