kujichagulia . kwanzaa playlist
Our Second Community Curated Playlist for Kwanzaa [Available on Youtube & Spotify]
Playlist No. 2: Kujichagulia – Centering Self-Determination in Sound
We're back with our second Kwanzaa Playlist, and this time we’re tuning into Kujichagulia, the second principle of Kwanzaa: Self-Determination.
Each month, we’re releasing a new playlist rooted in a different Kwanzaa principle, and these aren’t just any playlists, they’re community-created. Songs that speak to identity, power, legacy, and voice were lovingly submitted by community members who believe, like we do, that music can move both spirit and society. This playlist is a sonic love letter to the practice of naming ourselves, defining ourselves, and speaking for ourselves.
🎧 Listen Now:
Youtube:
Spotify:
But this project isn’t just about a monthly vibe. It’s about liberating Kwanzaa from the calendar, lifting it out of the confines of late December and early January and rooting it in our everyday lives. Kwanzaa is not just a holiday; it’s a philosophy. A rhythm. A year-long practice. And Kujichagulia — to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves — is a powerful reminder of the internal and communal work we’re always doing.
This playlist project is also part of the celebration and build-up to our forthcoming children’s picture book, Once Upon a Kwanzaa, co-authored by myself (Nyasha Williams) and Sidney Rose McCall, and beautifully illustrated by Sawyer Cloud to bring the seven principles to life for the next generation. Coming September 2025, the book is our way of storytelling through a Kwanzaa lens, centering values, culture, and empowerment in a way children can carry all year long.
✨ Stay tuned as we prepare for Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) next month.
Let's keep centering intention, rhythm, and community. Let’s make space for Kujichagulia…in sound, in self, and in story.
With heart,
Nyasha & Sidney
Preorder Once Upon a Kwanzaa
Link to Umoja Playlist (In case you missed the first one)