KAMALA HARRIS joined other prominent African-Americans to celebrate Kwanzaa, a week-long black-centred alternative to Christmas which began yesterday.

Seated beside husband Doug Emhoff, the Vice President recalled her childhood as family and neighbours welcomed-in the positive and spiritual celebration.

In a video on Twitter, she said: “Growing up Kwanzaa was always a special time. We came together with generations of friends and families and neighbours… and together we lit the candles of the kinara.

“And then the elders would talk about how Kwanzaa is a time to celebrate culture, community and family. And they, of course, taught us about the seven principles. My favourite principle was always the second Kujichagulia. Self-determination, the power to design your own life and determine your own future.”

Former President Barack Obama wrote on Twitter: “Michelle and I send our best wishes to families celebrating Kwanzaa this holiday season.

“Today begins a week-long celebration of African-American heritage and culture. As folks gather to light the Kinara, we hope you have a happy Kwanzaa.”

Kwanzaa messages were posted by many others including the family of Maya Angelou, Congresswomen Cori Bush and Ayanna Pressley, and President Joe Biden.

The Nguzo Saba, or Seven Principles, of Kwanzaa are:

• Umoja (to strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race);
• Kujichagulia (to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves);
• Ujima (to build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together);
• Ujamaa (to build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together);
• Nia (to make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness);
• Kuumba (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);
• Imani (to believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle).

Kwanzaa was started by Black Power activist Maulana Karenga in 1966 to honour African traditions and reject ‘white religion.’ He remains a controversial figure for some after his conviction in 1971 for assault and false imprisonment of women and a man. He maintains his innocence, claiming the charges were trumped-up and politically-motivated.

Most African-Americans celebrate Kwanzaa for the principles, which emphasise pride in self, and community, with Karenga himself largely ignored.