Kwanzaa: The 7 Principles Every African Diaspora Family Should Know
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Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration of African heritage and culture, observed from December 26 to January 1. Created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966, Kwanzaa is built around seven core principles, the Nguzo Saba, that represent the best of African cultural values.
The 7 Principles of Kwanzaa (Nguzo Saba)
- 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.
- Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses.
- Nia (Purpose), To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community.
- 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 of our struggle.
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About the Author
Isaac Prempeh is the founder of Afropop Socks, a British-Ghanaian designer and entrepreneur based in London. He founded Afropop Socks in 2019 to celebrate authentic African cultural heritage through bold wearable design. Afropop Socks is now stocked at the Smithsonian NMAAHC, Tate Modern, V&A Museum, Natural History Museum, Barbican Centre, Selfridges, and MoMA New York.