Kwanzaa

Last updated

Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa Candles-Kinara.svg
7 candles in a kinara symbolize the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
Observed by African Americans, parts of African diaspora
TypeCultural and ethnic
SignificanceCelebrates African heritage, unity, and culture
Celebrations
  • Unity
  • Creativity
  • Faith
  • Giving gifts
DateDecember 26 to January 1
Related to Pan-African

Kwanzaa ( /ˈkwɑːnzə/ ) is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day. [1] It was created by activist Maulana Karenga based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West, East, as well as Southeast Africa. There is even an acknowledgement of the customs of the Mizrahi Jewish people from Northern Africa. Kwanzaa was first celebrated in 1966. Twenty-first-century estimates place the number of Americans who celebrate Kwanzaa between 500,000 and 2,000,000. [2]

Contents

History and etymology

American black separatist [3] Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 during the aftermath of the Watts riots [4] as a non-Christian, [5] specifically African-American holiday. [6] Karenga said his goal was to "give black people an alternative to the existing holiday of Christmas and give black people an opportunity to celebrate themselves and their history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society." [7] For Karenga, a figure in the Black Power movement of the 1960s and 1970s, the creation of such holidays also underscored the essential premise that "you must have a cultural revolution before the violent revolution. The cultural revolution gives identity, purpose, and direction." [8] : 63–65 

According to Karenga, the name Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning "first fruits". [9] First fruits festivals exist in Southern Africa and are celebrated in December/January with the southern solstice. Karenga was partly inspired by an account he read of the Zulu festival Umkhosi Wokweshwama. [8] : 84  It was decided to spell the holiday's name with an additional "a" so that it would have a symbolic seven letters. [8] : 228 

During the early years of Kwanzaa, Karenga said it was meant to be an alternative to Christmas. He believed Jesus was psychotic and Christianity was a "White" religion that Black people should shun. [10] As Kwanzaa gained mainstream adherents, Karenga altered his position so practicing Christians would not be alienated, stating in the 1997 book Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture that "Kwanzaa was not created to give people an alternative to their own religion or religious holiday." [11] Many African Americans who celebrate Kwanzaa do so in addition to observing Christmas. [12]

After its creation in California, Kwanzaa spread outside the United States. [13]

Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles)

A display of Kwanzaa symbols with fruit and vegetables KwanzaaDisplay(cropped).jpg
A display of Kwanzaa symbols with fruit and vegetables

Kwanzaa celebrates what its founder called the seven principles of Kwanzaa, or Nguzo Saba (originally Nguzu Saba – the seven principles of African Heritage). They were developed in 1965, a year before Kwanzaa itself. These seven principles are all Swahili words, and together comprise the Kawaida or "common" philosophy, a synthesis of nationalist, pan-Africanist, and socialist values.

Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the principles, as follows: [14]

  1. Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
  2. Kujichagulia (Self-determination): To define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves.
  3. Ujima (Collective work and responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and to solve them together.
  4. Ujamaa (Cooperative economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
  5. Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
  6. 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.
  7. Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Symbols

2019 public kinara in New York City 2019Kinara.jpg
2019 public kinara in New York City

Kwanzaa celebratory symbols include a mat (Mkeka) on which other symbols are placed:

Supplemental representations include a Nguzo Saba poster, [17] the black, red, and green bendera (flag), and African books and artworks—all to represent values and concepts reflective of African culture and contribution to community building and reinforcement. [18]

Observances

A woman lighting candles for Kwanzaa. The black candle in the middle represents unity, the three green candles on the right represent earth, and the three red candles on the left represent the struggle of African Americans or the shedding of blood. Kwanzaa-Myers.jpg
A woman lighting candles for Kwanzaa. The black candle in the middle represents unity, the three green candles on the right represent earth, and the three red candles on the left represent the struggle of African Americans or the shedding of blood.

