Sankofa Kwanzaa Kinara Celebration Set

Planning for your upcoming Kwanzaa celebration? Want to incorporate the principles of Kwanzaa into your life or the lives of your family members, friends, or community?

The perfect way to start is with a quality Kwanzaa Kinara set. All of our Kinara sets are hand carved out of wood in Ghana by local artisans and imported into the United States. Many feature symbols of significance to African culture and Kwanzaa principles.

Our Sankofa Kwanzaa Kinara Set features the Adinkra symbol Sankofa on it. Sankofa is a word from the Twi language of Ghana which translates in English to "Go Back and Get it". It represents the need to never forget your roots or your history as you move forward and is associated with the African Proverb "It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten". Represented by the Sankofa bird looking back.

Measures approximately 12.25 inches (Length) x 6.5 inches (Height) x 2.25 inches (Width) and weighs 1lb 8oz.. The Unity cup measures 7 inches in height and weighs 3 ounces. Available in black or brown. Available with candles or without candles.

Note: With Candles ships with Unity Cup, Kinara, and Candles. Without Candles ships with Kinara and Unity Cup.

SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF KWANZAA

1. Umoja (Unity): On the first day of Kwanzaa, members of the African-American community focus on the principle of Umoja. This principle emphasizes the importance of unity in all areas, including family, community, nation, and race.

2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): The second principle of Kwanzaa is, or “self-determination.” Its focus is building your identity as a person and a community, both historically and in the present day, by asking the question, “Who am I?” Kujichagulia also encourages the question, “Am I all that I ought to be?”

3. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): Ujima focuses on the collective responsibility for both achievements and setbacks in the community. This principle reminds celebrants that building each other up is the best way to truly solve problems.

4. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): Ujamaa is the principle of cooperative economics. This goes beyond the mass spending associated with the holiday season. Ujamaa focuses on a concerted effort to pool resources (financial and otherwise) together to benefit Black communities and neighborhoods and essentially build a more communal sense of “profit.”

5. Nia (Purpose): Nia, which means “purpose,” is the fifth principle of Kwanzaa. Nia can refer to being proactive in setting your own personal goals, but it also encourages you to think outward and look at goals that can benefit the larger community. It can mean purpose for your own future, the financial purpose of your family, or the collective purpose of your economic community.

6. Kuumba (Creativity): Kuumba is the principle of creativity. This can, of course, refer to individual creativity, but the focus is on improving and bringing beauty to your community through that creativity, whether it's art, dance, music, or literature.

7. Imani (Faith): On January 1st, the final day of Kwanzaa, celebrants light the last green candle for the principle of Imani. Imani translates to “faith.” Remember that Kwanzaa is a non-religious celebration, but faith here refers to the family and community traditions as a spiritual center. It is a belief in community leaders, teachers, and loved ones, past and present.

Note: Each kinara set is hand made so there may be slight and subtle differences in color, size, and shape. In addition, the Unity Cups are decorative only and you should not actually drink out of the cup.