Helina Seyoum
Teacher’s Guide to Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration of African American culture, family, community, and heritage. From December 26 through January 1, millions throughout the world’s African community gather for daily ceremonies with food, decorations, and cultural objects.
Quick Facts:
- Duration: 7 days (December 26 – January 1)
- Created: 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga
- Name Origin: “Matunda ya kwanza” (mah-TOON-dah yah KWAHN-zah) – Swahili for “first fruits”
- Key Symbol: The kinara (kee-NAH-rah) – candleholder with seven candles
- Central Focus: Seven principles – Nguzo Saba (en-GOO-zoh SAH-bah) – celebrating African values
- Celebration Style: African drumming, dancing, communal gatherings, honoring Black heroes and late family members
Important Understanding: For the African-American community, Kwanzaa is not just any “Black holiday.” It is a recognition that knowledge of Black history is worthwhile and meaningful for building strong communities today.
The Context: 1965 Watts Riots
Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a noted Black American scholar and activist, in 1966. The holiday emerged from the turbulent times following the 1965 Watts riots in Los Angeles.
What Happened:
Following a traffic incident involving a young African-American, an outbreak of violence devastated the Watts neighborhood. In response, Dr. Karenga founded an organization called Us – meaning, black people – which promoted black culture.
The Purpose
The organization’s goal was to provide a platform to help rebuild the Watts neighborhood through a strong organization rooted in African culture. Karenga called Kwanzaa’s creation an act of cultural discovery – pointing African-Americans to greater knowledge of their African heritage and past.
Cultural Foundation: Rooted in the struggles and gains of the civil rights and black power movements of the 1950s and 1960s, Kwanzaa was a way of defining a unique Black American identity.
Connection to African Traditions
While Kwanzaa as a holiday did not exist in Africa, it draws inspiration from African “first fruit” harvest celebrations. The name comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first fruits” in Swahili, the most widely spoken African language.
What It Became
Karenga wanted to “reaffirm the bonds between us” (Black people) and to counter the damage done by the “holocaust of slavery.” Today, Kwanzaa has grown into a worldwide celebration, bringing together the Black community not on the basis of religious faith, but through shared cultural heritage.
Each day of Kwanzaa is devoted to celebrating one of the seven basic values of African culture, known as the Nguzo Saba (en-GOO-zoh SAH-bah) (the seven principles). These principles form the core of the celebration and provide guidance for building strong communities.
Day 1: Umoja (oo-MOH-jah) – Unity
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
Teaching Focus: How can we work together and support each other?
Day 2: Kujichagulia (koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-ah) – Self-Determination
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
Teaching Focus: What does it mean to make your own choices and tell your own story?
Day 3: Ujima (oo-JEE-mah) – Collective Work and Responsibility
To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and solve them together.
Teaching Focus: How do we help each other and share responsibilities?
Day 4: Ujamaa (oo-jah-MAH-ah) – Cooperative Economics
To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Teaching Focus: Building Black businesses and supporting our community economically.
Day 5: Nia (nee-AH) – Purpose
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community.
Teaching Focus: What is our purpose? How can we make our community better?
Day 6: Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) – Creativity
To do always as much as we can to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Teaching Focus: How can we use our creativity to improve the world around us?
Day 7: Imani (ee-MAH-nee) – Faith
To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Teaching Focus: Having faith in ourselves and our community’s future.
Understanding the Symbols
In addition to the seven principles, Kwanzaa has seven important symbols that families display and use during the celebration:
1. Mazao (mah-ZAH-oh) – Crops/Fruits
Represents the rewards of collective labor and the importance of working together.
2. Mkeka (em-KAY-kah) – Mat
A traditional mat that symbolizes the foundation of African history and tradition.
3. Kinara (kee-NAH-rah) – Candleholder
The centerpiece that holds seven candles representing the seven principles.
4. Muhindi (moo-HEEN-dee) – Corn
Represents children and the future. One ear of corn is placed for each child in the family.
5. Mishumaa Saba (mee-shoo-MAH SAH-bah) – Seven Candles
- Black candle (center): Represents the African people
- Three red candles (left): Represent the struggle
- Three green candles (right): Represent the land and hope for the future
6. Kikombe Cha Umoja (kee-KOH-mbeh chah oo-MOH-jah) – Unity Cup
Used for libations to honor ancestors and promote unity among family members.
7. Zawadi (zah-WAH-dee) – Gifts
Gifts are given to children to reward them for commitments made and kept. These are often educational items or handmade gifts.
Daily Ceremonies
Each evening during Kwanzaa, families gather for ceremonies that include:
- Candle Lighting: One candle is lit each night, starting with the black candle on the first night
- Discussing the Principle: The principle of the day is discussed and its meaning explored
- Sharing Food: Traditional African, Caribbean, and African-American dishes are shared
- Music and Dance: African drumming and dancing are common
- Storytelling: Stories about Black heroes, heroines, and late family members are shared
The Karamu (kah-RAH-moo) – Feast
On December 31st, families host a large feast called the Karamu. This communal celebration often includes:
- Traditional African-American soul food
- African and Caribbean dishes
- Community gatherings with extended family and friends
- Cultural performances and presentations
Giving Gifts
On January 1st (the last day), gifts are exchanged. These are typically:
- Educational items (books about Black history and culture)
- Handmade gifts
- Items that promote learning and cultural awareness
- Often given to children as rewards for commitments kept
Modern Significance: Today, Kwanzaa is celebrated widely on college campuses, community centers, and homes. The U.S. Postal Service issues Kwanzaa stamps, and special Kwanzaa greeting cards are available, showing how the holiday has become an established part of American culture.
