First day of Kwanzaa celebrated in Leimert Park
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. - The Kwanzaa parade in Leimert Park had it all: kids, cars, and lots of cars. Kwanzaa, first formed in 1966 as an annual celebration of African-American culture, includes its own Swahili greeting.
Laneay Linicoln says it is "Habari Gani." That means "What's the news?" And your response would be "Umoja!"
That's one of the seven principles of this holiday, in which a candle is lit each day.
Below are the seven principles:
- Umoja, or unity
- Kujichagulia, or self-determination
- Ujima, or collective work and responsibility
- Ujamaa, or cooperative economics
- Nia, or purpose
- Kuumba, or creativity
- Imani, or faith
Parade organizer R.W. Akile says, "This year represents the year of Ujima, collective work and responsibility. For 59 years, Kwanzaa has been focused around the Black community." Akile says, "The holiday means the start of a new age."
...but the principles seem universal. Parade watcher Yolanda Hollis says these are principles anybody could embrace irrespective of religion or race. Another parade watcher, Gayle Claiborne, says, "It's the people" and being close to the community.
William Holloway is the Founder/CEO of the South LA Real Riders Bike Club. "It's what we call a unity love, and community love means it's universal," he said.