Although we celebrate it early on campus, Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday observed from December 26 through January 1. Kwanzaa is a celebration that calls us to reflect on the past year. At NC State we celebrate it to renew commitments to unity, growth, and support for the remainder of the academic year. If you want to learn more about Kwanzaa or join in on the celebration, check out these upcoming Kwanzaa events.

What’s on the Table: Kwanzaa Edition

Friday, November 13, 2026
Witherspoon 355 – AACC Living Room | 3pm – 4pm

• Join our AYA Ambassadors for an intimate and engaging conversation where students explore the principles of Kwanzaa through real-world experiences and perspectives. This discussion offers a space for reflection, connection, and meaningful dialogue inspired by the values of the season.

AACC Library’s Readers Lounge: Kwanzaa Edition 

Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Witherspoon 218 – AACC Library, 2nd Floor, through the AACC Art Gallery | 3pm – 4pm

• Join us for the AACC Library’s Reader Lounge Kwanzaa Edition! All are welcome to this monthly communal reading session where NC State University students, faculty, and staff can connect over a shared love for books and reading in a relaxed, social atmosphere with bookish prizes and snacks. Meet new friends, share thoughts on your current read, and discover new titles from our specialized collection. Bring your own book, explore the shelves, ask the AACC Librarian for a curated suggestion or pick up a mystery book – you can even bring your reading assignments if you like! Come solo or bring your friend group. (Registration Preferred)

Kwanzaa: Pre-Celebration with The Indigo Arts Cultural Center

Thursday, November 19, 2026 
AACC Room 356 | 6pm – 7:30pm

• Experience the vibrant rhythms and soulful voices of Indigo’s Cultural Arts Center, where culture, community, and connection take center stage! (No registration required.)

Kwanzaa Feast of Faith

Friday, November 20, 2026
Witherspoon 126 – Washington Sankofa Room | 6pm – 8pm

•  An epic finale to close out the Fall 2026 semester! The Feast of Faith is a vibrant celebration of joy, creativity, faith, purpose, and community care. Join us for an evening filled with delicious food, and inspiring performances. (Full dinner) (Registration Required)

What is The 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 of Kwanzaa

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.

The 7 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.