Kwanza Crafts

Are you looking for some great Kwanza crafts?

Kwanza (spelled Kwanzaa in America) is a nonreligious African American holiday celebrated since 1966 in the seven days following Christmas.

History of Kwanza

Kwanza with one a is a Swahili word, matunda ya kwanza means first fruits. The celebration has to do with marking the harvest and the American celebration combines traditions from many African cultures.

The celebration was begun in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, who sought to unite African Americans after the Watts riots.

Different families celebrate Kwanzaa in different ways, but it usually includes telling stories, playing or listening to traditional music, and eating together. The centerpiece of the celebration is a candelabra holding seven candles. One candle is lit each day as the principle of the day is discussed.

The Seven Principles

Perhaps your Kwanza crafts can center around one of the seven priciples. Each day of Kwanzaa is centered around a principle that is discussed on that day:

The Seven Symbols

Along with the seven principles there are seven symbols of Kwanzaa. This is where your crafty spirit can really shine by decorating the house with the different objects.

Kwanza Crafts: Mazao

Mazao are for celebration of the harvest.

Kwanza Crafts: Mkeka

The mkeka is a place mat, which the mazao are placed on. It is traditionally made of straw (you could weave your own) or cloth (sew up one in traditional African colors) and represents culture, history and tradition. It is the symbolic foundation on which the holiday stands.

Kwanza Crafts: Vibunzi

An ear of corn is used to represent fertility and children. It might be fun to take your kids to the farmer’s market and let them each pick out an ear of corn to represent themselves during the celebration. One ear of corn should be placed on the mkeka for each child in the family.

Kwanza Crafts: Mishumaa Saba

The seven candles, as mentioned before, are lit in sequence, starting with the center candle and then alternating left and right on alternate days. The center candle is black, while the three candles on the right are green and the three on the left are red. The black candle stands for unity, while the red ones represent self-determination, cooperative economics and creativity and the green ones stand for collective work and responsibility, purpose and faith. Each day the candle for that day is lit and then all the others that have been lit previously are also lit. If you like making candles, you could make your own.

Kwanza Crafts: Kinara

The candleholder is the center of the celebration and represents our roots. Any shape or materials are acceptable form making the kinara, as long as there are seven distinct places for candles. Get creative and design your own kinara, or purchase a plain candle holder and decorate it.

Kikombe Cha Umoja

The unity cup is used on the sixth day of Kwanzaa to perform a libation ritual. Each person at the feast should drink from the cup to promote unity, then the oldest person present should pour a libation to each of the four directions to honor the ancestors. A blessing is usually given for those who are not present, answered with an Amen. You can make a special cup to use for this ceremony, or purchase and decorate a cup to be used just for this purpose.

Kwanza Crafts: Zawadi

Gifts are given on the seventh day of Kwanzaa, but this is not just another excuse to buy something for your kids. These gifts are supposed to be meaningful and encourage growth, self-determination and success.

And the good news for crafters is that handmade gifts are encouraged. Consider a handmade blank book or bookmark, a doll, a little handmade clay sculpture or whatever you like. These gifts place responsibility on the recipients to follow the training of the host and to cement the social relationship implied by the gift. It’s a really beautiful gesture, and a good way to teach your kids about the true meaning of gift giving.

Related resources

The Official Kwanzaa Site has all the information you will need about the history of Kwanzaa and how to celebrate it in your home.

This site has some traditional African recipes for your Kwanzaa feast.

Here are some more ideas for celebrating Kwanzaa, including a tutorial on Swahili.

Related articles

Christmas Crafts

New Year's Eve Crafts

Thanksgiving Crafts

Halloween Crafts

Mother's Day Crafts