While celebrated early on campus, Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday, from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1, celebrated by many people of the African diaspora. It is a time to reflect on your actions over the previous year in regard to supporting the diaspora and to renew your commitments for the following year.

Soulful Sanctuaries

Celebrate African heritage during Kwanzaa with this year’s theme of soulful sanctuaries. This event will provide students with a profound sense of cultural identity and pride, and celebrate each of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

Friday, November, 22, 2024

10am-11:15am-

• Everyday F.U.B.U. (Light breakfast served) This soulful sanctuary space is designed to immerse us in the principles of Kujichagulia (self-determination) and Ujima (collective work and responsibility). Together we will harness our internal power to manifest our and our ancestors’ wildest dreams! (No Registration Required)

12:30 pm-1:30 pm-

• C.R.E.A.M – Understanding the Rules to the Game  (Lunch served) – This soulful sanctuary space focuses on the principle of Ujamaa (cooperative economics). Get lunch and access the abundant resources available with TRIO McNair. (No Registration Required)

3-4pm- 

• U.N.I.T.Y (Light snacks) – This soulful sanctuary space is designed to bring together the true meaning of Umoja (unity). You’re invited to indulge in an intimate conversation with our AYA ambassadors about the true essence of unity within our Wolfpack community. (No Registration Required)

5-6 pm- Greensboro Kwanzaa Collective Presentation 

• The Spirit of Sankofa: Pre-Feast Celebration – Come and be moved by the rhythmic sounds and soulful voices of the Greensboro Kwanzaa Collective, a place where you and your roots are the vibe! (No Registration Required)

6:15 pm Kwanzaa Feast of Faith: Soulful Sanctuaries (Full dinner) 

• An epic conclusion to wrap up the Fall 2024 semester! The feast of faith is a celebration of the profound beauty of Black diasporic joy, creativity, faithfulness, purpose, and communal care! Enjoy dinner, graduation gifts, and performances throughout the evening. (Registration Required)

Feast of Faith

Karamu Ya Imani, the Feast of Faith, is an annual cultural celebration of unity within Afro-diasporic communities. The African American Cultural Center invites the NC State Community to this celebratory dinner to learn about and reflect on the seven principles of Kwanzaa. The dinner will feature a celebration of fall graduates, special awards, and cultural performances.

History and Principles

Kwanzaa includes 7 days of practice of Nguzo Saba, practices that center the upliftment and wellness of the Black community. It culminates with Karamu Ya Iman, a feast of faith and the sharing of gifts. Kwanzaa was first celebrated in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, its creator.

At NC State we celebrate Kwanzaa early based on the university academic break. We teach the principles of Kwanzaa and engage them so as to help our campus community find new ways to center Black joy, resilience, innovation, and fulfillment in anti-consumerist ways.

Principles of Kwanzaa

1. Umoja (Unity): maintaining unity as a family, community, and race of people.
2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): defining, naming, and creating and speaking for ourselves.
3. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): building and maintaining our community–solving problems together.
4. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics: building and maintaining retail stores and other businesses and to profit from these ventures.
5. Nia (Purpose): work collectively to build communities that will restore the greatness of African people.
6. Kuumba (Creativity): to find new, innovative ways to leave communities of African descent in more beautiful and beneficial ways than the community inherited.
7. Imani (Faith): the belief in God, family, heritage, leaders, and others that will leave to the victory of Africans around the world.