Every year Kwanzaa festival is celebrated to the honor of African culture and heritage in the United States and other parts of the world through 26th December to 1st January. In this year 2010, it is celebrated 45th annual Kwanzaa. First time Kwanzaa festival was celebrated in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, African-American activist and director of the Black Studies department at the California State University. Each day of the festival is devoted to the Kwanzaa’s seven principles including Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba, and Imani. On this festival people meet family, friends, make foods, decorate their house with official Kwanzaa colors black, red and green.
Image from flickr, by purejuice
Kwanzaa is not religious, but a cultural one. The main aim of the festival celebration is to build up African cultural identity and the public values while give a religious choice to the commercialism of Christmas. It is derived from the Swahili, which means “"first fruits". The main activities of the festival are candle-lighting and pouring of libations, and closing in a feast and gift-giving. It also stands for special symbols and traditions. Celebration of an African feast, known as karamu is one of the main tradition of the festival, which is celebrated on the sixth day of Kwanzaa holiday. On this festival, Women wear brightly colored traditional clothing. During the period of celebration, some cultural association hold special exhibitions of African influenced art or performances.
Principles of Kwanzaa 2010
Umoja (Unity): To aim and maintain unity in the family, friends, community, nation and race.
Date: 26th December, 2010
Events
- Birmingham: Family Life Center, 8301 Eighth Ave. S., East Lake
- Ottawa: Parliament Hill from 4:20pm - 5:15pm
- Buffalo: Visual and Performing Arts, 450 Masten Avenue
- Macon: Douglass Theatre at 5 p.m.
- Memphis: Benjamin F. Hooks Library located at 3030 Poplar Ave. from 2 - 5 p.m.
Kujichagulia (Self-determination): Second day of Kwanzaa festival is celebrated as Self-determination day. On this day people can describe their mutual interests and make choices, so this is the best way to concern your family and community.
Date : 27th December, 2010
Events
- Birmingham: Homecoming Coffee and Gift Shop, 312 16th St. N., downtown
- Ottawa: 1000 Byron at 4:00pm - 7:00pm
- Buffalo: The African American Cultural Center, 350 Masten Avenue
- Macon: Douglass Theatre at 6.30 p.m.
- Memphis: Glenview Community Center at 1141 South Barksdale.
Ujima (Collective work and responsibility): The meaning of this principle is to help others in the community, and focus on community solutions.
Date : 28th December, 2010
- Birmingham: Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
- Ottawa: Village Ithiopia, 430 Rideau St. at 5:30pm - 8:30pm
- Buffalo: Frank E. Merriweather Library, 1324 Jefferson Avenue
- Macon: Douglass Theatre at 6.30 p.m.
- Memphis: LeMoyne-Owen College located at 807 Walker from 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Ujamaa (Cooperative economics): The objective of the fourth day of Kwanzaa is “building economic power, union, wealth and wisdom.”
Date : 29th December, 2010
Events
- Birmingham: Grant Chapel AME Church, 6931 Division Ave., East Lake
- Ottawa: Village Ithiopia, 430 Rideau St. at 6:00pm - 8:00pm
- Buffalo: Ha'niah Tabernacle, 900 Genesse Street
- Macon: Douglass Theatre at 6.30 p.m.
- Memphis: Memphis Botanic Garden located at 740 Cherry Rd.
Nia (Purpose): On the fifth day, people of United States and other parts of world who celebrates Kwanzaa festival set their goals to build and develop their community to restore themselves to their traditional greatness.
Date : 30th December, 2010
Events
- Birmingham: Birmingham Public Library, Powderly branch, 3301 Jefferson Ave. SW
- Ottawa: Village Ithiopia, 430 Rideau St. at 7:00pm - 9:00pm
- Buffalo: Ha'niah Tabernacle, 900 Genesse Street
- Macon: Douglass Theatre at 7 p.m.
- Memphis: Hickory Hill Community Center on 3910 Ridgewary Rd. from 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Kuumba (Creativity): Make their community better and beautiful.
Date : 31st December, 2010
Events
- Birmingham: The Bethesda Life Center, 321 19th St., Ensley
- Ottawa: Village Ithiopia, 430 Rideau St. at 5:00pm - 8:30pm
- Buffalo: JFK Center, 114 Hickory Street
- Macon: Douglass Theatre at 5 p.m.
- Memphis: Links of Whitehaven building at 750 East Holmes Rd. from 7 p.m.
Imani (Faith): To trust with all their heart in their people, parents, teachers and leaders and the honesty and success of their struggle.
Date : 1st January, 2011
Events
- Birmingham: Milk ’n Cookies, 3200 27th St. N., North Birmingham
- Ottawa: Village Ithiopia, 430 Rideau St. at 4:00pm - 9:00pm
- Buffalo: Families are encouraged to spend the day together
- Macon: Douglass Theatre at 4 p.m.
- Memphis: Jr. Labor Center at 485 Beale St. from 3 - 6 p.m.
The symbol of the Kwanzaa 2010
For this festival, Maulana Karenga designed some special seven symbols:
- Mkeka (a straw place mat)
- Kikombe cha umoja (a unity cup)
- Kinara (a holder for seven candles)
- Zawadi (modest gifts, especially for children)
- Mishumaa (candles)
- Vibunzi (an ear of corn for each child in the home)
- Mazao (a variety of fruit)
Kwanzaa 2010 Activities
- On this festival people decorates their home with color of African flag: black for people, green for the future and hope, and red for their struggle.
- Lighting the seven candle holders, in which they set black candle in middle and three green candles on left side and three red candles on right side. Each candle signifies one of Kwanzaa's seven principles. On the first day, they light black candle and next three days they light leftmost red one and then light the rightmost green one.
- The main first-fruits activities in Kwanzaa are ingathering, in which people get together with their family, friends, and community to develop the connection between people.
- People also thank to god for all his blessings on them. In this ceremony people show their respect for the creation, kindness, and blessings.
- To celebrate this festival people prepare African foods like Yassa Chicken, Jollof Rice, Collard Greens, Coconut Cake, etc.
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