Nia Egwin: Jambo! Jambo means hello in Kiswahili. My name is Nia and today we are
showing you how to celebrate Kwanzaa. In this segment, we will be talking or
discussing the seven principles and how they correspond with the seven days of
Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is celebrated for seven days from December 26 to January
1st. Each day corresponds with the principle within Nguzo Saba or Seven
Principles. The seven principles are Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia,
Kuumba and Imani.
On December 26, we celebrate Umoja. Umoja means unity, to strive for and
maintain unity within our family, community, nation and race. December 27th is
for Kujichagulia, self-determination, to define ourselves, think for ourselves,
speak for ourselves and name ourselves.
December 28 is for Ujima or collective work and responsibility. Ujima means to
build and maintain our own community and make our brothers' and sisters'
problems our own problems and solve them together. The next day, December 29
is for Ujamaa, Ujamaa means Cooperative Economics. To build and maintain our
own stores, shops, businesses and institutions and profit from them together.
December 30th is for Nia which means purpose. To make our collective vocation,
the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to
their traditional greatness. The next day, December 31th is for Kuumba,
Creativity; to always do as much as we can, in the way that we can, in order to
leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Our final day in Kwanzaa is January 1st; January 1st is for Imani, Faith; to believe
with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the
righteousness and victory of our struggle.
And now for our next segment, preparations for Kwanzaa.
Transcription by:
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