The Celebration of Kwanzaa : Day 5 – Nia (Purpose)

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On this fifth day of Kwanzaa, we celebrate Nia (Purpose).

Kwanzaa is a week long celebration honoring African, African American heritage and culture. As African American and Pan-African holiday celebrated by millions throughout the world African community, Kwanzaa brings a cultural message which speaks to the best of what it means to be African and human in the fullest sense.

Kwanzaa celebrates what its founder called the seven principles of Kwanzaa, or Nguzo Saba (originally Nguzu Saba—the seven principles of African Heritage). These seven principles comprise a Swahili term for tradition and reason.

On this fifth day of Kwanzaa, we celebrate Nia (Purpose)

To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

On this night we light the second green candle in the kinara and pour from the kikombe cha umoja. The cup is then passed around and you discuss the principle and spirit of Nia, which means purpose and how your personal goals affect and honor your family and your community.

This day of Kwanzaa serves as a reflection on those who have sacrificed and worked hard to get to the position where we’re at today. It is about honoring about elders and ancestors and the contributions they have made to help us grow as a community. As African Americans, we come from a rich ancestry and in Nia we strive to build and rebuild our family and community greatness.