The Black Candle is a landmark, vibrant documentary that uses Kwanzaa as a vehicle to explore and celebrate the African-American experience.

Narrated by world renowned poet Maya Angelou and directed by award-winning author and filmmaker M.K. Asante, Jr., The Black Candle is an extraordinary, inspirational story about the struggle and triumph of African-American family, community, and culture.

Filmed across the United States, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean, The Black Candle is a timely illumination on why the seven principles of Kwanzaa (unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith) are so important to African-Americans today.

The first feature film on Kwanzaa, The Black Candle traces the holiday's growth out of the Black Power Movement in the 1960s to its present-day reality as a global, pan-African holiday embraced by over 40 million celebrants.

With vivid cinematography and an all star cast that features the best and brightest from the hip-hop and the civil rights generations, The Black Candle is more than a film about a holiday: it's a celebration of a people!


Kwanzaa is an African-American cultural holiday celebrated annually from December 26th to January 1st.

The first Kwanzaa was celebrated in 1966. Today, Kwanzaa is a global, pan-African holiday embraced by over 40 million celebrants.

The seven principles of Kwanzaa are:
- Umoja (Unity)
- Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
- Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
- Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
- Nia (Purpose)
- Kuumba (Creativity)
- Imani (Faith)

Celebrate your heritage with The Black Candle, the definitive film on Kwanzaa and the African-American experience. Help spread the movement:

- Organize screenings of The Black Candle at your university, school, cultural center, museum, or other cultural institution

- Bring the director of The Black Candle, acclaimed author/filmmaker M.K. Asante, Jr., to your screening for a discussion and Q+A

- Organize screenings of The Black Candle in your home

- Utilize The Black Candle in the classroom

- Program screenings all year round, especially during Kwanzaa and Black History Month