PITTSFIELD — Kujichagulia.

The second of the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa (also known as Nguzo Saba), the Swahili word kujichagulia means “self-determination,” elucidated in Kwanzaa literature as “to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.”

Each day of Kwanzaa, celebrants light a candle for that day’s principle. When two candles burn, it’s time to “breathe meaning” into self-determination. The day before breathes meaning into umoja (unity). The candles to come cover ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith).

ROPE founder Shirley Edgerton sings with Community Gospel Choir at a Kwanzaa celebration Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church in Pittsfield.

Saturday marked Day 2 of Kwanzaa. The Pittsfield celebration hosted by the Women of Color Giving Circle, the Rites of Passage and Empowerment Program, or ROPE, and the Berkshire County chapter of the NAACP made kujichagulia the event’s centerpiece, surrounded by other Kwanzaa staples such as songs, dancing, African drumming and the communal sharing of foods inspired by the African diaspora.

A cultural rather than religious observation, Kwanzaa celebrates African American culture from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 annually. Created by activist Maulana Karenga from African harvest festival traditions, the event was first observed in 1966.

Attended by about 75 celebrants, Saturday evening’s festivities at Zion Lutheran Church also featured a vigorous panel discussion of self-determination, with panelists Sadiya Quetti-Goodson, Pittsfield school resource officer Izinna Lytle Degraffenried, Embrace and Empower founder Natale Monroe, Bigg Daddy's Philly Steak House executive chef and owner Xavier Jones and Dr. Nikki Payne, the CEO of Manifest Medical.

“I realized self-determination did not show up as one big moment,” said Payne, describing the role kujichagulia played in her cancer recovery. “It showed up in private decisions, hard truths and the willingness to re-abilify what cancer had tried to interrupt. … I refused to let cancer, fear or systems that were never built for people like me decide my story.”

The Youth Alive band perform at a Kwanzaa celebration Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church in Pittsfield.

Degraffenried recalled that her mother, who died when Degraffenried was only 18, had set her on her path to kujichagulia. “My mother taught me to go after my dreams, and that, even though she wasn’t there, that I could still achieve those dreams.” Her dream, to become a police officer, was achieved in 2018 when she became the first Black woman ever to serve in the Pittsfield Police Department.

Jones offered a kujichagulia case study in his own life story, beginning with his mother’s determination to rescue herself and her son from a life spent moving from homeless shelter to homeless shelter, followed by his own determination to educate himself, and culminating in his current standing as a successful restaurateur and chef — and his pledge that he’s not done yet.

The panel discussion was preceded by a series of performances, ushered along by master of ceremonies Dr. Jeannette Smith, vice president of student affairs at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Acts included several songs from gospel star, actress and Berkshires resident Wanda Houston; a performance by the young dancers of the Youth Alive step, dance and drum band; and songs sung by members of the Community Gospel Choir, including organizer and ROPE executive director Shirley Edgerton. ROPE program connects middle and high school female students of color with successful professional women of color for mentorship and other activities.

Uprising Dance Theatre founder Noel Staples-Freeman led an African drum and dance piece and then officiated the Kutoa Majina, a Kwanzaa ritual in which celebrants called out the names of their ancestors to be honored, and Staples-Freeman responded with acts of “libation,” an African tradition wherein water is poured into a cup as a blessing to family who have passed on.

“In ROPE, we try to teach our young adults to be self-determined,” Edgerton said following the panel discussion.

“Believe in yourself,” Edgerton said. “That’s our theme this year. Believe in yourself.”