Kwanzaa originated in the United States in 1966, created as a cultural holiday for African Americans.

Origin and creator

• Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, an African American activist and scholar associated with the Black Power and Afrocentric movements.

• It began in Los Angeles, California, in the aftermath of the Watts uprising, as a way to celebrate African American identity, community, and heritage.

African cultural roots

• Although it started in the U.S., Kwanzaa is modeled on traditional “first fruits” or harvest festivals from various regions of Africa, including parts of West, East, and Southern Africa.

• The name comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” meaning “first fruits,” reflecting these African agricultural celebrations.