Family, community, and culture are the cornerstones of this week-long pan-African celebration. It started in 1966 as a reaction to the commercialization of Christmas, and includes the following features:
The Seven Principles (Nguzo Saba):
Unity
Self determination
Collective work and responsibility
Cooperative economics
Purpose
Creativity
Faith
The Pan-African flag, which is meant to unite all African peoples across the globe, lends its colors to the holiday: red, black, and green.
