Kwanzaa is an annual holiday that focuses on seven principles and is observed from December 26 through January 1. During the weeklong celebration, families and friends come together in fellowship to share meaningful dialogue on how to incorporate the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa, known as Nguzo Saba, in daily life, and to reflect on our ancestors.
The seven principles of Kwanzaa are:
- UMOJA (UNITY) focuses on maintaining unity within family, community, nation, and race.
- KUJICHAGULIA (SELF-DETERMINATION) speaks to defining and naming as well as to creating and speaking for ourselves.
- UJIMA (COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY) encourages us to build and maintain our community together and to solve problems together.
- UJAMAA (COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS) is all about building and maintaining our own stores and businesses and making a profit together.
- NIA (PURPOSE) directs us toward collective vocation in the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
- KUUMBA (CREATIVITY) inspires us to do as much as we can, in the way we can, to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
- IMANI (FAITH) encourages us to believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, teachers, leaders and the righteousness and and victory of our struggle.
Try Chef Jackie’s excellent recipe for Black Eyed Peas and Rice at your feasting table.
Black Eyed Peas and Rice Recipe
INGREDIENTS
2 cans of blacks eyes peas drained
2 carrots peeled and diced
1 cup of rice
3 cups vegetable broth
1 tbls salt
1 tsp pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place all ingredients in a heavy-bottomed pot and cook according to rice cooking instructions.
For an extra special feast, add more of Chef Jackie’s dishes to your table:
Collard Greens and Corn and Okra
Read the full Kwanzaa story here!
Recipe by Chef Jackie Page / Story by Briana White / Photography by Scott Goldsmith
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