By Shannon Mustipher Kuumba is one of my favorite Kwanzaa principles, because all of us have creative potential at our disposal to positively affect our situation and that of those we encounter, regardless of our age, financial situation or educational status. Creativity is our birthright, and anyone can choose to tap into it: be it … Continue reading
As I begin to explore the principles of Kwanzaa as an inspiration for a recipe, I was most inspired by the principle of Kuumba. There are a few different translations, but the one that struck me the most was “make use of our creative energies to build and maintain a strong and vibrant community.” My … Continue reading
The Kwanzaa Principle Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) means Creativity. Celebration on December 31st seems quite fitting, because New Year’s Eve is when we think about what we did the past 365 days. Or 366 days, with 2012 being a Leap Year. On that day, which teeters between the old and new, we can dream about what we … Continue reading
Having been born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Kwanzaa is not a celebration I know much about. As I learn about the related principles and practices, I reflect on how they relate to my experience—in Kenya, Tanzania and more recently in the US and UK, and how food is entwined with creativity and identity, and … Continue reading
The celebration of Kwanzaa has been an important tradition in my family for several years. In this article, I will discuss its historical development in my own family and why I believe it to be a significant milestone in the reclamation and restoration of African and African American history and culture. My wife and I … Continue reading
