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Honoring and Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Kwanzaa, and specifically recognizing the work of the Kwanzaa Cooperative in Philadelphia in keeping the traditions of Kwanzaa alive in our City thus solidifying the cultural significance of Kwanzaa to our citizens and to future generations.
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WHEREAS, Kwanzaa is an African-American and Pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated from December 26th through January 1st, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name; and
WHEREAS, The name "Kwanzaa" is derived from the Swahili phrase "mutunda ya kwanza," which means "first fruits." The "first fruits" celebrations are recorded in African history as far back as Ancient Egypt and Nubia and appear in other African civilizations such as Ashantiland, Yorubaland, Swaziland, and smaller groups like Matabele, Thonga and Lovedu; and
WHEREAS, Kwanzaa was established in America in 1966 during the Black Freedom Movement and thus reflects its concern for cultural grounding in thought and practice, and its associated call for unity and self determination; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Maulana Karenga is recognized as the founder of the celebration. Many different Pan-African Nationalist organizations were responsible for embracing the celebration in its early years and helping to spread it throughout the nation; and
WHEREAS, Kwanzaa builds on the five fundamental "first fruit" celebrations: in gathering, to reaffirm the bonds between them; reverence, for the creator in thanks and respect for blessings, bountifulness and beauty of creation; commemoration, of past pursuits of its ancestors lessons and in honor of their models of human excellence; recommitment, to African cultural ideals in an ongoing effort to always bring forth the best of African cultural thought and practice; and celebration, of the good, the good of life and existence itself, the good of family, community and culture, the ...
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