Happy Kwanzaa
The California African American Chamber of Commerce (CAACC) and California African American Action Fund (CAAAF) board of directors and members send warm greetings to all who are celebrating the week-long African-American and Pan-African holiday, Kwanzaa.
This historical celebration, Kwanzaa, founded by Dr. Maulana Karenga, is dedicated to the African American culture, community, and enterprise through life-affirming traditions. Kwanzaa is a Swahili phrase for the “first fruits of harvest.”
Join us for the seven-day observance, beginning December 26 and ending January 1, which serves as a special time to recognize and reaffirm the “Nguzo Saba,” or “Seven Principles,” of African culture. On each night of the celebration, a candle is lit to observe the Nguzo Saba.
The NGUZO SABA: The 7 Principles
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 and make our community’s problems our problems and to solve them together.
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Nia (Purpose)
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Kuumba (Creativity)
To do always as much as we can to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Imani (Faith)
To believe with all our hearts in our people and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