Families celebrating Kwanzaa decorate their households with objects of art, colorful African cloth such as kente , especially the wearing of kaftans by women, and fresh fruits representing African idealism. It is customary to include children in Kwanzaa ceremonies and to give respect and gratitude to ancestors. Libations are shared, generally with a common chalice (Kikombe cha Umoja) passed around to all celebrants. Non-African Americans also celebrate Kwanzaa. [2] "Joyous Kwanzaa" may be used as a greeting during the holiday. [20] [21] [22]

A Kwanzaa ceremony may include drumming and musical selections, libations, a reading of the "African Pledge and the Principles of Blackness," contemplation on the Pan-African colors, discussion of the African principle of the day or a chapter of African history, a candle-lighting ritual, artistic performances, and, finally, a feast of faith known as Karamu Ya Imani. [23] [24] The greeting for each day of Kwanzaa is Habari Gani?, [25] which is Swahili for "How are you?" [26]

At first, observers of Kwanzaa avoided the mixing of the holiday or its symbols, values, and practice with other holidays, as doing so would violate the principle of kujichagulia (self-determination) and thus violate the integrity of the holiday, which is partially intended as a reclamation of important African values. Today, some African American families celebrate Kwanzaa along with Christmas and the New Year. [27]

Cultural exhibitions include the Spirit of Kwanzaa, an annual celebration held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts featuring interpretive dance, African dance, song, and poetry. [28] [29] [30]

Karamu

A Karamu Ya Imani (Feast of Faith) is a feast typically on December 31, the sixth day of the Kwanzaa period. The Karamu feast was developed in Chicago during a 1971 citywide movement of Pan-African organizations. Hannibal Afrik of Shule ya Watoto proposed it as a community-wide promotional and educational campaign. The initial Karamu Ya Imani occurred on January 1, 1973, at a 200-person gathering at the Ridgeland club. [31]

In 1992, the National Black United Front (NBUF) of Chicago held one of the country's largest Karamu Ya Imani celebrations. It included dancing, a youth ensemble and a keynote speech by NBUF and prominent Black nationalist leader Conrad Worrill. [32]

The celebration includes the following practices:

Adherence

A 2003 Kwanzaa celebration with Kwanzaa founder Maulana Karenga at the center, and others Kwanza-RonKarenga.jpg
A 2003 Kwanzaa celebration with Kwanzaa founder Maulana Karenga at the center, and others

The popularity of celebration of Kwanzaa has declined with the waning of the popularity of the black separatist movement. [33] [34] [35] [36] Kwanzaa observation has declined in both community and commercial contexts. [37] [38] [39] University of Minnesota Professor Keith Mayes did not report exact figures, noting that it is also difficult to determine these for the three other main African-American holidays, which he names as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Malcolm X Day, and Juneteenth. [8] : 210, 274  Mayes added that white institutions now also celebrate it. [2]

In a 2019 National Retail Federation poll, 2.6 percent of people who planned to celebrate a winter holiday said they would celebrate Kwanzaa. [40] Roughly 14% of the United States population is African American.

Starting in the 1990s, the holiday became increasingly commercialized, with the first Hallmark card being sold in 1992. [41] Some have expressed concern about this potentially damaging the holiday's values. [42]

Recognition

The first Kwanzaa stamp, designed by Synthia Saint James, was issued by the United States Post Office in 1997, and in the same year Bill Clinton gave the first presidential declaration marking the holiday. [43] [44] Subsequent presidents George W. Bush, [20] Barack Obama, [45] Donald Trump, [46] and Joe Biden [47] also issued greetings to celebrate Kwanzaa.

Maya Angelou narrated a 2008 documentary film about Kwanzaa, The Black Candle , written and directed by M. K. Asante and featuring Chuck D. [48] [49]

In the Arthur (TV series) special Arthur's Perfect Christmas , Brain's family celebrated Kwanzaa as a family, and added a Kwanzaa Ice Cream Special (red, black, and green ice cream) to their ice cream shop menu. [50]

Practice outside the United States

Other countries where Kwanzaa is celebrated include Jamaica, France, Canada, and Brazil. [51]

In Canada it is celebrated in provinces including Saskatchewan [52] and Ontario. Kwanzaa week was first declared in Toronto in 2018. [53] There are local chapters that emerged in the 2010s in provinces like British Columbia, where there are much smaller groups of the diaspora, founding members may be immigrants from countries like Uganda. [54]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hanukkah</span> Jewish holiday

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pan-African flag</span> Flag using the Pan-African colours

The pan-African flag is an ethnic flag representing pan-Africanism, the African diaspora, and/or black nationalism. A tri-color flag, it consists of three equal horizontal bands of red, black, and green.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twelve Days of Christmas</span> Period between 25 December and 5 January

The Twelve Days of Christmas, also known as the Twelve Days of Christmastide, are the festive Christian season celebrating the Nativity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public holidays in the United States</span> Holidays in the United States of America

