# What is kwanza?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-kwanza/139700>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 1, 2002, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-kwanza/139700 "2002-12-01T00:08:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Gjorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@Gjorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gjorp)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2002, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-kwanza/139700/1 "2002-12-01T00:08:18Z")

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I’d like to know more about kwanza. I know it’s commonly known as the black’s Christmas, but I heard somewhere that that’s not true.

So, if anyone could tell me about the holiday (is it even a holiday) or give me links I’d appreciate it.

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**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2002, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-kwanza/139700/2 "2002-12-01T01:02:30Z")

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[What is Kwanzaa?](http://www.melanet.com/kwanzaa/whatis.html#history)

And from [this site](http://www.afrocentricnews.com/html/kwanza.htm) :

> [@](#):
>
> In 1966, KWANZAA was created by a young visionary …Dr. Maulana Karenga…KWANZAA is derived from the Swahili word, KWANZA which means first fruits and is part of the phrase Matunda Ya. Dr Karenga added the extra “a” to distinguish the Afro-American from the African.