My Connection to Kwanzaa

MY CONNECTION TO KWANZAA

by Nia R.

Born together on Dec 22 (and coming home on Christmas Day), my sister and I were the perfect Christmas gifts. I am grateful for the thought my parents put into our names because not only do they fit us perfectly, but they also subtly relate to the holiday season. My sister, born first, received the obvious choice, Noelle, derived from the french word for christmas: Noël. I got a name with less of a clear connection to the holiday season, but that connected me to African-American History and the quest to establish the Black community in America. The name, Nia, has Swahili roots and is the 5th day of Kwanzaa, an African-American holiday.

The public has a very loose understanding of what Kwanzaa means. It’s usually included in the phrase “happy holidays,” along with Christmas and Hanukkah, as people try to be more inclusive. It’s associated with Africa, which isn’t wrong, but many people falsely assume that it’s an African holiday; growing up I thought this was true as well. Most people knew that families traditionally light candles every night, and maybe even that the colors of Kwanzaa are red, green, and black. This was also all I knew about the holiday, until I started to do more research into my name and its origins.

As the Black Power movement gained popularity, it encouraged pan-Africanism and Black Nationalism. Many people wanted to explore their African roots and history, so even the simple idea of Africa was a great unifying force, as Black Americans searched for an identity within and outside America. Dr. Maulana outlined seven principles– the Nguzo Saba– that he hoped families would reflect on as they welcomed the new year. One value is celebrated each night, as families light a candle. Those principals make up the foundation of the holiday, but its traditions can differ from family to family: there are seven symbols that can surround the Kinara (candle holder), some enjoy a Karamu feast on the 6th day of Kwanzaa, and others share a drink from the Kikombe cha Umoja, or Unity Cup.

My name, Nia, represents the 5th day of Kwanzaa meaning purpose: to make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community, in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. As I create connections to my African heritage, I appreciate all the sacrifices it took for me to live the privileged life I enjoy today. The Nguzo Saba can bring all of us together as we aim to create a more inclusive and empathetic world.