In the United States, public holidays are set by federal, state, and local governments and are often observed by closing government offices or giving government employees paid time off. The federal government does not require private businesses to close or offer paid time off, as is the case for most state and local governments, so employers determine which holidays to observe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maulana Karenga</span> American professor and founder of Kwanzaa (born 1941)

Maulana Ndabezitha Karenga, previously known as Ron Karenga, is an American activist, author and professor of Africana studies, best known as the creator of the pan-African and African-American holiday of Kwanzaa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emancipation Day</span> Holiday to celebrate emancipation of enslaved people

Emancipation Day is observed in many former European colonies in the Caribbean and areas of the United States on various dates to commemorate the emancipation of slaves of African descent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HumanLight</span> Humanist holiday

HumanLight is a Humanist holiday celebrated annually on December 23. HumanLight was first celebrated in 2001, and was created to provide a specifically Humanist celebration during the western world's holiday season. The New Jersey Humanist Network founded the holiday in 2001 to aid secular people in commemorating the December holiday season without encroaching on other adjacent events—both religious ones such as Christmas and secular ones such as Solstice. The inaugural event involved only the founding organization, but is now celebrated by many secular organizations and individuals across the United States and other countries. Various organizations have recognized the holiday, including the American Humanist Association in 2004. The HumanLight Committee maintains the official HumanLight webpage and engages with humanist organizations and the media about the holiday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Observance of Christmas by country</span>

The observance of Christmas around the world varies by country. The day of Christmas, and in some cases the day before and the day after, are recognized by many national governments and cultures worldwide, including in areas where Christianity is a minority religion which are usually found in Africa and Asia. In some non-Christian areas, periods of former colonial rule introduced the celebration ; in others, Christian minorities or foreign cultural influences have led populations to observe the holiday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Molefi Kete Asante</span> American academic (born 1942)

Molefi Kete Asante is an American philosopher who is a leading figure in the fields of African-American studies, African studies, and communication studies. He is currently a professor in the Department of Africology at Temple University, where he founded the PhD program in African-American Studies. He is president of the Molefi Kete Asante Institute for Afrocentric Studies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kinara</span> Candleholder used in Kwanzaa celebrations

The kinara is a seven-branched candleholder used in Kwanzaa celebrations in the United States.

US Organization, or Organization Us, is a Black nationalist group in the United States founded in 1965. It was established as a community organization by Hakim Jamal together with Maulana Karenga. It was a rival to the Black Panther Party in California. One of the early slogans was "Anywhere we are US is". "US" referred to "[us] black people", in opposition to their perceived oppressors ("them").

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Mtume</span> American jazz and R&B musician (1946–2022)

James Forman, known professionally as Mtume or James Mtume, was an American jazz and R&B musician, songwriter, record producer, activist, and radio personality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candlemas</span> Christian holiday

Candlemas, also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ, the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or the Feast of the Holy Encounter, is a Christian feast day commemorating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple by Joseph and Mary. It is based upon the account of the presentation of Jesus in Luke 2:22–40.

Umoja, the Swahili word for "unity", is the first of the Seven Principles celebrated each day during Kwanzaa.

National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) is an organization dedicated to the advancement of the field of Africana/African American/Black Studies. It is a not-for-profit organization established in 1975. The National Council for Black Studies was founded by Bertha Maxwell-Roddey, the founding director of the Black Studies/Afro-American and African Studies Program at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Umoja Karamu, meaning "unity feast" in Swahili, is an African-American celebration begun in 1971 by Dr. Edward Sims, Jr. Celebrated in a manner similar to Thanksgiving, Umoja Karamu is held on the fourth Sunday in November. Its purpose is to instill solidarity, black values, and appreciation of black heritage into black families. Prayers, libations to honor ancestors, historical readings, and feasts mark observances.

<i>The Black Candle</i> 2008 film

The Black Candle is a documentary film about Kwanzaa directed by M. K. Asante and narrated by Maya Angelou. The film premiered on cable television on Starz in November 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Synthia Saint James</span> American visual artist

Synthia Saint James is an American visual artist, author, keynote speaker, educator and actor in the 70s. She is best known for designing the original cover art of the hardcover edition of Terry McMillan's book Waiting to Exhale. Additionally, Saint James designed the first Kwanzaa stamp for the United States Postal Service, first issued in 1997 and the Kwanzaa Forever Stamp, issued in 2016.

