AFRICA
and its identity through
KWANZAA
KWANZAA
• Kwanzaa is
celebrated mainly in
America by the
African Americans to
honour the customs
and traditions of their
ancestors
• This is not a religious
or political holiday. It
is a time of reflection
and celebration.
When
• This festival is usually
celebrated from
December 26th
through to January
1st.
• Australians are just
recovering from the
Christmas
celebrations at this
time and getting
ready for the New
Year.
Why is it celebrated?
•
•
Kwanzaa is a cultural celebration based
on seven principles that serve as a guide
for daily living and which are the basis for
family beliefs in many parts of Africa.
These are: Unity, Self-determination,
Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity
and Faith.
Who is involved?
• All family and friends
are involved in this
celebration.
• This is similar to
many celebrations in
Australia when family
are usually always
involved.
Food
• Family enjoy special
foods such as fruits
and vegetables, but
sweet potato pie is a
great favourite.
• In Australia we have
special food in our
celebrations too.
Costumes
• Dashiki - A shirt or suit worn
during Kwanzaa celebrations
• Kufi - A cap worn during
Kwanzaa celebrations
• Kaftan (boubou) - A dress worn
by women during Kwanzaa
celebrations
• Kente cloth- Woven fabric of,
bright, bold, colors and
patterns. MAd eby the Ashanti
people of Africa, clothing made
of Kente cloth is worn by many
African American and others
during the Kwanzaa
celebrations.
• In Australia we don’t really
have any special costumes,
but a lot of families like to
dress in new clothes.
Artefact
• The artefact I have
chosen to demonstrate
this festival is a candle
holder called a ‘kinara’. It
is used to hold 7 candles
for each of the principles
of Nguzo Saba. One
candle is lit each day,
starting with the black
candle.
• The candles are red,
green and black,
symbolic colours of
Africa.
• This practice is very
similar to the Christian
tradition to Advent where
one white candle is lit for
each week in the lead up
to Christmas Day with the
last candle being lit on
Christmas Day itself.
• It is also very similar to
the Menorah used in the
Jewish Faith.
Summary
• So as you can see African people create
their own sense of identity with their own
unique festivals and celebrations.
• This is how Australia remains such a
diverse and interesting place to be but with
many direct links to our own culture that
continue to bring us all together as one.