The seven principles of the Nguzo Saba are celebrated during Kwanzaa however, they can be practiced on a daily basis. Kwanzaa is not to be viewed as a "Black Christmas". Instead it is a cultural observance in which Africans renew and affirm the strengths and values of ourselves and our ancestors.

• UMOJA (UNITY) - To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.

• KUJICHAGULIA (SELF-DETERMINATION) - To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves instead of being defined, named, created and spoken for by others.

• UJIMA (COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY) - To build and maintain our community together, and make our sisters' and brothers' problems and to solve them together.

• UJAMAA (COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS) - To build and maintain our own shops, stores and other businesses and to profit from them together.

• NIA (PURPOSE) - To make our collective vocation the building and development of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

• KUUMBA (CREATIVITY) - To always do as much as we can, in the way that we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

• IMANI (FAITH) - To believe with all of our hearts, in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.