Nguzo Saba
The Seven Principles
The Seven Principles, or Nguzo Saba, are "the best of African thought and practice in constant exchange with the world." These seven principles comprise Kawaida, (meaning "Common"). Learn more about each principle below.
Hover over each principle to learn more
UmojaUmoja
Unity
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
KujichaguliaKujichagulia
Self-Determination
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
UjimaUjima
Collective Work and Responsibility
To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems and to solve them together.
UjamaaUjamaa
Cooperative Economics
To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.
NiaNia
Purpose
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
KuumbaKuumba
Creativity
To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
ImaniImani
Faith
To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.