1966day.year
The first Kwanzaa is celebrated by Maulana Karenga, the chair of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach.
Scholar Maulana Karenga celebrates the first Kwanzaa, inaugurating an African-American cultural festival rooted in unity and heritage.
Maulana Karenga, a professor of Black Studies, launched Kwanzaa on December 26, 1966 in Los Angeles.
The week-long festival honors African heritage and community values through seven principles.
Named after the Swahili phrase for 'first fruits,' Kwanzaa combines Pan-African traditions.
Celebrations include music, storytelling, and communal feasts called Karamu.
Kwanzaa grew as an alternative to mainstream holidays, emphasizing cultural pride and family.
Today it is observed by millions worldwide as a celebration of African-American identity.
1966
Kwanzaa
Maulana Karenga
Black Studies
California State University, Long Beach