✅ DO:
- Present Kwanzaa as a cultural celebration rooted in African-American history
- Emphasize the seven principles and their universal values
- Acknowledge its creation in 1966 during the Civil Rights Movement
- Discuss how it honors African heritage and Black American identity
- Invite students who celebrate to share their family traditions (optional)
- Connect to themes of community, family, and cultural pride
- Use it as an opportunity to teach about African-American history
- Recognize it as a cultural (not religious) celebration
❌ DON’T:
- Present it as a religious holiday (it’s cultural)
- Assume all African-American students celebrate Kwanzaa
- Conflate it with Christmas or other December holidays
- Treat it as less important than other winter celebrations
- Use it as the only time you discuss Black history and culture
- Appropriate symbols without understanding their meaning
- Present a superficial “crafts-only” approach
Important Context
Cultural vs. Religious: Dr. Karenga emphasized that Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday, not a religious one. People of all faiths can celebrate Kwanzaa alongside their religious holidays. Many families celebrate both Kwanzaa and Christmas.
About African Heritage: While the holiday was created in America and didn’t exist in Africa, it draws inspiration from African harvest celebrations and uses Swahili (a widely spoken African language) to connect African Americans to their ancestral heritage.
Grades K-1:
- Focus on: “Kwanzaa is a celebration of African-American families and communities”
- Count the seven candles and seven principles
- Emphasize family, sharing, and working together
- Use simple definitions: Unity = being together, Creativity = making things
- Activity: Create simple kinara drawings, count candles
Grades 2-3:
- Explain that Dr. Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966
- Discuss the seven principles with simple examples
- Connect to the Civil Rights Movement (age-appropriate)
- Learn basic Swahili words: Kwanzaa (KWAHN-zah), kinara (kee-NAH-rah), karamu (kah-RAH-moo)
- Activity: Match principles to everyday actions, create principle cards
Grades 4-5:
- Study the historical context: 1965 Watts riots, Civil Rights Movement
- Explore all seven principles and their deeper meanings
- Discuss African cultural connections and diaspora
- Learn about Dr. Maulana Karenga and his vision
- Critical thinking: “Why was it important to create a holiday celebrating African-American culture?”
- Research project: “How Kwanzaa principles apply today”
Language Arts
- Vocabulary: Learn Swahili words used in Kwanzaa
- Writing: “What does [principle] mean to me?” personal reflections
- Research: Biography of Dr. Maulana Karenga
- Reading: Books about Kwanzaa and African-American culture
- Poetry: Write poems based on the seven principles
Math
- Counting: Count the seven candles, seven principles, seven days
- Patterns: Color patterns with red, black, and green
- Calendar: Mark December 26 – January 1 on the calendar
- Word Problems: “If you light one candle each night for 7 nights…”
Social Studies
- History: Civil Rights Movement and 1960s activism
- Geography: Locate African countries and the African diaspora
- Cultural Studies: Compare Kwanzaa to other cultural celebrations
- Timeline: Place Kwanzaa creation (1966) in historical context
Art
- Create Kinaras: Design and decorate candleholders
- Make Mkeka Mats: Weave paper mats with red, black, green
- African Patterns: Explore and create African textile designs
- Symbol Posters: Illustrate the seven symbols of Kwanzaa
Music
- African Drumming: Learn basic rhythms
- Kwanzaa Songs: Learn traditional Kwanzaa music
- Call and Response: Practice African musical traditions
K-2nd Grade:
- “What does it mean to be united with your family?”
- “How can we help each other at school?”
- “What are ways we can be creative?”
- “Why is it important to celebrate our families?”
3rd-5th Grade:
- “Why did Dr. Karenga create Kwanzaa in 1966?”
- “What does each of the seven principles teach us?”
- “How can we apply these principles in our own community?”
- “Why is it important for people to celebrate their cultural heritage?”
- “What does ‘self-determination’ mean and why is it important?”
- “How did the Civil Rights Movement influence the creation of Kwanzaa?”
PreK-K:
- “K is for Kwanzaa” by Juwanda G. Ford
- “My First Kwanzaa” by Karen Katz
K-2nd:
- “Seven Candles for Kwanzaa” by Andrea Davis Pinkney
- “Together for Kwanzaa” by Juwanda G. Ford
3rd-5th:
- “Kwanzaa” by A.P. Porter
- “The Story of Kwanzaa” by Donna L. Washington
- Cultural, Not Religious: Kwanzaa is a cultural celebration that can be observed alongside any religious tradition.
- Born from Activism: Created in 1966 during the Civil Rights Movement to help African Americans connect with their heritage and build strong communities.
- Seven Core Values: The Nguzo Saba (seven principles) provide timeless guidance for building unity, self-determination, and community strength.
- Honors African Heritage: While created in America, Kwanzaa draws inspiration from African harvest celebrations and uses Swahili to connect to ancestral roots.
- Growing Recognition: What began as a small community celebration has grown to be observed worldwide, with official recognition through U.S. postage stamps and widespread cultural acceptance.
- Tool for Teaching: Kwanzaa provides an excellent opportunity to teach about African-American history, the Civil Rights Movement, and the importance of cultural identity.
Online Resources:
- The Official Kwanzaa Website: www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org
- Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture
- National Geographic Kids: Kwanzaa
Community Connections:
- Invite African-American families to share their Kwanzaa traditions (with permission)
- Visit local African American cultural centers
- Attend community Kwanzaa celebrations
