Bet You Didn't Know: Celebrities Who Celebrate Kwanzaa

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What are you doing the day after Christmas? If you’re like these celebrities who celebrate Kwanzaa, you’ll be lighting the kinara and celebrating in style!

Holly Robinson Peete

The Peete family celebrates Kwanzaa every year — and posts adorable photos of the celebration on Instagram.

Holly says that she loves the holiday:

“My kids learn more about their culture & heritage during these 7 days than they do all year at school! I just really like celebrating Kwanzaa-Kids get connected, a nice ritual , principles solid-honoring ancestors SO important, but every year for 10 yrs w/out fail hubby asks ‘Now what is Kwanzaa again?’”

Malcolm Lee

The director of The Best Man Holiday — one of America’s favorite Christmas movies — actually celebrates Kwanzaa with his family.

Nia Long

Nia Long is actually named after one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa Nia which means “purpose.”

Stevie Wonder

Kwanzaa enthusiast and new dad Stevie Wonder also named his new daughter Nia after the principles of the holiday.

Morris Chestnut

Morris Chestnut says he doesn’t celebrate Kwanzaa these days but he wouldn’t be opposed to starring in the movie. He told interviewers, “I’ll talk to Malcolm Lee and maybe we’ll do The Best Man Kwanzaa for the third movie.”

Sanaa Lathan

Sanaa Lathan says that the Lathan household celebrated Kwanzaa along with Christmas when she was a child to help instill the values of love and family.

Bill Clinton

In 1997, President Bill Clinton set a precedent by encouraging all Americans to celebrate Kwanzaa in his presidential holiday message.

Savion Glover

This Kwanzaa, renowned tap dancer and Tony Award-winning choreographer Savion Glover will be celebrating at the American Museum of Natural History’s 36th annual Kwanzaa celebration with a specially choreographed dance routine.

Maya Angelou

In the documentary Kwanzaa: The Black Candle, Maya Angelous said that she celebrates Kwanzaa because “It is a time when we gather in the spirit of family and community, to celebrate life, love, unity, and hope.”

Chuck D

Activist, author and rapper Chuck D has been an enthusiastic celebrator of Kwanzaa since his Public Enemy days when he promoted the idea of Kwanzaa with their lyrics to encourage more people to celebrate.

Dead Prez

Stic-Man, one-half of conscious hip hop legends Dead Prez says that he first learned about Kwanzaa from hip hop music.

Jamie Foxx

Last year, Jamie Foxx sent his social media followers the message “Happy Kwanza” with this photo of himself looking dapper in a dashiki.

Tyrese

Not everyone loves it when you get into the Kwanzaa spirit. People are still making fun of Tyrese for this Blue’s Clues Kwanzaa episode he did back in 1999.