The Community Unites Through Kwanzaa
For many African descendants in North America, December 26 marks the beginning of a celebration: Kwanzaa, which lasts until January 1.
The day after Christmas, the first of the seven candles of the kinara—a seven-branched candleholder dedicated to this occasion—is lit. The first candle, umoja, celebrates unity. Black in color, it is placed in the center of the kinara.
Unity is the driving force for Seti Dibanda, President of Afrocentricité Internationale Montréal (AI). “Our organization brings together Africans and people of African descent in Canada and around the world. We are active in many countries across the Americas, Europe, and even on the African continent,” explains Dibanda, who has been leading the Montreal chapter of AI for nearly 10 years.
We reach Mr. Dibanda at his home in Montreal, where holiday preparations are in full swing. On this December afternoon, he takes the time to speak with us while caring for his one-year-old son, as the rest of the family is out running errands.
Since 2015, Afrocentricité Internationale Montréal (AI Montréal) has hosted a large public Kwanzaa celebration. “We organize a gala evening where we try to bring together the community, Africans, and people of African descent from around the world. We truly aim to unite and celebrate culture,” explains Mr. Dibanda.
During this evening, the history and purpose of this holiday are first explained. The term "Kwanzaa", derived from the Swahili expression "matunda ya kwanza", means "first fruits." It is a seven-day celebration inspired by traditional African harvest festivals. Since the word "Kwanza" has only six letters, an additional "a" was added so that the seven letters correspond to the seven principles, or "nguzo saba" in Swahili, of Kwanzaa. Its founder, Maulana Karenga, wanted to "give Black people an alternative to Christmas and provide an opportunity to celebrate themselves and their history, rather than simply imitating the practices of the dominant society."
"I talk about the table that is set, the nguzo saba, the seven principles of Kwanzaa, their impact on the community, and how they help us rise. We also honor our ancestors," adds Mr. Dibanda.
Gathering in the Colors of Pan-Africanism
During the celebration, a straw mat is laid out, symbolizing the community, and on it are placed fruits and vegetables, representing the collective harvests of African villagers. Corn, symbolizing the children of each family, is also displayed, along with a unity cup, signifying sharing. Handcrafted gifts and offerings, representing creativity and intention, are placed on the mat, along with the kinara, the seven-branched candleholder. The candles—three red, three green, and one black—represent the Pan-African flag, symbolizing the unity of African peoples.
Seti Dibanda explains that Kwanzaa is an Afrocentric celebration, with Afrocentricity being an ideology that seeks to place Africans at the center of their own existence. The celebration originated in the United States, established in 1966 by Professor Maulana Karenga, head of the African Studies Department at California State University. His goal was to support African American culture and unite Black communities in the aftermath of the violent racial riots in Los Angeles in 1965.
"It was a time of emancipation and civil rights. Emancipation is necessary, but there’s also an identity that must be preserved," says Mr. Dibanda. "The founder's concern was to create connections between Africans on the continent and African Americans. That’s why he based Kwanzaa on traditional harvest festivals from the continent. It’s a celebration that highlights Afrocentric culture and values. As an organization, we embrace and celebrate it," he adds.
At Afrocentricité Internationale Montréal, the celebration has taken many forms over the years. Sometimes poetry recitals by children have been featured, while at other times, musical performances by percussion groups or dance troupes have taken center stage. This year, an African fashion show will be held, with awards presented to participants. As every year, a buffet featuring African and Caribbean specialties will be served, and, of course, the dance floor will be open to everyone—an absolute must, he emphasizes.
When lighting the Kwanzaa candles, the flame spreads from the center to the edges of the kinara. At the center stands the black candle, lit on December 26. To the left are three green candles, and to the right, three red candles, all symbolizing the Pan-African flag. On December 27, the second day of Kwanzaa, the kuji-chagulia candle is lit, celebrating self-determination. The third day honors ujima, collective work and responsibility. The fourth day celebrates ujamaa, cooperative economics. The fifth candle represents nia, the principle of purpose and community strengthening. The sixth day highlights kuumba, creativity. Finally, the last candle represents imani, meaning faith.
For Seti Dibanda, Kwanzaa begins at home with his wife and three children. For this father, it’s a cherished moment. On this occasion, a table is set and decorated with artwork, fruits, and vegetables. "What’s important is that everyone drinks from the cup of unity. It’s an act that creates communion with the family," he describes.
Kwanzaa is a public celebration in which everyone can participate. The holiday has been officially celebrated in Canada since 1993. "Canada is a country where communities are recognized and have the opportunity to express themselves. Here in Canada, it’s possible to maintain one’s identity while embracing Canadian values," says Mr. Dibanda about his adopted country. Born in Cameroon, he chose Canada after pursuing studies in Germany.
