The Kwanzaa principles
A principle is a rule or law that governs conduct in a given situation. The Nguzo Saba are the set of principles/values by which African people are encouraged to follow in order to live their lives.
Day 1: December 26th
UMOJA (UNITY) (oo-MOE-jah)
Definition – To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
Day 2: December 27th
KUJICHAGULIA (SELF DETERMINATION) (koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-ah)
Definition – To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
Day 3: December 28th
UJIMA (COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY) (oo-JEE-mah)
Definition – To build and maintain our community together and to make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and to solve them together.
Day 4: December 29th
UJAMAA (COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS) (oo-JAH-mah)
Definition – To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit together from them.
Day 5: December 30th:
NIA (PURPOSE) (nee-AH)
Definition – To make as our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Day 6: December 31st
KUUMBA (CREATIVITY) (koo-OOM-bah)
Definition – To do always as much as we can, in the way that we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than when we inherited it.
Day 7: January 1st
IMANI (FAITH) (ee-MAH-nee)
Definition – To believe with all our hearts in our parents, our teachers, our leaders, our people and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.