"A Rugrats Kwanzaa" is a television special from the American animated television series Rugrats. It is the 16th episode of the eighth season, and the 141st episode overall. It examines Kwanzaa from the perspective of toddler Susie Carmichael during a visit from her great-aunt. Susie, her friends—Tommy Pickles, Chuckie and Kimi Finster, and Phil and Lil DeVille—and family learn about the holiday from Aunt T., but Susie becomes depressed after thinking she is the only member of her family not to achieve greatness. Aunt T. consoles her by sharing her memories using a scrapbook. The episode concludes with Susie realizing she still has plenty of time in her life to discover what makes her great.

References

  1. ↑ "Why Kwanzaa Video". Maulana Karenga . November 2008. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Scott, Megan K. (December 17, 2009). "Kwanzaa celebrations continue, but boom is over, popularity fading". The Plain Dealer . Associated Press . Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  3. ↑ Wilde, Anna Day (December 31, 2020). "7 Mainstreaming Kwanzaa". We Are What We Celebrate: 120–130. doi:10.18574/nyu/9780814722916.003.0009. ISBN   9780814722916.
  4. ↑ Wilde, Anna Day. "Mainstreaming Kwanzaa." Public Interest 119 (1995): 68–80.
  5. ↑ Blumenfeld, Warren J.; Joshi, Khyati Y.; Fairchild, Ellen E. (January 1, 2009), "Christian Teachers and Christian Privilege", Investigating Christian Privilege and Religious Oppression in the United States, Brill, pp. 133–149, doi:10.1163/9789087906788_009, ISBN   978-90-8790-678-8 , retrieved December 7, 2023
  6. ↑ Alexander, Ron (December 30, 1983). "The Evening Hours". The New York Times . Retrieved December 15, 2006.
  7. ↑ Kwanzaa celebrates culture, principles Archived July 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  8. 1 2 3 4 Mayes, Keith A. (2009). Kwanzaa: Black Power and the Making of the African-American Holiday Tradition. New York: Routledge. ISBN   978-0415998550 . Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  9. ↑ Holly Hartman. "Kwanzaa – Honoring the values of ancient African cultures". Infoplease.com. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  10. ↑ Karenga, Maulana (1967). "Religion". In Clyde Halisi, James Mtume. The Quotable Karenga. Los Angeles: University of Sankore Press. pp. 25. 23769.8.
  11. ↑ Karenga, Maulana (1997). Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture. University of Sankore Press. p.  121. ISBN   978-0943412214.
  12. ↑ Williams, Lena (December 20, 1990). "In Blacks' Homes, the Christmas and Kwanzaa Spirits Meet". The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Kwanzaa – African-American Holiday". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Retrieved January 6, 2020. Although Kwanzaa is primarily an African American holiday, it has also come to be celebrated outside the United States, particularly in the Caribbean and other countries where there are large numbers of descendants of Africans.
  14. ↑ Karenga, Maulana (2008). "Nguzo Saba". The Official Kwanzaa Web Site. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Definition of KINARA". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  16. ↑ Raabe, Emily (2001). A Kwanzaa Holiday Cookbook. Rosen Publishing. p.  12. ISBN   978-0823956296.
  17. ↑ Angaza, Maitefa (2007). Kwanzaa – From Holiday to Every Day: A complete guide for making Kwanzaa a part of your life. New York: Dafina Books. p. 56. ISBN   978-0758216656.
  18. ↑ "The Symbols of Kwanzaa". The Official Kwanzaa Website. Archived from the original on December 4, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  19. ↑ "The Principles and Meaning of Kwanzaa". Oprah Daily. December 7, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  20. 1 2 Bush, George W. (December 23, 2004). "Presidential Kwanzaa Message, 2004" (Press release). Office of the Press Secretary. Retrieved December 24, 2007.
  21. ↑ "Clinton offers holiday messages". CNN. December 23, 1997. Retrieved December 24, 2007.
  22. ↑ Gale, Elaine (December 26, 1998). "Appeal of Kwanzaa continues to grow; holidays: today marks start of the seven-day celebration of African culture, which began in Watts 32 years ago and is now observed by millions". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 5, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2007.
  23. ↑ Johnson, James W.; Johnson, F. Francis; Slaughter, Ronald L. (1995). The Nguzo Saba and the Festival of Fruits. Gumbs & Thomas Publishers. p. 42. ISBN   9780936073200.
  24. ↑ "A Great Kwanzaa Feast – Kwanzaa". Epicurious.com.
