As the year winds down, it’s a season of celebrations for Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s Eve — as well as Kwanzaa, a holiday that’s relatively new, but holds deep meaning for those who honor it.
🤔 What is Kwanzaa?
Kwanzaa is a holiday that honors and celebrates African-American culture. Inspired by Nguni harvest festivals in Southern Africa, Kwanzaa runs seven days, from December 26 to January 1 each year.
🍇 When Did Kwanzaa Begin?
Activist, author, and professor Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966, selecting the name from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which translates to “first fruits,” drawing a connection between African Americans in the United States and the greater Pan-Africanism movement.
🌍 The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa
Each day of the weeklong celebration corresponds to one of seven principles based on communitarian values shared throughout Africa: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith).
🍽️ Food and Traditions
There are no hard and fast rules for food during Kwanzaa. Dishes can range from fruits and vegetables to recognize the bounty of a harvest to classic African-American soul food, traditional Caribbean recipes, and African stews or curries. Some choose to fast or abstain from eating meat during Kwanzaa. It’s also common to light seven candles in a holder called a kinara, exchange gifts, wear traditional African clothing, and spend quality time with the elderly.
👀 How to Celebrate Kwanzaa in Las Vegas
Attend the Umoja West African Drum & Dance Master Class Workshop 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the West Las Vegas Arts Center to kick off the first day of Kwanzaa on Dec. 26.
Visit the Las Vegas Science & Natural History Museum and see a “Songs for Liberation” performance by Ellis Rice to celebrate Kwanzaa 12-1:30 p.m. on Dec. 27. The museum also has exhibits dedicated to Kwanzaa and other seasonal global traditions during A December to Remember, which runs through the end of the month.
The West Las Vegas Theatre hosts a free Kwanzaa celebration, 2-4 p.m. on Dec. 27 with live performances and a ceremony for those graduating from the Rites of Passage program.
The new West Las Vegas Library in the Historic Westside has a Kwanzaa community event on Dec. 30 with music, crafts, and games 3-8 p.m.
- Learn more about what makes Kwanzaa special in Las Vegas. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]
