Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa (/ˈkwɑːn.zə/) is a week-long celebration held in the United States and in other nations of the Western African diaspora in the Americas. The celebration honors African heritage in African-American culture, and is observed from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a feast and gift-giving. Kwanzaa has seven core principles (Nguzo Saba). It was created by Maulana Karenga and was first celebrated in 1966–67.

History and etymology

Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1965 as the first specifically African-American holiday, (but see also Juneteenth). According to Karenga, the name Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning "first fruits of the harvest",<ref name="Holly Hartman"Kwanzaa Honoring the values of ancient African cultures"> http://www.infoplease.com/spot/kwanzaa1.html  Missing or empty |title= (help)</ref> although a more conventional translation would simply be "first fruits". The choice of Swahili, an East African language, reflects its status as a symbol of Pan-Africanism, especially in the 1960s, although most of the Atlantic Slavery Trade that brought African people to America originated in West Africa.

Podcasts:

PLAYLIST TIME:
×