Nguzo Saba:
The 7 Principles of Kwanzaa
Umoja (unity) to strive for and maintain unity in the
family, community, nation and race.
Kujichagulia (self-determination) to define ourselves,
name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
Ujima (collective work and responsibility) to build and
maintain our community together and make our sister's and brother's problems
our problems and to solve them together.
Ujamaa (cooperative economics) to build and maintain our
own stores, shops, and other businesses together.
Nia (purpose) to make our collective vocation the building
of our community to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Kuumba (creativity) to do as much as we can to leave our
community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Imani (faith) to believe with our hearts in our people,
our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory
of our struggle.
Bendera Ya Taifa -The Colors of Kwanzaa
The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green. The flag of Black
Nationalism symbolizes the struggle of Liberation. The Red represents the
blood of our ancestors; Black is for the collective color of all Black
people, and Green reminds us of the land, life and new ideas we must continue
to strive to obtain. |
The Symbols of Kwanzaa
Mazao - The Crops
These are symbolic of African harvest celebrations and of the rewards
of productive and collective labor.
Mkeka - The Mat
This is symbolic of our tradition and history and therefore, the foundation
on which we build.
Kinara - The Candle Holder
This is symbolic of our roots, our parent people -- continental Africans.
Muhindi - The Corn
This is symbolic of our children and our future which they embody.
Mishumaa Saba - 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 - The Unity Cup
This is symbolic of the foundational principle and practice of unity
which makes all else possible.
Zawadi - The Gifts
These are symbolic of the labor and love of parents and the commitments
made and kept by the children. |
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