Habari gani? Those who know the meaning of the Swahili question (“What’s the news?”) probably know that the proper response is “Kujichagulia,” or self-determination, the second principle of Kwanzaa. Thousands of Blacks across America observed the first day and principle of the annual holiday on Friday, celebrating “Umoja” or “unity.” Created by professor Maulana Karenga in the 1960s, Kwanzaa is observed from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1 with public and private candle-lighting ceremonies, African-inspired performances and ancestral tributes. A citywide celebration is underway in Pittsburgh, while communities from coast to coast hold Kwanzaa observances in homes, schools and museums. While churches have adapted Kwanzaa in recent years, the holiday is non-religious in nature and promotes the values that reflect success and progress in Black America’s history. Kwanzaa was inspired by an African celebration of first fruits at harvest time

Taraji Henson gets a supporting actress nod. Actress Targaji Henson received a Golden Globe nomination for her role of Queenie in Christmas-release film “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” Henson is in contention for Best Supporting Actress honors against Penélope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona); Viola Davis (Doubt); Vera Farmiga (Nothing But the Truth); Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler) and Kate Winslet. She is the only African-American actress up for a Golden globe. The film, which stars Brad Pit, got an impressive eight nods, tying Milk for bragging rights as the Globe’s most nominated movie.

A new film highlights Kwanzaa’s appeal. Celebrating Kwanzaa has become a tradition for people around the world in the 42 years since it was created by a Los Angeles professor, and a new film highlights it’s universal appeal. Customs vary from family to family, with participants finding their own way to honor the principles of Kwanzaa, such as unity and faith, but that diversity is highlighted in a new film about the holiday called “The Black Candle.” In it, everyone – from rapper Chuck D to writer Maya Angelou and Baltimore school children – gives his take on what Kwanzaa means. Kwanzaa is celebrated between Dec. 26 and Dec. 31 and was founded in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, a professor of Africana studies at Cal State Long Beach, to pay tribute to African and African-American culture. The writer and director of the 71-minute film, 26-year-old M.K. Asante Jr., told The San Francisco Chronicle that he got the idea for the film while attending graduate school at UCLA. He said he lives by the motto, “If you make an observation, you have an obligation.” The film follows Kwanzaa from its early days in the Black Power Movement to its place now as a holiday celebrated around the world. The film airs in San Francisco this Saturday.