Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

Kwanzaa Is Meant to Help You Start the New Year Off Right

Kwanzaa Is Meant to Help You Start the New Year off Right Kwanzaa

Umoja (oo-MO-jah) means Unity

Kujichagulia (koo-jee-chah-GOO-lee-ah) means Self-Determination

Ujima (oo-jah-MAH) means Collective Work and Responsibility

Ujamaa (U-jay-ma) means Cooperative Economics

Nia (NEE-ah) means Purpose

Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) means Creativity

Imani (ee-MAH-nee) means Faith



Kwanzaa is meant to help you start the New Year off right. A new year inspires renewed energy and excitement for what could happen. Kwanzaa's seven principles of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith fit right into the New Year resolutions wish list.

Beginning December 26 and lasting for seven days until the first day of the New Year, Kwanzaa is a celebration of everyone's community, family, and culture.

History of Kwanzaa: each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of seven principles. The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red, and green; Black for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future and success that comes from their struggle.

Seven Principles of Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa's seven principles are the Nguzo Saba (n-GU-zo SAH-bah).

Dr. Maulana Karenga introduced Kwanzaa in 1966 to the Africans of the American diaspora as a ceremonial celebration to welcome the first fruit harvests in the Americas. Dr. Karenga created Kwanzaa “to introduce and reinforce seven basic values of African culture which contribute to the building and reinforcing of family, community, and culture among African American people as well as Africans throughout the world African community.”

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration of family, community, and culture. Kwanzaa is not an African Christmas celebration; Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, nor is it meant to replace Christmas. The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red, and green. Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration that begins on December 26 and ends on January 1.

Kwanzaa has seven symbols representing the values reflective of a peaceable world known as the Nguzo Saba. The seven principles of Kwanzaa are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili term "matunda ya kwanza", which means first fruits. Kwanzaa is based on African harvest celebrations.

What is Kwanzaa? People of many faiths, cultures, and ethnic backgrounds celebrate Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is a time for all communities to celebrate ancestry, African culture, future and past endeavors, and virtues. Kwanzaa is a positive force in all communities, respecting beloved ancestors and elders for their wisdom, knowledge, sacrifice, and fortitude.

Wise African Proverb

Wise African Proverb

More Articles to Read from Chic African Culture

Show more

This Week’s Best Posts and Pages

Top 20 Largest Countries in Africa

Image
African Country by Size List. Africa Which are the top twenty largest, smallest, and territorial country in Africa by land area? 1. The continent of Africa is the world’s second largest based on land area and population just after Asia. 2. Top five largest countries of Africa are Algeria, Congo Democratic Republic of the, Sudan, Libya and Chad. 3. Top five smallest African countries and territories are Mauritius, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Saint Helena and Mayotte. African Country from largest to smallest Area sq mile Area sq km Algeria 919,595 2,381,740 Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) 905,568 2,345,410 Sudan 718,723 1,861,484 Libya 679,362 1,759,540 Chad 495,755 1,284,000 Niger 489,191 1,267,000 Angola 481,354 1,246,700 Mali 478,767 1,240,000 South Africa 471,011 1,219,912 Ethiopia 435,186 1,127,127 Mauritania 397,95
Read the Article

What is the difference between ugali and fufu

Image
How to make the popular African recipes Ugali and Fufu and what is the difference.  Ugali is a starch dish in Kenya and Tanzania made of fine cornmeal cooked in boiling water into a soft dough. Fufu is a thick, dough-like West African food made by boiling then pounding a starchy vegetable such as yam, plantain, or cassava or a mixture of starchy vegetables. The main difference between fufu and ugali is fufu is boiled first then pounded while ugali is simply boiled. Ugali recipe. Easy Ugali Recipe Prep time 5 minutes Cook time 30 minutes Total time 30 minutes Ingredients 4 cups finely ground cornmeal 8 cups water Directions Heat water to boiling in a saucepan. Slowly pour cornmeal into boiling water stirring continuously. Add more cornmeal if necessary until it is thick as soft bread dough. Serve immediately with vegetables, stew, or any dish you would use a spoon with to soak up the sauce, ugali is purposely bland tasting on its own. What is the difference between ugali and
Read the Article

Mampoer South African Moonshine

Image
South African Home Distilled Fruit Liquor Mampoer, the South African water of life or South African Moonshine is served wrapped barbered wire bottles. The ideal alcohol content of mampoer is around 64%. The intense tasting home-distilled fruit liquor mampoer comes wrapped in barbered wire and is usually around 55-64% proof.  Mampoer can be made from apricots, cherries, figs, oranges, pears, yellow peaches, plums and just about any fruit. The ideal alcohol content is around 64%; only 6-10% of the fermented juice is eventually mampoer.  It was illegal to make mampoer, however, since 2007, it became possible to create the brew only if made for personal use and not sold. Mampoer Legend Because of this Mampuru and the chief who was forced to help him, Chief Niabela, were both hung by the authorities and Chief Niabela land divided among Boer bywoners or poor white tenet framers. The Boer bywoners had little to no experience with farming, however; they did show a skill for m
Read the Article

Using Amen and Ashe or Ase

Image
Usage of Amen and Ashe or Ase Ashe to Amen learn about the custom of using the words Ashe and Amen historically. Where did the word Amen and Ashe come from why is it said and what does it mean? In Judaism, 3,500 years old and Christian religions 2,000 years old, Amen, means may it be so. In the African Yoruba language among the Yoruba people whose culture is as old as time, Ashe or Ase means may it be so. Ase or Ashe means power, commandment, and authority, the ability to make whatever one says happen from the spiritual to the physical realm. In the Yoruba language, Ashe is omnipresent spiritual energy. Followers of Judaism and Christian religions use the word Amen. It is the word utilized to end prayers as an affirmation for the requests to be provided by God. Yoruba is as old as time, Ashe refers to the life force within all living things, the spark that animates life. It is used as a term used in the same manner as Amen at the end of appeals and prayers as an affirmati
Read the Article