
Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated from December 26th through January 1st, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahili, the most widely spoken African language.
A traditional Kwanzaa celebration feast includes rich and comforting dishes such as fried okra, chicken & sausage gumbo, cornbread and collard greens. If you’re looking for some new inspiration, check out some of these recipes from our expansive recipe collection:
- Chicken Gumbo with Fresh Okra
- Buttermilk Cornbread
- Spicy Collard Greens
- Roasted Pumpkin Bisque
- Sweet Potato Pancakes
- North African Style Grilled Vegetable Salad
- Caramelized Plantains
What are your favorite dishes for Kwanzaa?

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I enjoyed these recipes so much. Thank You for celebrating Kwanza, the whole foods in Maryland is very much a part of our community and Kwanza is celebrated with pride in the tri-state area of Maryland, Washington DC where we have strong historically African-American Colleges that welcome all people to study! Kwanza is a beautiful celebration of family!
Thanks,
Kala
December 28th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Thank you for caring enough about this Great African-American celebration to share with your viewers. Kwanzaa is a favorite celebration of my along with the traditional Christmas season.
December 30th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Beautiful blog you’ve made here.. Truly, it’s quite a feat! I’ll definitely be back to catch up on more of the stuff you write
D
May 4th, 2011 at 1:45 pm