Kwanzaa was created by Maulana Ron Karenga in 1966. It is an African American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates family, community, core values, history, and culture. Its ideas and concepts are expressed in Swahili, one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa. Kwanzaa celebrates seven principles which are core communal values found throughout Africa. The principles of Kwanzaa are celebrated each day starting December 26th and ending on January 1st. In order, these principles are Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). The origin of Kwanzaa is deeply connected to the first fruit celebrations found in cultures in Africa both in ancient and modern times. Kwanzaa gets its name from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza.
Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration, Dec. 26, 2024—Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025.
The Anacostia Community Museum has been celebrating Kwanzaa with the community for over four decades, sharing its rich cultural history and providing cultural enriching programs and hands-on activities for participants.
This year, storyteller and griot Mama Ayo will open the weeklong celebration with a traditional candlelighting ceremony, pouring of the libation paying homage to our ancestors and sharing on the history of Kwanzaa. She will talk about the first principle of Kwanzaa, Umoja (Unity), and the importance of unity in our families and communities.
On the second day of Kwanzaa, teaching artist, children’s musician and author Culture Queen will conduct a family workshop that incorporates Kujichagulia. Her presentation will discuss the importance of self-determination and a belief in self to conquer one’s dreams and visions for their lives. It will be stoked in affirmations, song, dance and hands-on activities for the whole family.
John Johnson will bring his team of interactive theater company creatives on the third day of Kwanzaa for Playback Theatre. The team will engage the audience in an improvisational workshop where actors will act and play back the shared stories of willing participants on the theme Collective Work and Responsibility.
Artist Tamara Thomas will conduct an arts and crafts workshop on the fourth day of Kwanzaa where families can create their own family memory box. Together they will decorate their memory box and decide what family memories to preserve, and which items to go in the box. Participants are encouraged to bring family photos or trinkets to go into the box. Friends or couples can do the same or make their own as a Kwanzaa gift. Thomas will also engage participants in an Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) vision board project to discuss what is needed in their communities and create a business model to fit that need. Participants would also list the benefits of having a family or community business to support the principle that we are more powerful working together than in silos.
On day five of Kwanzaa, Khepera Wellness will conduct an African Dance Workshop where we will celebrate Nia (Purpose). In African cultures there is a purpose behind every dance form – from rites of passage, to communing with the spirit world, to celebrations of life. African dance is an outward expression connecting one’s body, mind, spirit and soul. The drums are a call to worship and each movement is a response to that call that reflects communal values and tribal heritage.
Join the Artist Rain as she leads families into an arts and crafts workshop celebrating the sixth principle of Kwanzaa, Kuumba (Creativity). Participants will be encouraged to allow their creativity to flow as they create and decorate their family Kwanzaa bags. These bags can be used for a variety of purposes including carrying handmade Kwanzaa gifts or the fruits of the harvest.
We will kick off the new year with the seventh and last principle of Kwanzaa, Imani (Faith). Crazee Praize will give a powerful inspirational performance and conduct a workshop on miming and liturgical dance. Landle and Antoinette Jones will discuss how the art form has charged their faith time after time and invite participants to share what gifts and talents have helped them to continue to be inspired and remain hopeful despite the many challenges of life and chaos in the world.
See the complete Kwanzaa events schedule for the museum at Anacostia.si.edu/events.
Jenelle Cooper has developed public programs at the Smithsonian Institution for more than three decades. She has helped develop Kwanzaa programs at the Anacostia Community Museum for more than 10 years and is currently the museum’s community services coordinator.
