The United States Postal Service is honoring Kwanzaa this year, by issuing this beautiful Forever stamp during the Moja Arts Festival.  The USPS has celebrated Kwanzaa in previous years starting with a commemorative stamp first designed in 1997; they continued the tradition with six more uniquely designed stamps issued from 2004 until 2013.  Although other Kwanzaa stamps have been issued, this commemorative Forever stamp will always be equal in value to what we traditionally know as the First-Class Mail one-ounce mailing price.

The 2016 stamp is bright, colorful and features a woman holding a bowl of fruits and veggies, which symbolizes the abundance of African first harvest celebrations.  The name Kwanzaa means “first fruit of the harvest”, or more traditionally, “first fruit”.

The artist of the 2016 Kwanzaa Forever stamp is Synthia Saint James, a self-taught artist who has worked with many commercial brands such as Coco-Cola, Essence Magazine, and Barnes and Noble, among others. She also created the original art for the cover of the book, “Waiting to Exhale” by Terry McMillan.  Find out more about Synthia Saint James HERE.

December 26, 2016 marks the 50th anniversary for Kwanzaa and what better way to celebrate the Forever stamp, than right here in Charleston, SC.  Kwazaa’s popularity has grown across the globe and is celebrated world-wide as a way to bring awareness of African family, traditions, culture and community.  The Moja Arts Festival, a celebration of African-American and Caribbean Arts, sets the perfect stage to commemorate the Kwanzaa Forever stamp. The ceremony for the Forever Stamp will take place October 1, 2016 in Charleston, SC at Marion Square (329 Meeting Street – Downtown Charleston/Historic District).  Find out more details at www.mojafestival.com/home/