Happy Kwanzaa! As we begin to celebrate Kwanzaa each day we want to highlight the importance of the 7 core principles of Kwanzaa. Yesterday, we celebrated Umoja, or unity, which is about striving for and maintaining unity in the family, the community, the nation and people.
The World Beat Cultural Center in Balboa Park kicked off its 37th Annual Kwanzaa event December 26, celebrating the music of Stevie Wonder in a colorful presentation of a StevieWonderland Play and musical, led by Diva Works. The program included high powered vocalists, lively dance performances, a reading of Stevie Wonders biography and an adorable children’s fashion show. At the close of the performance, the dancers led the audience in a soul train line.
This year World Beat Cultural Center, under the executive direction of Makeda Makossa will celebrate 4 of the 7 days of Kwanzaa.
December 27th, Kujichagulia: Keynote Speaker: Robert Tambuzi and African Dance
December 28th, Ujimaa: Keynote Speaker: Dr. Carolle, “Heal Your Life”
December 29th, Ujamaa: “Recycling Our Black Dollars” by Alyce Cooper and Starla Lewis.
Each day will also feature Ceremonial candle lighting and libation with Drum Call, Poetry reading by Johnnierenee Nia Nelson, Karamu – the traditional feast (vegetarian African American soul food), Kwanzaa Celebration Exhibit, (FREE).
Kwanzaa a week-long tradition, was founded by Dr. Maulana Karenga celebrates 51 years this year.
Each of the seven principles of Kwanzaa is dedicated to the following:
• Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
• Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves.
• Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and to solve them together.
• Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
• Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
• Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
• Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Sounds like a very exciting lineup. Looking forward to some exciting and interesting material!⚘