Kwanzaa History

Series Summary

One of the common misconceptions about Kwanzaa is that it is a religious holiday created to replace Christmas in the African-American community. On the contrary, the seven weeks of Kwanzaa do not start until the day after Christmas, lasting until January 1. Plus Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, rather a cultural event intended to celebrate the heritage of the African-American community. It was created in 1966 by African-American scholar Ron Karenga to "give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history rather than simply imitage the practice of the dominate society."

In this free cultural heritage video, our Kwanzaa authority will guide you through the Kwanzaa celebration, discussing the meaning and translation of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. She will also tell you how to set up symbols for the celebration and let you know how to prepare a feast for the last day. Not sure if and when to exchange gifts? Watch these videos for a thorough introduction to this unique African-American holiday.

Video Transcript

"Hi, I'm Masequa Myers. We will be talking about the celebration of Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday created by Dr. Maulana Karenga. Kwanzaa is celebrated for seven days and it begins December 26th and lasts through January 1st. Kwanzaa is a Swahili word meaning "first fruits." And the creator, Dr. Maulana Karenga, started this Kwanzaa celebration in the mid-60s. He is a chairperson and professor at California State University of the Department of Black Studies. He is also a renowned author of several books on African cultures, Egyptian cultures and traditions. Kwanzaa, the first fruits, celebration of family, community and culture. In our next clip, we will talk about the symbols of Kwanzaa."