The 7 symbols of Kwanzaa (2024)

FAQs

What are Kwanzaa 7 symbols? ›

' The seven candles (Mishumaa Saba): These represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa - unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

Mkeka (The Mat)

Umoja (unity) Kujichagulia (self-determination) Ujima (collective work and responsibility) Ujamaa (cooperative economics) Nia (purpose) Kuumba (creativity) Imani (faith) Kwanzaa is a 7-day African-American & Pan- African holiday created by Dr.

The seven lamps allude to the branches of human knowledge, represented by the six lamps inclined inwards towards, and symbolically guided by, the light of God represented by the central lamp. The menorah also symbolizes the creation in seven days, with the center light representing the Sabbath.

On each night, a candle is lit to observe the nguzo saba, the seven principles of Kwanzaa. The principles of Kwanzaa are: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith).

Each day they light a candle to highlight the principle of that day and to breathe meaning into the principles with various activities, such as reciting the sayings or writings of great black thinkers and writers, reciting original poetry, African drumming, and sharing a meal of African diaspora-inspired foods.

Karenga was partly inspired by an account he read of the Zulu festival Umkhosi Wokweshwama. It was decided to spell the holiday's name with an additional "a" so that it would have a symbolic seven letters. During the early years of Kwanzaa, Karenga said it was meant to be an alternative to Christmas.

Maulana Karenga, PhD

The word Kwanzaa derives from a Swahili phrase, “matunda ya kwanza” or first fruits and is framed around seven guiding principles, or the Nguzo Saba (n-GU-zo SAH-bah), Swahili for seven principles.

The corn represents the children of a family (one ear of corn for each child). The corn symbolizes the parents' wish for the child to grow up strong and happy.

How to light the kinara? ›

They are lit beginning with the black candle (Umoja). Then they are lit in alternate left and right, lighting from inward to outward. Thus, after the black candle, the red candle closest to it, Kujichagulia (2) is lit. Next the green candle Ujima (3) closest to the black is lit.

The table is often laid with a few symbolic foods: the mazoa, fruits and vegetables symbolizing the bounty of the harvest (usually foods emblematic of the African diaspora, such as okra, yams, squash, sweet potatoes and bananas), alongside the muhindi, ears of corn representing each child still remaining at home.

Created in 1966 by Maulana Ron Karenga, Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates history, values, family, community and culture. The ideas and concepts of Kwanzaa are expressed in the Swahili language, one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa.

1. The meaning of Kwanzaa: Matunda ya kwanza. Meaning 'first fruits' or 'first fruits of the harvest,' this Swahili phrase is where it all began. Because Swahili is an East African language, the fact that this phrase was chosen as the basis for Kwanzaa signifies its connection to Pan-Africanism.

To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. The seven vibrations of divine creation - the Dogon symbol of creativity.

The black candle is lit first on the first day of the celebration. And the remaining candles are lit afterwards from left to right on the following days. This procedure is to indicate that the people come first, then the struggle and then the hope that comes from the struggle.

Observance in Kwanzaa

Candle Lighting: On December 26th, the black candle at the center of the Kinara (candle holder) is lit to symbolize Umoja. This act represents a commitment to the idea of unity.