In “Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture” Maulana Karenga (the creator of Kwanzaa) describes collective work and responsibility (Ujima) as “a commitment to active and informed togetherness on matters of common interest”.

Karenga also identifies several other key factors that facilitate the principle and practice of collective work and responsibility.

Karenga also says that ujima (collective work and responsibility) is based on the assumption that “what one does to benefit others is at the same time a benefit to him/her”.

And finally, the principle and practice of collective work and responsibility is facilitated and maintained through “genuine and non-coerced agreement among people”, says Karenga.

Reference:  “Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture”, by Maulana Karenga,   University of Sankore Press, Los Angeles, California.