10 Kwanzaa Food Traditions & Why They Are Good For The Body & Soul

Kwanzaa: what do you know? According to History, Kwanzaa became a festival in the 1960s to strengthen and unite Black communities following the Watts riots. The holiday's name comes from the Swahili word "matunda ya kwanza". The second "a" was added following the inaugural Kwanzaa celebration in 1966 when each kid received a letter in the name.

Kwanzaa is a celebration based on seven principles: umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective effort and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economy), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity), and imani (faith). Although Kwanzaa follows Christmas by seven days, many people combine the two. After Kwanzaa, people exchange handcrafted or culturally themed presents.

Kwanzaa & Food

Kwanzaa, like other festivals, is rich in food. The biggest supper comes on night six. Kwanzaa begins Dec. 26 and ends Jan. 1. The sixth night, New Year's Eve, starts with the lighting of the black candle to signify kuumba. Kuumba signifies creation, which the sixth night of Kwanzaa is.

Many Karamu meals are important to present and historical to Black culture. According to Oldways Nutrition Exchange (ONE), many Kwanzaa foods are products of the African Diaspora, the widespread forced transfer of Africans from the African continent during the Transatlantic Slave Trade between the 1500s and 1800s. The passage of Africans to the Caribbean and Americas hybridized cuisines, many of which are offered on Karamu (via ONE).

Afro-Caribbean cuisines, for example, combine French, Spanish, and African cuisine. It's typical to see salt fish, guava, red beans, and pigeon peas on the table, all of which are Caribbean-inspired. Southern soul cuisine is inspired by French cooking with Southern foods, including okra, collards, tomatoes, and seafood like oysters, crabs, and shrimp.

10 Food Traditions

Okra

It can be served as a pan-fried dish or in a shrimp gumbo flavored with Creole seasoning and various kinds of peppers.

Rich in nutrients
Contains beneficial antioxidants
May lower heart disease risk
It may have anticancer properties
It may lower blood sugar
Beneficial for pregnant women – lowers the risk of neural tube defect

Mazao & Muhindi

The mazao (crops – usually bananas, plantains, mango, and peaches) symbolizes the African harvest and rewards of collaborative and productive labor, while the muhindi (corn) is emblematic of the cultural significance of children and the future.

Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Potassium
Supports immunity
Boosts collagen
Healthy digestion
Reduces risks of diabetes and obesity
Supports eye health
Supports strong bones
Supports sleep

Creole Jambalaya

A rice dish cooked with saffron, chicken, and regional seafood staples like mussels and shrimp. Jambalaya also receives a meaty kick from the inclusion of andouille sausage and the crunch from cooked pepper and onions.

Boosts Your Metabolism
Reduces Hungry Feelings
Lowers Blood Pressure
Prevents Cancer
Protein

Hummingbird Cake

This cake is similar to the texture of a carrot cake but includes pineapple and bananas instead of carrots for moisture and texture, and it comes with a hint of nuttiness from the inclusion of chopped pecans.

Provides protein
Natural fruits used:
- Folic acids
- Promotes eyes, teeth, and bone health
- Energy boost