A Kwiz about Kwanzaa Trivia Quiz

Answer: Black Panther Party

While all of these aforementioned groups took part in the Black Power movement and were instrumental in the Civil Rights movement in the United States, the US Organization was started by Maulana Karenga and Hakim Jamal as a response to the Black Panther Party, whose ideologies the two did not agree with. The two organizations actually got into armed conflict with one another, eventually resulting in Karenga's arrest.

Maulana Ndabezitha Karenga was born Ronald McKinley Everett, and took his name while studying at UCLA. He was immersed in the African American struggle for equality and started Kwanzaa as the first pan-African holiday in 1966. His vision was to allow Blacks to celebrate and embrace their culture and not hide from it.

Answer: First fruits

The idea behind Kwanzaa was to incorporate it with the harvest celebration that comes in southern Africa in the months of December and January. The phrase "matunda ya kwanza" means 'first fruits' and celebrates the new bounty that occurs around the time of the Southern Hemisphere's solstice. Maulana Karenga drew inspiration in part from the Zulu people's Umkhosi Wokweshwama, a harvest festival that celebrates the first fruits.

Answer: Africa

In Swahili, the word 'kinara' means 'candle holder'. The kinara holds seven candles for the celebration of Kwanzaa which, in turn, represent the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. The red, black and green are the symbolic colours of the holiday and represent the Pan-African colours. The Pan-African flag has three horizontal bands, red, black and green.

On each day of Kwanzaa a new candle is lit, starting with the black one in the center on the first day, and then continuing from left to right. Each candle represents that day's principle. The colours themselves also carry another meaning. The black in the center are the people themselves; the red, their past and their struggle; the green, the future and the hope that things will continue to ever-evolve and ever-improve.

Answer: Washington D.C.

Started in 1996 by the African-American choreographer Fabian Barnes, the "Spirit of Kwanzaa" has grown since it first started into a two-day event that captures the hearts of everyone who views it. Based on the Kwanzaa principle of 'kujichagulia', or self-determination, expressing Black culture through music and dance seemed an obvious choice for Barnes. Since then, in addition to African dance and African music, the event includes spoken-word poetry as well as other music and dance that represent the spirit of the holiday.

Answer: Corn

African corn has been around since the 1500s, and has become one of the staple foods in African cuisine. The corn in Africa has tougher kernels than its American counterpart, however, it is versatile as a vegetable and can be used in many ways. While corn can be cooked, it can also be ground up and the meal can be used in a variety of ways, from adding to dishes to making cornbread, corn can be a healthy part of your meal.

Muhindi is one of the symbols of Kwanzaa because it represents the children of Africa and the hope for their future. The stalk of corn, sometimes included, is a representation of the parents. Corn is often a part of the meals of Kwanzaa.

Answer: Dead ancestors

The Kikombe cha Umoja is the unity cup that is used on the sixth day of Kwanzaa. During the Karamu feast on that day, the tambiko ceremony is held. This is a libation that is poured to honour the souls of ancestors. Everybody present takes a sip from this cup to show unity and to share the memories of the passed loved ones. This also reflects back on the principle for the first day, 'umoja' or unity, which is represented by the first black candle.

The picture of liquor is both a reference to the libation taken, but also because liquor can be known as spirits.

Answer: Yes

Maulana Karenga's personal beliefs were that Christmas was a very White holiday (as well as Christianity as a whole) and that Jesus was suffering from mental illness. He therefore decreed that Kwanzaa was to be celebrated instead of Christmas. However, as Kwanzaa gained popularity and more Black-Christian-Americans became interested, Karenga reversed his views on the holiday and stated that "Kwanzaa was not created to give people an alternative to their own religion or religious holiday."

It is important to adhere to one's personal beliefs and celebrations can be as individual as the people who choose to celebrate. Today, Kwanzaa does not have to be exclusive from Christmas. Music, as you see in the picture, is also a major part of Kwanzaa, as it can be for Christmas as well.

Answer: The Black Candle

"The Black Candle" was a 2012 documentary directed by M. K. Asante which talks about the struggles of the Black people through the lens of Kwanzaa. It is narrated by Maya Angelou, the poet, and was generally very well-received. It won several awards and was immediately recognized as a film which celebrates the Black people, their culture, and their struggles.

It reflects on the seven principles of Kwanzaa in telling the story of the celebration through the years from 1966 to the (then) present day.

Answer: No

The nguzu saba are seven principles of African heritage and were actually codified a year before Kwanzaa was created. In 1965, umoja, kujichagulia, ujima, ujamaa, nia, kuumba, and imani (corresponding respectively to unity, self-determination, collective work, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith) were compiled by Maulana Karenga to promote a sense of African identity amongst the Black population living in California and the rest of the United States. Each day of Kwanzaa corresponds to a different principle and they all come together to form the basis of the celebration.

Answer: Kente

Kente cloth was once the choice of royalty, often worn in the style of a toga. However, nowadays it has become more mainstream, though still considered a very festive cloth to wear. Kente, also known as nwentoma or kete, is a very colourful cloth made of silk and cotton. The word 'kente' itself means 'basket' which refers to the weaving process by which the cloth is made. It traditionally is associated with the Ashanti tribe, though other regions in Ghana also make this kind of textile.

Kwanzaa is a special celebration and kente is one of the primary choices for clothing.