100+ Kwanzaa Trivia Questions & Answers

Question: Who created the holiday Kwanzaa?

Answer: Dr Maulana Karenga

Question: In what year was Kwanzaa first celebrated?

Answer: 1966

Question: What event inspired Dr. Maulana Karenga to create Kwanzaa?

Answer: Watts riots

Question: What does the name "Kwanzaa" derive from?

Answer: Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza

Question: What does "matunda ya kwanza" mean in English?

Answer: First fruits

Question: Kwanzaa is related to which broader movement?

Answer: Pan-Africanism

Question: When is Kwanzaa celebrated each year?

Answer: December 26 to January 1

Question: What is the communal feast at the end of Kwanzaa called?

Answer: Karamu

Question: What cultural traditions inspired the creation of Kwanzaa?

Answer: African harvest festival traditions

Question: How many candles are used in a Kinara candle holder during Kwanzaa?

Answer: Seven candles

Question: What are the colors of the Kwanzaa flag?

Answer: Black, red, and green

Question: Which U.S. President first issued a presidential declaration for Kwanzaa?

Answer: Bill Clinton

Question: In which country did Kwanzaa first originate before spreading worldwide?

Answer: United States

Question: Name one country outside the United States where Kwanzaa is celebrated.

Answer: Canada

Question: Who narrated the 2008 documentary film about Kwanzaa titled "The Black Candle"?

Answer: Maya Angelou

Question: Why was Kwanzaa spelled with an extra "a"?

Answer: To symbolize seven letters

Question: Which African festival partly inspired Kwanzaa according to Dr. Maulana Karenga?

Answer: Zulu festival Umkhosi Wokweshwama

Question: What was Dr. Maulana Karenga's initial stance on Christianity and Kwanzaa?

Answer: He viewed Christianity as a "White" religion to be shunned

Question: How has Dr. Maulana Karenga's position on Christianity and Kwanzaa evolved over time?

Answer: He stated Kwanzaa is not an alternative to other religions

Question: Which African-American activist founded Kwanzaa?

Answer: Dr. Maulana Karenga

Question: What social movement was Dr. Maulana Karenga a part of when he created Kwanzaa?

Answer: Black Power movement

Question: How many African regions' harvest festivals influenced Kwanzaa?

Answer: Various parts of West, East, and Southeast Africa

Question: What is the greeting used during Kwanzaa celebrations?

Answer: “Joyous Kwanzaa” or “Habari Gani?”

Question: What percentage of people planned to celebrate Kwanzaa according to a 2019 poll?

Answer: 2.6%

Question: Which U.S. presidents have issued greetings for Kwanzaa?

Answer: Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Joe Biden

Question: What are the seven principles of Kwanzaa called in Swahili?

Answer: Nguzo Saba

Question: Which principle of Kwanzaa emphasizes unity in family and community?

Answer: Umoja

Question: What Kwanzaa principle stands for self-determination?

Answer: Kujichagulia

Question: What is the Kwanzaa principle of collective work and responsibility called?

Answer: Ujima

Question: Which principle focuses on cooperative economics?

Answer: Ujamaa

Question: What does "Nia" mean in the context of Kwanzaa?

Answer: Purpose

Question: Which Kwanzaa principle represents creativity?

Answer: Kuumba

Question: What principle of Kwanzaa signifies faith?

Answer: Imani

Question: Which Kwanzaa principle involves defining and naming oneself?

Answer: Kujichagulia

Question: What is the principle of Ujima about?

Answer: Building and maintaining the community together

Question: How many principles are celebrated during Kwanzaa?

Answer: Seven

Question: What language are the seven principles of Kwanzaa in?

Answer: Swahili

Question: Which principle of Kwanzaa encourages building businesses together?

Answer: Ujamaa

Question: What does the principle of Kuumba encourage Kwanzaa participants to do?

Answer: Leave the community more beautiful and beneficial

Question: The principle of Nia aims to restore what in the community?

Answer: Traditional greatness

Question: What is the common philosophy that the seven principles comprise called?

Answer: Kawaida

Question: What ideologies does Kawaida synthesize?

Answer: Nationalist, pan-Africanist, and socialist values

Question: On which day of Kwanzaa is Umoja celebrated?

Answer: First day

Question: Which principle is dedicated to collective problem-solving in Kwanzaa?

Answer: Ujima

Question: Which principle involves believing in the righteousness of the struggle during Kwanzaa?

Answer: Imani

Question: What principle encourages individuals to speak for themselves in Kwanzaa?

Answer: Kujichagulia

Question: Which principle of Kwanzaa is about having a collective vocation?

Answer: Nia

Question: What does the principle of Imani encompass in Kwanzaa?

Answer: Belief in people, leaders, and the struggle's victory

Question: Which Kwanzaa principle involves creating and speaking for oneself?

Answer: Kujichagulia

Question: The seven principles of Kwanzaa are a synthesis of which types of values?

Answer: Nationalist, pan-Africanist, and socialist

Question: What is the name of the candle holder used in Kwanzaa?

Answer: Kinara

Question: How many candles are in the Kinara candle holder for Kwanzaa?

