Twitter corrects Kwanzaa emoji after complaints from users

by Brooke Seipel - 12/27/19 5:24 PM ET

Social media users raised concerns this week after Twitter temporarily used an inaccurate emoji for its Kwanzaa hashtag.

The initial emoji appeared to show the Kinara with an inaccurate number of candles, as well as inaccurate colors.

Wait. The #Kwanzaa is wrong.

There are seven principles.

— (@CharleneCac) December 26, 2019

The core principles of #Kwanzaa (Also yes the Twitter emoji is wrong)
1. Umoja: Unity
2. Kujichagulia: Self-determination
3. Ujima: Collective work and responsibility
4. Ujamaa: Cooperative economics
5. Nia: Purpose
6. Kuumba: Creativity
7. Imani: Faith

— Caesar August (@tobar_acosta) December 26, 2019

Kwanzaa began Dec. 26 and takes place over seven days. The traditional Kwanzaa candelabra is called the Kinara and includes seven candles. Each candle represents one of the seven principles that’s celebrated for the holiday, and each is placed in a symbolic color order to represent the Pan-African flag.

The initial emoji showed five candles, including one that is blue. The actual Kinara has three red candles on the left, a black candle in the center, and three green candles on the right side.

Following complaints, Twitter updated the emoji.{mosads}

In a statement to The Hill, Twitter said the emoji was “an error” and was quickly corrected with changes appearing globally within hours of the updated emoji being uploaded.

Twitter did correctly tweet about the principles on their accounts amid the emoji mixup.

#HappyKwanzaa

This is a time of honoring African Americans’ ancestral roots. Today (#Umoja) is all about striving for and maintaining unity in the family, community, nation and race.

Day 1 is followed by:

Kujichagulia
Ujima
Ujamaa
Nia
Kuumba
Imanipic.twitter.com/8skI0A2wD4

— Twitter Blackbirds (@Blackbirds) December 26, 2019

Today is the beginning of Kwanzaa! The first day is Umojia which means unity. Each day focuses on a different principle as each candle burns on the kinara:

Unity
Self-Determination
Collective Work and Responsibility
Cooperative Economics
Purpose
Creativity
Faith.#HappyKwanzaa pic.twitter.com/BiTIDSEaqK

— Twitter Together (@TwitterTogether) December 26, 2019