Kwanzaa Decorating with African Fabrics
Kwanzaa marks the special week-long traditional African celebration honoring the African heritage within the African American culture.
The celebration starts the day after Christmas and continues until January 1st, ending with a festive feast and exchanging of gifts.
Families and friends often choose this time to pay tribute to their African roots. Authentic, cultural recipes are served. African-inspired presents are given to represent love for one another. Beautiful, traditional African fabrics and decorations, reminiscent of those used by ancestors long ago, set the stage for an annual honoring of our heritage.
Need some ideas for do-it-yourself Kwanzaa decorations that are fun, elegant and easy?
This year, we’re bringing you simple Kwanzaa home fashion ideas that are so lovely you’ll want to let them linger long after the season ends.
Covered in Holiday Spirit
Want to wow your visitors with creative, jaw-dropping home decor that also serves as a reminder of the history of your strong, resilient, and bold African lineage?
Make it a family affair. Even the youngest family members can help with these easy home projects.
You can use the time spent preparing your home to share the meaningful holiday’s history with your children or grandchildren. It’s a tradition that keeps the spirit of Kwanzaa alive, something that they can pass on to their kids someday.
One of the easiest and versatile ways to bring the spirit of Kwanzaa into your home is to use African fabrics to cover pieces that are already there.
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Let Your Light Shine
Measure and cut enough fabric to cover a lampshade. Then attach the fabric with hot glue on the inner ridges and the seam where the fabric meets. You can also use Velcro on this and the other fabric coverings to make it easy to change the look throughout the year.
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Pillow Talk
Share the story of your African heritage by making pillow covers to use on decorative toss pillows placed throughout your home. Just follow any basic pattern and match it to the size of your pillow. Cut the fabric and sew together the edges.
Voila! You have beautiful custom home decorations, which can be used all year long.
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Sitting Pretty
Using a chair slipcover pattern, create slipcovers for your dining chairs. Guests will admire the unique designs. When you’re finished with dinner, throw the covers in the wash for easy cleaning.
Instructions for a Traditional Kente Cloth Centerpiece
Don’t leave out the traditional Kwanzaa centerpiece. It’s been a staple of the cultural celebration throughout history and is an opportunity to educate everyone who joins you around your table this holiday season.
Here are the instructions for a simple Kwanzaa centerpiece:
- A mkeka (straw mat) is laid on the center of the table and covered by a piece of Kente cloth.
- The kinara (candleholder), which holds the mishumaa saba’ (seven candles) candles, is put on top of the cloth in the middle of the table and each candle is lit one by one during each day of Kwanzaa.
- The kinara is used to hold the candles, which commonly include the following colors: black (representing the people), red (representing their struggl) and green (representing hope).
- Mazao (crops) and the kikombe cha Umoja (the unity cup) are put on the cloth to be filled with Tambiko (libation) and used to serve the guests.
- Muhindi (ears of corn) are placed on the Kwanzaa table as part of the centerpiece display to represent the children in attendance
The centerpiece is part of the traditional decorations that continue to be used by families today and widely recognized as symbolizing this special time of celebration.
Setting the table for Kwanzaa is an annual activity that families, including even young children, enjoy doing together to welcome the days of festivities that follow.
Order Your Kwaanza Fabrics
Need to order fabrics to decorate your home?
We carry a full collection of authentic African fabrics that you won’t find at your local retailer.
You can find all the unique fabrics you’ll need for your holiday home décor. Place your order online to get started on your projects right away!
AKN Fabrics is recognized worldwide for selling the highest quality African fabrics and textiles at low prices. With new designs arriving daily, we always have a great selection of African fabrics and textiles to choose from.