Answer: Seven candles

Question: What do the three green candles in Kwanzaa represent?

Answer: Earth and the future

Question: What do the three red candles in Kwanzaa symbolize?

Answer: The struggle of Black Americans

Question: What does the black candle in the Kinara candle holder represent?

Answer: Unity

Question: What is a Mkeka?

Answer: A traditional woven mat used in Kwanzaa

Question: What does the mazao represent in Kwanzaa?

Answer: Crops

Question: What is the unity cup called in Kwanzaa?

Answer: Kikombe cha Umoja

Question: What do mazao symbolize in Kwanzaa?

Answer: The historical roots of African-Americans in agriculture

Question: What do mahindi (corn) represent in Kwanzaa?

Answer: Children celebrating

Question: What are zawadi in Kwanzaa?

Answer: Gifts

Question: What do the colors black, red, and green on the Kwanzaa flag represent?

Answer: Unity, the struggle of Black Americans, and the future

Question: What is the purpose of the unity cup (kikombe cha Umoja) in Kwanzaa?

Answer: Commemorating and giving thanks to African ancestors

Question: What do the seven candles (mishumaa saba) represent in Kwanzaa?

Answer: The seven principles

Question: What is placed on the mkeka during Kwanzaa celebrations?

Answer: Symbols such as Kinara, mazao, mahindi, unity cup, and gifts

Question: What do the fruits and vegetables on the Kwanzaa mat represent?

Answer: The harvest

Question: What does an ear of corn signify in Kwanzaa?

Answer: Children and hope for the younger generation

Question: What are the colors of the mishumaa saba candles in Kwanzaa?

Answer: Black, red, and green

Question: What does the mat (mkeka) symbolize in Kwanzaa?

Answer: The foundation for self-actualization

Question: What is the significance of the traditional woven mat in Kwanzaa?

Answer: Represents traditions like sharing and faith

Question: What is the Kwanzaa symbol that represents ancestors?

Answer: Unity cup (kikombe cha Umoja)

Question: What do the colors of the Kinara candles correspond to in Kwanzaa?

Answer: Values and concepts reflective of African heritage

Question: Which symbol in Kwanzaa represents the collective labor's reward?

Answer: Mazao

Question: What does the traditional basket filled with fruits and vegetables represent in Kwanzaa?

Answer: The harvest

Question: What additional representations supplement the main Kwanzaa symbols?

Answer: Nguzo Saba poster, flag, African books, and artworks

Question: What is the main communal feast during Kwanzaa called?

Answer: Karamu

Question: On which day of Kwanzaa does the Karamu feast usually take place?

Answer: The sixth day

Question: What are typical foods served during Kwanzaa celebrations?

Answer: Peanut soup, shrimp gumbo, fried bananas, sweet potato pie, coconut sweets

Question: What is the greeting used each day of Kwanzaa?

Answer: Habari Gani?

Question: What does "Habari Gani?" mean in Swahili?

Answer: How are you?

Question: What is the Kinara candle holder used for during Kwanzaa?

Answer: Holding seven candles

Question: What happens during the candle-lighting ritual in Kwanzaa?

Answer: An adult pours water or juice, passes the unity cup, family members sip and chant

Question: What is the significance of the black candle in the Kinara candle holder during Kwanzaa?

Answer: Represents unity among Black Americans

Question: What do the red candles on the Kinara candle holder symbolize in Kwanzaa?

Answer: The struggle of Black Americans

Question: What do the green candles on the Kinara candle holder stand for in Kwanzaa?

Answer: Earth and the future

Question: What kind of clothing is typically worn during Kwanzaa celebrations?

Answer: Bright African-style clothing, kaftans by women

Question: What is a customary practice involving ancestors during Kwanzaa ceremonies?

Answer: Giving respect and gratitude, sharing libations

Question: What is "joyous Kwanzaa" used for?

Answer: A greeting during the holiday

Question: Which musical elements are included in Kwanzaa ceremonies?

Answer: Drumming and musical selections

Question: What is Karamu Ya Imani?

Answer: Feast of Faith

Question: Where is the annual Spirit of Kwanzaa celebration held?

Answer: John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Question: What is included in a Karamu ceremony?

Answer: Drumming, libations, African pledge, candle-lighting, artistic performances, feast

Question: What are the main activities during Karamu?

Answer: Dancing, singing, feasting

Question: How do families decorate their households for Kwanzaa?

Answer: With African art, colorful cloth, fresh fruits

Question: What is the purpose of the Karamu Ya Imani feast in Kwanzaa?

Answer: Communitywide promotion and education, celebration

Question: When did Kwanzaa become increasingly commercialized?

Answer: Starting in the 1990s

Question: What is the significance of the Karamu feast being held on December 31?

Answer: It is the big celebration day with a large feast

Question: What does Kwanzaa encourage participants to do on January 1st?

Answer: Focus on future success and personal development

Question: What kind of performances are typical at Kwanzaa celebrations?

Answer: Dance, song, poetry

Question: How do non-African Americans engage with Kwanzaa?

Answer: They also celebrate it alongside African Americans