kid-friendly activities for kwanzaa

HABARI GANI!  

In Swahili, that means “what’s the news” and it’s a customary greetting to friends and family during the celebration of Kwanzaa.  

First officially celebrated in December of 1966, Kwanzaa is a relatively new holiday celebration mostly observed by Africans and African-Americans. Kwanzaa means “first” in Swahili and signifies the first fruits of the harvest. Many African tribes would celebrate the harvest season around December. However, as thousands of African slaves were brought to America, they were separated from their tribes and their tribal heritage. What remains is a melting pot of cultures that makes up the modern African American experience. Today, Kwanzaa is a time for families to come together and celebrate while also focusing on seven principals for a stronger family and community. Any person or family can participate in Kwanzaa, and children play a central role in the celebration. They are encouraged to participate and discuss as much as possible during the daily celebrations. Whether you’ve celebrated Kwanzaa before, are interested in starting your own Kwanzaa traditions or simply want to learn more about the cultural holiday, there are many ways to get your children and family involved.  

Kwanzaa traditions

First is the Harambe. Harambe means “let’s pull together” in Swahili and means it’s time for the family to gather for the nightly Kwanzaa celebration. Usually the elder of the family calls out "Harambe" which everyone repeats 7 times. Then, the family will light the Kinara which is a special, decorative candle holder. It is common for children to be encouraged to help with the candle lighting. There are 7 candles in the Kinara which represent the 7 principals of the harvest. Every day from December 26 to January 1, the family comes joins for the Harambe to discuss a different principle. Participating in these discussions and activities with your child will help them learn more about being part of a strong community.  

the 7 kwanzaa principles

During Kwanzaa, when you hear "Habari Gani," you respond with the principle of the day.

Day 1 – December 26  

Umoja – Unity  

Umoja is the principle of Unity. It serves as a reminder that when we work, share and learn together we are all stronger. 

Family activity: Find a fun recipe to do together as a family. You can try traditional Kwanzaa dishes, a dessert, or a favorite family recipe. While cooking together, discuss what tasks each person is good at and how you can learn to make the food delicious as a team.  

Day 2 – December 27  

Kujichagulia- Self Determination 

This principle is pronounced koo-jee-chah-GOO-lee-ah. It means that we have to believe in ourselves and our abilities. It reminds us that when we stay determined and keep trying, even when things get tough, we can accomplish great things! 

Family activity: Try a new craft, a new puzzle, or a new activity today as a family. Discuss how you persevered to learn something new and what it feels like to accomplish things that once seemed hard or difficult.  

Day 3 – December 28  

Ujima- Collective Work and Responsibility  

The third principle emphasizes that helping each other and working together to solve problems is important. The Civil Rights era is a great example of the Ujima principle as it was a time when thousands of people from all backgrounds came together to solve the problem of discrimination and Jim Crow laws in our country.  

Family activity: Discuss a historic event when many people came together to make a difference. Put together a family march. It can be around the neighborhood or even the house. You can include as many or as few people as you would like but see how it feels to work together for a greater cause.   

Day 4- December 29  

Ujamaa -Cooperative Economics  

This principle may sound like a concept that’s too difficult for a child to grasp, but it’s really quite simple. Ujamaa, or cooperative economics, is a principle that encourages entrepreneurship and supporting other’s businesses. The principle emphasizes creating your own business and products that can help your community.  

Family activity: Put together a business plan for something you can share or sell. Maybe it’s lemonade, hot cocoa, desserts, or crafts. See if you can sell (or just share if your children are very young and this is too complicated) your products. If you do sell the products, consider donating the proceeds.  Or you could discuss what your child would create and sell and explore how their product would help the community.  

Day 5  - December 30 

Nia –Purpose   

The principle of Nia is encouraging us to make living a life that creates a better world for others our purpose. Living every day with the intention of making the world a better place is the goal of this principle.  

Family activity: Draw a poster or flyer to raise awareness about a cause that you care about. Some ideas include caring for the environment, rescuing shelter animals or speaking up for social justice.  Discuss amongst your family as you create your poster what it takes to work hard for something that is important to you.  

Day 6 - December 31 

Kuumba- Creativity  

This principle is about using creativity to make our communities and our world a better place.  

Family Activity: Do an arts and crafts activity to make a gift for someone. This is the perfect time to be creative and colorful. When exchanging gifts, start a discussion about what creativity and thoughts went into your craft.  

Day 7 - January 1

Imani- Faith  

Imani is the principle that reminds us that having faith, believing in ourselves and in others will help overcome challenges and succeed in our struggles for equality, rights and justice for all.  

Family activity: Come up with a saying or slogan to encourage yourself when times get hard. Discuss the slogan as a family then design a poster together that can be hung up in the house to remind you of the faith you have in each other.  

If you’re looking for more family friendly resources about Kwanzaa, check out these resources from the National Museum of African American History and Culture.  

There are many more cultural aspects of Kwanzaa. To discover more about the holiday click here.