Matunda ya Kwanza

Joyous Kwanzaa 

Today begins the seven day celebration of Kwanzaa, a non-religious African American holiday celebrating family, community and culture, which lasts through January 1.

History.com has an interesting overview of Kwanzaa, which was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, after the Watts riots in Los Angeles. "Dr. Karenga searched for ways to bring African-Americans together as a community. He founded US, a cultural organization, and started to research African 'first fruit' (harvest) celebrations. Karenga combined aspects of several different harvest celebrations, such as those of the Ashanti and those of the Zulu, to form the basis of Kwanzaa. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase matunda ya kwanza, which means 'first fruits' in Swahili." 

This joyous celebration has seven symbols, the first of which is Mazao, or fruits, nuts and vegetables. "Mazao, the crops (fruits, nuts, and vegetables), symbolizes work and the basis of the holiday. It represents the historical foundation for Kwanzaa, the gathering of the people that is patterned after African harvest festivals in which joy, sharing, unity, and thanksgiving are the fruits of collective planning and work. Since the family is the basic social and economic center of every civilization, the celebration bonded family members, reaffirming their commitment and responsibility to each other ... To demonstrate their mazao, celebrants of Kwanzaa place nuts, fruit, and vegetables, representing work, on the mkeka." 

So if you celebrate Kwanzaa, I wish you a fruitful harvest, both in the symbolic harvest of the fruits of your labor, but also in the bountiful harvest of your spirit, soul and happiness.