Many of our customers ask us what is Kwanzaa. So I have dedicated this blog to explain this beautiful African American Holiday and it’s principles. Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration held in the United States honoring African heritage and culture, marked by participants lighting a kinara (candle holder). It is observed from December 26 to January 1 each year, primarily in the United States.

Kwanzaa consists of seven days of celebration, featuring activities such as candle-lighting and pouring of libations, and culminating in a feast and gift giving. It was created by Ron Karenga and was first celebrated from December 26, 1966, to January 1, 1967.

Kwanzaa celebrates what its founder called “The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa,” or Nguzo Saba (originally Nguzu Saba – “The Seven Principles of Blackness”), which Karenga said “is a communitarian African philosophy” consisting of what Karenga called “the best of African thought and practice in constant exchange with the world.” These seven principles comprise Kawaida, a Swahili term for tradition and reason. Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the following principles, as follows:

1. Umoja (Unity) To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
3. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and to solve them together.
4. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.
5. Nia (Purpose) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
6. Kuumba (Creativity) 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.
7. Imani (Faith) To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. ** Wikipedia

We at Back To Africa carry a full line of Kwanzaa products as well as African handmade gifts. You can Click Here  to view our entire Kwanzaa Collection. Happy Holiday!

To All Of Our Valued Customers:

Back to Africa Imports, your supplier of top quality fragrance oils, will now offer a large variety of oils on sale. As a special promotion for you, our valued customer, Click Here to view the entire list below.

The special pricing of the “oils on sale” are as follows:

4 oz. –  Previously $10/Each – Now $8/Each!

8 oz. –  Previously $15/Each – Now $12/Each!

16 oz. – Previously $24/Each- Now $20/Each!

32 oz.  - Previously $44/Each- Now $38/Each!

If you would like to receive the discount on your order just type in OIL SALE in the comment section of the checkout screen.

Feel free to ask any customer service representative about any of our oils.  Our toll free number is 1-888-282-3563 or email us at info@back2africa.com. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity so take advantage of these tremendous discounts every week before you miss out!

I recently came across an interesting site named NothingButNets.com. This organization collects donations in order  to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. While the UN Foundation has been working with the UN to fight malaria for years, it was a column that Rick Reilly wrote about malaria in Sports Illustrated, challenging each of his readers to donate at least $10 for the purchase of an anti-malaria bed nets — and the incredible response from thousands of Americans across the country — that led to the creation of the Nothing But Nets campaign.

One of our best selling personal care products is Dudu Osun Bar Soap. It’s easy to see why so many people enjoy using this wonderful soap. Dudu-Osun Black Soap is commonly known as the finest African Black Soap available on the world market. It was specially formulated from all natural ingredients.  This soap will have you feeling rejuvenated and leaves your skin silky smooth. It restores damaged skin and is helpful in treating chronic eczema, acne, freckles and dark spots. It is scented with Osun (Camwood extract) citrus juices and native honey. Dudu Osun also contains Aloe Vera and natural vitamins.

You can view this soap on the Back To Africa web site by Clicking Here.

For all of you Twitter followers don’t forget to check us out! We recently set up our account and thanks to our loyal customers we have received a growing following.  You can Click Here to find us on Twitter.  

We also have a page on MySpace. Click Here so you can sign on as our friend.

African art is crafted by many different tribal groups expressing their own rich heritage. From the distinctive West African sculptures, Zulu power statues and then to the art influenced by religious affiliations, African art is truely expansive and impressive. In the last century we have seen a great appreciation for the splendor of African Art. It is known that renowned artists such as Picasso and Matisse received their inspiration for many of their most beautiful works of art from viewing African sculptures.  

I have long been amazed by the African carvers amazing skill and craftsmanship. It is most evident in their Masks carvings. Each masks is one of a kind and each carry much symbolic meaning.  The color patterns ways and unusual carvings across the mask are made with purpose and much cultural significance.  On my last trip to West Africa I met a group of carver and and saw their amazing ability first hand. Below you can view the picture of them making their works of art.  

We at Back To Africa carry a large collection of African Mask from all over the continent. You may Click Here to view our entire collection. Enjoy the beauty of Africa!

The African people have long been admired by for their beautiful and exotic jewelry. The expert African jewelry makers use many different components found in nature and carve out unique cultural pendants for necklaces or earings. Each piece usually has it’s own specific meaning and significance. For example the Egyptian Ankh has been used for centuries and signifies life after death.

Back to Africa has created a large collection of African jewelry. Within the collection there are jewelry sets, necklaces, earings, bracelets and chokers. Each is handmade by craftsmen and is checked before it is shipped. Our customers love our jewelry and constantly re order the same designs.

You can Click Here to view our entire Jewelry Collection or Click Here to view our Home Page.  

My Dad is one of the pioneers of importing high quality African Art in the United States. Many people have enjoyed the beauty and elegance of African Art becuase of his efforts. The story of how he became involved in buying African Art was so compelling that he was featured in the Sunday New York Times a few years ago.

You can Click here to download the article or Click here to view the development of my Dad’s vision which has become the Back to Africa website.

Back To Africa features one of the most extensive collections of soapstone carvings in the world. These decorative accessories are used by many people to furnish their homes. During the holiday season we receive many orders for soapstone carvings due to their great value & beauty.

Soapstone is a soft metamorphic rock mined in Kisii, Kenya. Expert carvers use specialized techniques passed down from generation to generation to create these unique figurines. They are all intricately hand carved and incised from one block to raw stone. Whether they are dyed or left in natural stone color, these pieces make for an impressive gift or decorative accessories. Most of the soapstone products are available in either natural or black.

You can click here view our our entire Soapstone Collection.

Did you hear?  Back To Africa is now on Facebook!

So you can become a fan and chat about your experiences with Back To Africa products.

We are so excited to be on Facebook!  Join the Back To Africa fan page at:

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Back-To-Africa-Imports/123698378651