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These are the seven principles and symbols (plus two supplemental symbols) which are the basis of Kwanzaa, in Swahili and English:
Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles)
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 brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) - to build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together. Nia (Purpose) - to make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. Kuumba (Creativity) - 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. Imani (Faith) - to believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Seven Symbols
Mazao (the Crops) - Symbolic of African harvest celebrations and of the rewards of productive and collective labor. Mkeka (The Mat) - Symbolic of our tradition and history and thus the foundation on which we build. Kinara (The Candle Holder) - symbolic of our roots, our parent people - continental Africans. Muhindi (The Corn) - symbolic of our children and thus our future which they embody. Mishumaa Saba (The Seven Candles) - symbolic of the Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles), the matrix and minimum set of values which Black 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) - symbolic of the foundational principle and pracatice of unity which makes all else possible. Zawadi (The Gifts) - symbolic of the labor and love of parents and the commitments made and kept by the children.
Supplemental Symbols: Bendera (The Flag) - the meaning of the black, red and green in the Kwanzaa Bendera are black for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future and hope that comes from their stuggle. Nguzo Saba Poster (Poster of the Seven Principles)
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Kwanzaa Menu
SEVEN PRINCIPLES/SYMBOLS
LINKS
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