The profound message of Kwanzaa is based in values of family, community and culture for people of African descent around the world. Kwanzaa’s seven days – from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 – are based on unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

If you know someone celebrating Kwanzaa, here are a few gifts of beauty and heritage they will treasure:

The skills for making Viva Terra’s gorgeous leather-handled African grass market basket have been handed down through generations of families in Northern Ghana and are actually woven from strong African grasses. ($49, top). National Geographic’s Maasai Zulu-grass necklaces are fashioned from grasses of the Rift Valley and then beaded with Czech glass beads ($20, above left).

Kisi stone, or soapstone, is a soft stone mined by African fathers in Kenya who then carve it into bowls, boxes, statues and candleholders. Mothers and children then handpaint the items, like this Fair Trade soapstone keepsake box  with a zebra motif  at Wonders of the World ($49, above left).

Limoges Jewelry’s engraved tribal band is made of flat, blackened stainless steel with a satin finish. The bold design appears in gold-plated finish, and the band can be inscribed on the inside ($40, above center).  For her, consider a necklace and earrings fashioned from jasper, topaz and quartz by an artist in Tanzania (Wonders of the World, $98, above right).

We love the spirit of this abstract tribal pattern vase, from its earthy tones to the ethnic symbols and icons so carefully painted around the terra cotta clay (From Me to You Gifts, $30, above left).  This handcrafted ceramic bowl ($62, above right) was made in Tunisia, and features a handpainted white cosmos flower pattern on a cobalt blue background.

Bring a bit of South Africa into your home and help it thrive there. This baby jade bonsai tree is also known as the Elephant Bush, and is native there. The tree, at 5 to 6 years old, stands just 6” tall, but will bring a powerful heritage into your home (Bonsai Boy, $50, above).

If you’re unsure what to give, celebrate the love of family. Wonders of the World offers two sculptures that honor the couple: the stone circle of love, which is hand-sculpted of Rapoko stone ($159), and the bronze abstract couple, cast from a wax mold that emphasizes the unbroken bond of unity ($98).

Novica’s Always My Baby  is handcarved in Sese wood and is the perfect gift to honor a mother ($68, below left). The dancing family of three depicts mother, father and child in a dance of joy ($138, below center).  A family of four is the focus of Terry’s Village verdigris family sculpture ($10, below right) and the stone sculpture family of four ($138). Wonders of the World offers the joyous, unified family of five, crafted by Zimbabwe’s renowned stone artists from glistening local stone ($138).