Photo courtesy of the National Museum of African American History and Culture
By Julia Birdsall
During the last week of December, families and communities around the world gather to celebrate a holiday that uplifts African and African American culture.
Spanning from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, Kwanzaa is a celebration of culture and community, where people are encouraged to grow personally through education and support their community by passing that education on to others, according to the International African American Museum.
The holiday derives from the African First Fruits Festivals — a celebration where African communities express gratitude for their harvest and newborn children. It’s known as “matunda ya kwanza” in Swahili, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).
Maulana Karenga, a scholar and activist who played a key role in the African Liberation Movement of the 1960s, wanted to adapt the concept of First Fruits Festivals to celebrate and uplift African American culture, so he created the holiday in 1966 to do just that.
Each day of the week-long holiday centers on one of seven principles, known as Nguzo Saba: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith).
Organizations across the country host events, including those in St. Petersburg.
St. Pete Youth Farm’s 12th annual First Night of Kwanzaa celebration took place on Dec. 26. It included a night of drumming, free food, and activities that promote community, like the holiday itself.
While traditional African attire was encouraged, the event was open to people of all backgrounds, much like the holiday itself, said NMAAHC oral history specialist Kelly Navies in a video on the museum’s website.
She stated that anyone who considers themselves an ally to the people of African diaspora and wishes to educate themselves about African and African American cultures through Kwanzaa is welcome to join in the celebrations, as education is a key factor of Kwanzaa.
This is why Navies believes that children are integral to the celebration of Kwanzaa, as the knowledge they gain during these events can ensure that cultural traditions survive.
This has become especially important with the erasure of Black history from school curricula through legislation against teaching topics such as Critical Race Theory and bans against books that discuss aspects of Black history.
“We’re in a society where these values are not often propagated in the culture. Not in the classrooms, not in the media,” Navies said. “But this is a time when the community, the family, can come together, make sure that they’re passing on important traditions and values.”
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Written by: Julia Birdsall on January 1, 2026.
Last revised by: Alisha Durosier