What is Kwanzaa? And how can you celebrate in Philly?

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Philadelphia does not take celebrations lightly – and this includes activities around the winter holidays. There are plenty of options to commemorate Christmas and Hanukkah, but Kwanzaa has a strong presence in the city, too.

Kwanzaa was created to help African Americans connect to their families, culture and community, said Morgan Lloyd, a program coordinator at the African American Museum in Philadelphia.

“It is an opportunity for not only African Americans, but people all across the diaspora, as well as several allies, to celebrate the cultural unity and self-determination of the African peoples,” she said.

The holiday was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga to “address cultural disconnection” of African Americans.

Lloyd said the holiday’s origins are cultural.

“It’s a non-religious holiday,” she said. “So anyone can celebrate. Kwanzaa is observed not only in the United States, but also in Canada, throughout the Americas, and I’ve even seen a Kwanzaa celebration in Japan. So anyone can really join in.”

The holiday is based on a set of principles, she said.

“Since Kwanzaa runs from December 26 through January 1, each day has a Nguzo Saba, or a guiding principle, assigned to it,” she said.

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

Each of the principles is represented by seven candles, which are also colored to represent the pan-African flag. The festivities of the holiday end with Karamu – a communal feast.

There are several ways that Philadelphians can celebrate.

Celebrations

The Free Library of Philadelphia will host Kwanzaa programming throughout the celebration. On December 25 and 26, there will be an all-ages celebration at Parkway Central Library with presentations, dancing and Kwanzaa historical discussions.

On December 27, there will be an all-ages event with the Keepers of Culture, Philly’s Afrocentric Storytelling group, with crafts, food and story sharing at Haverford Library.

The Children’s Department at Parkway Central Library will also host a Kwanzaa celebration this day, where program leaders will teach about the seven principles and explore African culture and identity.

Finally, children of all ages can color kinaras, or candleholders for seven candles used to celebrate Kwanzaa, at an event at The Northeast Regional Library on December 29.

The African American Museum in Philadelphia will also host daily programs to commemorate the seven guiding principles of the holiday. Lloyd said the celebrations kick off on the first day of Kwanzaa by celebrating unity.

“For Umoja, which means unity, it is our annual unity celebration and ceremony,” she said. “We invite the community to come into the museum, break bread, light the kinara, and we will have live drumming, music, dancing, and curated performances to bring folks together during this holiday season and also ignite Kwanzaa itself.”

Lloyd said another highlight is the museum’s programming on the second day of Kwanzaa, which celebrates Kujichagulia, or self-determination. She said this year’s programming focuses on how Black people across the diaspora are “able to maintain identity through food and culinary pathways.”

“We have our annual program called ‘Skillets and Skill Sets,’ and this year, it is a live cooking show over at the Free Library in their Culinary Literacy Center,” she said.

She emphasized this program sells out fast and encouraged advanced registration. 

Lloyd highlighted two other nights during the celebrations – an open mic night on Sunday, December 28, celebrating Ujima — or collective work and responsibility — and an evening bazaar and quizzo night at Franklin Square Park on Monday, December 29, celebrating Ujamaa — or cooperative economics.

“It is a black-owned vendor market that we have at Franklin Square, and on top of that, in our partnership with them, we also take over their wonderful heated tent and bar area, where we have quizzo, line dancing, and live music that’s playing,” she said.

Lloyd said she is grateful for the programming at the museum, as it gives everyone the opportunity to participate.

“It’s wonderful to know that people can come here and experience Kwanzaa for the first time and have it be an experience where no matter who you are, you’re extremely welcome,” she said.

Beyond the museum’s programming, there are several other events in the city.

This includes KwanzaaFEST, which will take place from 12-5 p.m. at the Lucien Blackwell Center on Saturday, December 27th. The event will include arts and crafts, live performances, a panel discussion, vendors and wellness resources. The focus of this year’s festival is Kujichagulia, or self-determination.

The principle, which encourages people to create and speak for themselves, will be reflected with arts and crafts activities, a small business marketplace, and a free, fresh produce market.

The Penn Museum will also host a Free Community Day/Kwanzaa Celebration. The celebration, which honors African culture and community, will feature a marketplace with local artists, storytelling, music and dance.

Lloyd emphasized that everybody can celebrate and appreciate Kwanzaa.