WYSO celebrates the seven days of Kwanzaa with daily reflections on each of the holiday's guiding principles. This is Day 1: Umoja, which means Unity.
Kwanzaa is an African American cultural holiday recognized every year by families throughout the Miami Valley and across America. The word Kwanzaa comes from a Swahili phrase meaning the harvest of the first fruits. Created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa runs from December 26 through January 1, with each day dedicated to one of seven core principles known as the Nguzo Saba.
December 26 marks the first day of Kwanzaa, and the principle is Umoja, which means unity. It is a day to strive for and maintain unity within the family and our community. People celebrate Umoja by making meals together, setting up decorations, volunteering to help others, or simply enjoying games and projects together at home.
The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa:
Day 1: Umoja (Unity)
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
Day 2: Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
Day 3: Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and to solve them together.
Day 4: Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Day 5: Nia (Purpose)
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Day 6: 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.
Day 7: Imani (Faith)
To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Symbols of Kwanzaa:
Kwanzaa celebrations often include several meaningful symbols. The Kinara is a candle holder that holds seven candles. The Mishumaa Saba are the seven candles themselves: three red, three green, and one black. The black candle is placed in the center and lit first, representing Umoja. The Mkeka is a woven mat that serves as the foundation for the other symbols. The Mazao represents the crops and fruits of the harvest. The Vibunzi is an ear of corn representing each child in the family. The Kikombe cha Umoja is the unity cup used to pour libations. And Zawadi are gifts, often handmade or educational, exchanged during the celebration.
Colors of Kwanzaa:
The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red, and green. Black represents the people, red represents their struggle, and green represents the future and hope that comes from their struggle.
How to Celebrate Umoja:
There are many ways to honor the principle of unity during the first day of Kwanzaa. Families often gather to share a meal and discuss what unity means to them. Some communities hold public celebrations with music, storytelling, and dance. Others focus on reconciliation and strengthening bonds with family members or neighbors. Volunteering together is another popular way to practice Umoja, as is simply spending quality time at home playing games or working on creative projects as a family.
About WYSO:
WYSO is a public radio station serving the Miami Valley region of Ohio. We are committed to reflecting and celebrating the diverse communities we serve. Throughout the week, tune in to WYSO 91.3 FM or stream on WYSO.org to hear daily reflections from our staff on each of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
Learn more about WYSO at wyso.org
Subscribe to WYSO for more community stories and cultural celebrations throughout the year.
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0:00 Introduction to Kwanzaa
0:15 Meaning of Kwanzaa
0:25 Day 1: Umoja (Unity)
0:40 How to Celebrate Umoja
0:52 Listen All Week on WYSO
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