Countdown to 2023: Honoring Kwanzaa

The WIMN team sends all who are celebrating a Kwanzaa filled with pride, community, and joy!

In the spirit of uplifting the season, beginning today, December 26 and ending January 1, enjoy this playlist of music representing the 7 Principles of Kwanzaa and celebrate the artists creating them.

If you’re new to the holiday, Kwanzaa is a time for families and communities to come together to remember the past and to celebrate African American culture.

The 7 Principles that form its foundation are Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). Each tradition around Kwanzaa is rooted in first fruit celebrations present in both historical and modern cultures throughout Africa, and they serve to foster pride, connection, and community around African culture and heritage.

You can learn more about the holiday and deep dive into the significance of the ritual and celebration via the sources for the info above, the National Museum of African American History & Culture + Smithsonian.