Each night, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History will present songs and dances, storytelling, poetry reading, and more to mark the occasion. Be prepared to take in the festive sights and sounds of the holiday!

Exploring 7 principles for 7 nights at 7 pm EST, join us in person and online as we celebrate Kwanzaa! Songs and dances, storytelling, poetry reading, our Vendor Marketplace, and more will mark the occasion.

WHAT IS KWANZAA?

Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, as a way to unite the community following the Watts Rebellion. Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits" in Swahili.

Each family celebrates Kwanzaa in its own way, but celebrations often include songs and dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading, and a large traditional meal. Each night, a child lights one of the candles on the Kinara (candleholder), then one of the seven principles is discussed.

Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles)

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 comprise Kawaida, a Swahili word meaning "common".

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

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.

WHO CAN CELEBRATE KWANZAA?

Although Kwanzaa is a traditionally African-American holiday, people from all walks of life are invited and encouraged to participate, then share what they've learned each day.

A Vendor Marketplace will take place at The Wright: Our shopping experience takes place each day from 4:30 pm - 8:30 pm.

To participate in the festivities, all visitors are required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test taken 72 hours before arrival. For more information or to register for the events visit http://www.thewright.org

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Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is located at 315 E. Warren Ave

Detroit, MI 48201