  25. ↑ "The Founder's Message 2000". The Official Kwanzaa Web Site. Archived from the original on December 4, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Useful Swahili phrases". Omniglot.com. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Kwanzaa (until Jan 1) in the United States". Timeanddate.com. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  28. ↑ "The Spirit of Kwanzaa – The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts". Kennedy-center.org. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Dance Institute of Washington". February 21, 2001. Archived from the original on February 21, 2001. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  30. ↑ "Kwanzaa Featured on This Year's Holiday U.S. Postage Stamp". October 19, 2004. Archived from the original on October 19, 2004. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  31. ↑ Mayes, Keith (2006). Peniel Joseph (ed.). The Black Power Movement: Rethinking the Civil Rights-Black Power Era. Taylor & Francis Group. pp. 244–245. ISBN   978-0-415-94596-7.
  32. ↑ McFarland, Melanie (December 25, 1992). "Kwanzaa Is A Time Of Reflection". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  33. ↑ Stanley, Sharon (2017). An impossible dream? : racial integration in the United States. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0190639976.
  34. ↑ Hall, Raymond (1977). Black separatism and social reality : rhetoric and reason. New York: Pergamon Press. ISBN   9780080195100.
  35. ↑ Dattel, Gene (2019). "Separatism vs. Integration: Can Separate Ever Be Equal?". Academic Questions. 32 (4): 476–486. doi:10.1007/s12129-019-09822-4 (inactive November 1, 2024). S2CID   214460772.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)
  36. ↑ Neal, Mark Anthony (December 28, 2012). "Is Kwanzaa Still A Thing?". Tell Me More (Interview). Interviewed by Michel Martin. NPR.
  37. ↑ Fantozzi, Madison (December 25, 2016). "Polk events celebrate values of African culture". The Ledger . Archived from the original on November 17, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  38. ↑ Demby, Gene (January 1, 2013). "Significance Of Kwanzaa Changes Over The Years". Morning Edition (Interview). Interviewed by David Greene. NPR. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  39. ↑ Schumacher-Matos, Edward (January 7, 2013). "Gaining Or Losing Credibility By Humanizing A Reporter: A Kwanzaa Story". NPR (NPR Public Editor column). Archived from the original on December 12, 2024.
  40. ↑ Yancey-Bragg, N'dea (December 26, 2019). "From Umoja to Imani, Kwanzaa has 'won the hearts and minds of African people around the world". USA Today . Archived from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  41. ↑ Martin, Douglas (December 20, 1993). "The Marketing of Kwanzaa; Black American Holiday Earns Dollars, Causing Concern". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  42. ↑ "Commercialized Kwanzaa worries enthusiasts". The Billings Gazette . December 28, 2001. Archived from the original on November 17, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  43. ↑ "William J. Clinton: Message on the Observance of Kwanzaa, 1997". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  44. ↑ Pleck, Elizabeth (2001). "Kwanzaa: The Making of a Black Nationalist Tradition, 1966–1990" (PDF). Journal of American Ethnic History. 20 (4): 3–28. doi:10.2307/27502744. JSTOR   27502744. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 15, 2017.
  45. ↑ "Statement by the President and the First Lady on Kwanzaa" (Press release). The White House. December 26, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  46. ↑ "Presidential Message on Kwanzaa" (Press release). The White House. December 26, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
  47. ↑ Biden, Joe [@POTUS] (December 26, 2021). "As we begin the seven days of Kwanzaa, Jill and I send our best wishes to everyone celebrating" (Tweet). Retrieved December 24, 2022– via Twitter.
  48. ↑ "Kwanzaa Celebration Captured In 'Black Candle'". National Public Radio. December 15, 2008.
  49. ↑ "Chuck D and Maya Angelou in Kwanzaa Documentary". Essence . December 18, 2009.
  50. ↑ "Arthur's Perfect Christmas". Arthur. Season 5. November 23, 2000. PBS.
  51. ↑ Lord, Mark (December 22, 2016). "Celebrating the life-affirming tenets of Kwanzaa". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  52. ↑ "Sask. African Canadian Heritage Museum celebrates Kwanzaa in Regina – CBC News". CBC. December 28, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  53. ↑ "Proclamations declaring Kwanzaa week in Toronto and Brampton a first for Canada". WBFO. December 27, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  54. ↑ "Kwanzaa, the 7 most important days of the year, approaching for many African-Canadians". Saanich News. December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2023.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.