Free Kwanzaa Bingo Cards

How to play Kwanzaa bingo

• Print one card per player and one call sheet for whoever is calling.
• Give each player markers such as dried beans, buttons, or small counters.
• The caller reads words in random order and crosses them off the sheet.
• The first player to complete a row, column, or diagonal calls bingo and wins.
• For a longer game, play four corners, a plus sign, or full blackout.

Learning the Seven Principles

Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 to celebrate African heritage and the Nguzo Saba, or Seven Principles, one of which is honored on each of the holiday's seven days. This word list includes each principle by its Swahili name and English meaning, from Umoja (unity) to Imani (faith), making the game a natural way to review them before or after a candlelighting ceremony.

Pair the game with a short discussion of each principle as it comes up, especially for classroom or youth group settings.

Make it your own

Families can highlight the symbols they display each year, such as the kinara, mkeka, and unity cup, or add the names of relatives who lead each night's reflection. Teachers can adjust the vocabulary level or emphasize the principles most relevant to a lesson plan.

Printing tips

Print on plain paper for a single session, or use cardstock with page protectors and dry-erase markers to reuse the same set across all seven nights of Kwanzaa.