The Two Biggest Myths About Kwanzaa:

MYTH #1: Kwanzaa is an African holiday. NOT TRUE!
Kwanzaa is NOT an African holiday, but rather a distinctly African-American holiday that pulls from various traditions and concepts from around the African Diaspora. The word Kwanzaa means "first fruit" referring to the beginning of the harvest season in most parts of the world. The vocabulary used in Kwanzaa derives from the East African language Swahili.

MYTH #2: Kwanzaa is a religious holiday. NOT TRUE!
Kwanzaa is NOT a religious holiday, or "black people's Christmas" as it as been mislabeled. Its symbols, principles, procedures, and language all derive from various African traditions and values. From Christians to Moslems, Agnostics to Atheists, Kwanzaa is celebrated by and meant to unite people of ALL religious or spiritual beliefs. Many participants hold simple celebrations directly following the holiday dinner with their family. Others carry out each of the traditions for the first six days of Kwanzaa culminating in a more grand and formal celebration on the seventh, and final day of Kwanzaa. Either way, nothing about the holiday detracts from the religious beliefs of any group, but rather unites groups from varying spiritual paths along cultural and cross-cultural lines.

What is Kwanzaa?

Kwanzaa began in 1966 by a man named Dr. Maulena Karenga, as a way for African Americans to escape the commercialism of Christmas and focus on core values, principles, and traditions to take us into each coming year. Since then Kwanzaa has become the nations fastest growing holiday, celebrated by an estimated 20 million people. Lasting for seven days, from December 26th to January 1st, each day of Kwanzaa represents a different principle and, in more formal ceremonies, calls for certain traditions and simple procedures to be carried out (such as lighting a candle, reciting various positive phrases, and discussing certain concepts with family or participants.)

Kwanzaa was developed as a response to the growing problem of children moving away from the core spirit of the holiday season and instead focusing their attention on what gifts they were receiving, what brand name they held, how much they cost, and how many of them would be laying under the tree. As a result of children being gift-focused, parents were experiencing increasing pressure to deliver bigger and better gifts, despite whatever economic hardships they were experiencing. Children are a primary focus of the Kwanzaa holiday. Kwanzaa is meant to redirect our children's values away from material self-fulfillment and towards cultural and community fulfillment. A strong theme in Kwanzaa celebrations includes the exchanging of inexpensive, creative and personal gifts, preferably handmade, to teach children the value of the thought behind a gift. Also group discussion and reflection about the principles behind Kwanzaa are a notable part of any celebration in order to provide youth with an opportunity to discuss community concerns and achievements with adults, fostering unity, respect, and proactive introspection amongst the celebrants.

Kwanzaa is founded on seven principles called the Nguzo Saba, which are represented on Seven: A Kwanzaa Soundtrack by seven different songs whose lyrics specifically reflect the concepts behind each principle without becoming sermons that detract from the musical enjoyment of the album.

In addition to the seven principles, the celebration of Kwanzaa involves seven symbols which represent various cultural values, duties, and goals. Contributing to the educational value of this CD, before each song are interludes in which the symbols are explained in detail by the voices of two adorable young narrators who exemplify the connection between the holiday and our youth.

This album is intended to not only educate you about this uplifting holiday, but to enable you to enjoy it through popular urban music.

What are the seven principles of Kwanzaa?

K W A N Z A A
December 26 - January 1

T h e N G U Z O S A B A (7 principles)

Day 1: Umoja - Unity
Day 2: Kujichagulia - Self Determination
Day 3: Ujima - Collective Work & Responsibility
Day 4: Ujamaa - Cooperative Economics
Day 5: Nia - Purpose
Day 6: Kuumba - Creativity
Day 7: Imani - Faith