What is Kwanzaa?
By our writter

Kwanzaa is a six day long African America holiday to celebrate positive ideals for celebration of family, culture, and community. It begins on December 26th and continues through January 1st.

Kwanzaa has roots in ancient African celebrations of the first harvest. Actually, the term Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits."

It was founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga (born Ronald McKinley Everett) with the hope to educate his people about African-American struggles and their rich cultural heritage.

Many Africans immigrants in America have not yet identified with the Kwanzaa holidy, largely because it has not been introduced to them in a meaningful way and companies have not yet caught up the idea of marketing Kwanzaa in an aggressive manner like they market other well known holidays.

The little or no integration between African immigrants born in Africa and African Americans in America has also contributed to the general ignorance of Kwanzaa among African Communities.

Dr. Karenga, an African American scholar and activist, held the first modern Kwanzaa celebration in 1966. Learn more about Kwanzaa at the holiday's official Website.