Kwanzaa

This past week we celebrated Kwanzaa and in celebration released 7 headwraps, each highlighting a core principle of Kwanzaa. You can find our limited edition wraps in our Season II collection. In the meantime, read more about Kwanzaa and the 7 principles below.

Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday that honors and celebrates African heritage in African-American culture first celebrated in 1966 and created by Ronald Karenga. It is an annual celebration that starts on December 26 and ends on January 1. Kwanzaa focuses on Nguzo Saba (principles) of Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kummba, and Imani. 

Day 1

Umoja (unity)- to strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race. 

Day 2

Kujichagulia (self-determination)- to define, name, create, and speak all on our own terms. 

Day 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.

Day 4

Ujamaa (cooperative economics) - to build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.

Day 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.

Day 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.

Day 7

Imani (faith) - to believe with all our hearts in our Creator, our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

While Kwanzaa is traditionally celebrated at the end of the year, it is a great daily reminder of principles that we can apply to our professional and personal goals throughout the year. Let us all keep these principles close as we continue to strive for our best selves!

Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New Year!