The winter festival of Kwanzaa was initiated in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, an African-American activist and scholar, but the earliest example in the OED is from 1971:

1971 Pittsburgh Courier 9 Jan. 24/2 African families very often celebrate Kwanza instead of the commercial Christmas of this country.

An apparent example dating from 1969 in the periodical Habari Barua  is currently being verified, but that still leaves a three-year gap. Can you help us fill it?

Posted by OED_Editor on 25 September 2012 8.36
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