kwanzaa

Where does the word "kwanzaa" come from? It comes from Swahili matunda ya kwanza, and was adopted directly into English (1966).

Kwanzaa’s story begins in Swahili: matunda ya kwanza meant “first fruits.” Literally "first fruits", referring to harvest celebrations. It reached English by 1966 as Kwanzaa. Coined by Maulana Karenga for a new African-American cultural holiday. Today, kwanzaa means a week-long African-American and Pan-African cultural celebration held in late December.

1. Stage 1 · Swahili · ancient matunda ya kwanza "first fruits", literally "first fruits", referring to harvest celebrations.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1966 Kwanzaa "a week-long African-American cultural celebration", coined by Maulana Karenga for a new African-American cultural holiday.