who invented kwanzaa

Kwanzaa was created by Maulana Karenga, an African American activist and professor of Africana Studies, in 1966.

Quick Scoop

• Inventor: Maulana Karenga, a professor of Africana studies and prominent figure in Afrocentrism.

• Year created: 1966, during the Black Power and civil rights era in the United States.

• Reason: To celebrate African American and Pan-African family , community, and culture, drawing on African “first fruits” harvest festivals.

Kwanzaa’s name comes from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza , meaning “first fruits,” with an extra “a” added to symbolize seven letters for the seven principles and children at an early celebration.