Day One Of Kwanzaa Celebrated In Philly
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The African American Museum in Philadelphia hosted a Kwanzaa celebration Saturday – the first day of the holiday.
Safa Robinson, the museum's education coordinator says Kwanzaa is a non-religious cultural holiday:
"Kwanzaa runs every year, the day after Christmas, for an entire week."
She says a candle is lit during each day:
"That's a Kenorah – and it has seven candles." (not to be confused with a menorah!)
Montsho Edu with the Akoma House Initiative explains each day, one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa is celebrated, and each principle has a coordinating name in Swahili:
"On the 26th you have unity, Umoja; on the 27th you have Kujichagulia which is self-determination; Ujima, which is collective work and responsibility; Ujamaa…cooperative economics; Nia which is purpose; Kuumba…creativity; and then the first day of the year, which is the last day of Kwanzaa is Imani which is faith."
He says that Kwanzaa is now in its 50th year:
"We teach a science called the 'seven sevens' of how you grow in seven year intervals seven times = 49 and the last seven represents spiritual maturity, and I believe Kwanzaa is now entering into that realm."
He adds Kwnazaa has given black America a sense of unique solidarity over the past five decades.
