On December 26, 2017, WES is proud to be hosting Friends and Family of Incarcerated People for their annual Kwanzaa celebration. We invite you to read below, a letter from FFOIP coordinator Stuart Anderson:

Habari Gani is the official greeting during Kwanzaa it is a Ky Swahili phrase meaning what’s the word or news. Swahili is a Pan-African language and is chosen to reflect African Americans’ commitment to the whole of the continent we now call Africa and African culture rather than to a specific ethnic or national dialect.  there are other greetings and phrases that are a part of the Nguzo saba (seven principles). The greetings are to reinforce awareness of and commitment to the Seven Principles. It is: “Habari gani?” and the answer is each of the principles for each of the days of Kwanzaa, i.e., “Umoja”, on the first day, “Kujichagulia”, on the second day and so on.

Gifts are given mainly to children, but must always include a book and a heritage symbol. The book is to emphasize the African value and tradition of learning and the heritage symbol to reaffirm and reinforce the African commitment to tradition and history.

The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green as noted just to the right and can be utilized in decorations for Kwanzaa. Also decorations should include traditional African items, i.e., African baskets, cloth patterns, art objects, harvest symbols, etc.