A matter of community
"My last name is Quansah," says Randy Quansah with a laugh, pronouncing his name similarly to the holiday Kwanzaa. Born in Montreal, he is preparing to celebrate Kwanzaa with his 8-year-old daughter in Calgary, where he has lived for 14 years.
Although he first heard about the holiday in his teenage years, it was becoming a father that truly led him to embrace its celebration. "The idea of culture and history really resonated with me after my child was born. I asked myself how I wanted her to navigate the experience of being Black," he explains. This reflection pushed him to revisit Black histories and conduct his own research. "You feel a greater responsibility to tell the story or at least spark curiosity [in your child so they] want to learn more," he adds.
Mr. Quansah teaches mathematics, English, and French to children from kindergarten to Grade 12, entrepreneurship in high school, and technology at the university level. In 2021, he launched an educational children’s series on YouTube, which quickly became a success. The idea was born following the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. "I was deeply moved, and I wondered what I could do, in my own way, to change the narrative," he recalls.
His experience working with children showed him the path forward. "I realized that change must start with children because they are open-minded. Plus, children have the ability to hold their parents and guardians accountable. They’ll say, ‘Hey, you said this, remember what you said,’" the teacher notes.
One episode of his series, Kujo’s Kid Zone, features Jeanette Epps, a NASA astronaut and the first Black woman to visit a space station. "I realized we have the ability to drive various social changes through these stories. Am I the person who will change everything? Probably not. But at some point, someone—a child—will see this and be inspired. That’s the beauty of it!" Mr. Quansah believes.
He draws a connection between this mission and Kwanzaa, which was featured in one of the episodes of his series. He believes that Black people—regardless of language or culture—must understand their heritage and culture. "That’s the importance of this celebration—it helps the community better understand this heritage," he concludes.
A Mindset of Abundance
According to Randy Quansah, the "mindset of abundance" is what originally set African peoples apart from European colonizers. By this expression, he refers to the belief in having all the resources necessary to meet everyone's needs. "Capitalism is a scarcity mindset, which involves thinking there aren’t enough resources for everyone. Europeans had a conquest mindset because, in their respective countries, there weren’t enough resources," says Quansah.
He draws a parallel with Indigenous peoples. "The Indigenous populations of North America have always had this mindset of abundance, for example, by thinking: ‘How can I say this land belongs to someone? How can I say it belongs to me?’" The same applies to the African continent, which, in his opinion, controls and drives the world by holding resources that are now vital. "If there’s no Africa, there’s no world. All your resources, your cell phones, your gold, your diamonds, your food, your chocolate come from the African continent," says Quansah.
He adds that it is this abundance of raw materials that, paradoxically, has made the inhabitants of the African continent some of the most disadvantaged people on Earth. "The African continent has historically been the greatest threat to the rest of the world. It has the largest number of people and the most resources. But Africans have no intention of traveling the world to conquer it. They don’t feel the need," he believes.
This mentality is accompanied by a collective use of resources—the habit of not taking credit for the many innovations—agricultural, technological, cultural, and more—that are owed to African and Afro-descendant communities.
Mr. Quansah emphasizes the importance for Africans in the diaspora to remember who they are, beyond stigmatization and loss—slavery, colonization, human exploitation, and racism.
“That’s the whole purpose of Kwanzaa: we must remember who we are. We must have a goal to strive for, take collective responsibility within our group, and have faith in ourselves. We need to go back, reassess our objectives, and rediscover our creativity,” says the teacher. “These are principles of community and encouragement toward a greater sense of togetherness.”
No matter the culture or religion of those celebrating it, Kwanzaa integrates into everyone’s life. “These principles are so universal and incredible that they can be applied even if you’re not Black.” Randy Quansah hopes this celebration will become as widely recognized as Christmas or Hanukkah. “But it often feels like, when we bring up something specific to Black culture, there’s always hesitation. Like with Black History Month, for example,” he observes.
He hopes that through Kwanzaa, the diaspora and Afro-descendants can take pride in themselves. “Self-pride is something very, very important. I love seeing people start to wear their hair naturally, dress in more traditional clothing, and things like that because all these elements contribute to a sense of pride. And when you feel pride, what comes next is the desire to have purpose.”
At Mr. Quansah's home, the candles are ready to be lit. The straw mat will be placed on a table, decorated with fruits and vegetables. “During Kwanzaa, we focus on one principle each day. That’s what I’ll do and celebrate with my daughter, so she can also adopt this mindset. I hope this will become an annual tradition that we can establish together, and that when she has her own family, she’ll incorporate it into her own activities.”
To participate in the event in Montreal, follow this link.