Habari Gani: A Kwanzaa Quiz

Answer: Maulana Karenga

The idea of Kwanzaa was conceived by Black Power activist Maulana Ndabezitha Karenga, and was based on West and Southern African harvest traditions, such as the First Fruits festival of the Nguni people. It was initially conceived as a black alternative to Christmas, as Karenga felt that Christianity was a 'white religion', although he later changed his views on this; it also gave African-Americans an opportunity to celebrate their own history, rather than the history of the dominant white culture. Kwanzaa was first celebrated in 1966.

Answer: Swahili

Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken mainly in Tanzania, Mozambique and Kenya, as well as other African countries such as Rwanda and Burundi. Each principle has its own symbol, and each day focuses on a different principle.

Umoja is unity, represented by a dagi knot, a pan-African symbol of unity. Kujichagulia is self-determination, represented by the Akan throne (Golden Stool), the throne of the Ashanti people of Ghana. Ujima is collective work and responsibility, represented by an x-shaped symbol called the akoma ntoaso, an Adinkra symbol from Ghana. Ujamaa is cooperative economics, represented by two interlocking semicircles (a symbol from the Nsibidi symbol system, representing togetherness and family). Nia is purpose, represented by the ancient Egyptian hieroglyph nefer that stands for beauty and goodness. Kuumba is creativity, represented by the Dogon symbol of the seven vibrations of divine creation. Finally, Imani is faith and its symbol is a combination of ancient Egyptian symbols: the ankh for life, and the djed pillar for endurance.

Answer: Red, black and green

Black, red and green are colours associated with the pan-African movement. There are three red candles on one side, three green ones on the other and one black one in the middle. The black candle represents the African people, the red candles represent their struggle and the green candles represent hope and the future.

Answer: Kinara

The kinara is the Kwanzaa equivalent of the menorah/chanukiah (and holders from a menorah were used to make a makeshift kinara at the first Kwanzaa celebration), in that it is a festive candleholder. As with Chanukah, when Jews light an increasing number of candles every night, a new candle on the kinara is lit every day, depending on the principle the day represents.

The black candle in the middle is the first one to be lit. Buddy Rose-Aminifu made the first proper kinara, which was very simple in design and carved from a log.

Answer: What is the news?

On each night of Kwanzaa, it is customary to ask, "Habari gani?", which is Swahili for "What is the news?" or "How are you?" and for the respondent to reply with the principle of the day. (As Jewish players will know, "Why is this night different from all other nights?" is the question the youngest child present at the Passover seder asks.)

Answer: 26th December

Although Kwanzaa is close to Christmas, it starts the day after, on Boxing Day. It lasts for seven days, ending on New Year's Day. Seven is a number heavily associated with Kwanzaa; as well as seven days and seven principles, the word 'Kwanzaa' has seven letters. The name of the festival comes from 'matunda ya kwanza', meaning 'first fruits'.

Answer: 1997

Synthia Saint James is best known for designing the art for Terri McMillan's 'Waiting to Exhale', which later became a film starring Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett. She has also written and illustrated various books for children, including a book on Kwanzaa ('The Gift of Kwanzaa', 'Happy Happy Kwanzaa' and 'It's Kwanzaa Time It's Kwanzaa Time').

She has a bright, colourful style, using blocks of colour to depict human figures. Her Kwanzaa stamp featured a black family in traditional African dress, with a bowl of fruit and a pan-African flag.

Answer: Cup of unity

The Kikombe cha Umoja is a cup, usually made of wood, from which people drink on the sixth day of Kwanzaa. The cup is passed around the celebrants, and when they have drunk from the cup, they discuss their hopes for the future and pay homage (shukrani) to their ancestors. Before drinking, it is customary to say 'harambee', or 'let's pull together'.

(The flag is called a bendera and the woven mat, which acts as a foundation for the other Kwanzaa symbols, is called a mkeka.)

Answer: Corn

Muhindi represents children, fertility and the future. It is customary to place vibunzi, or ears of corn, on the mkeka; one vibunzi for each child in the family. Another symbol of Kwanzaa is mazao, or crops, which represent the fruits of labour, the harvest and community.

There is no set Kwanzaa meal, but some families might have a different meal from a different African diaspora country every night, such as Senegalese jollof rice or Jamaican jerk chicken. Some people fast or abstain from meat before the Kwanzaa feast; the main objective of the feast is bringing people together.

Answer: Yes

Yes, Kwanzaa presents exist! The official term is 'Zawadi', or gifts, and they represent parents' labour and love for their children, and the commitments the children make. According to Maulana Karenga, Zawadi should not be excessive, should be instructive and inspirational, and should always include a book and a heritage symbol; they should also never be a substitute for love.

As well as books, Kwanzaa gifts can include clothes, toys such as black dolls, jewellery, photo albums covered with woven kente cloth, family cookbooks, homemade crafts, or foods and other goodies bought from black-owned businesses.