East Bay Kwanzaa Celebrations Begin Today & Ends January 1st!
December 26, 2009 by Jim Walberg · Leave a Comment
The celebration of Kwanzaa began today all over the Bay Area. Kwanzaa was created by M. Ron Karenga in 1966 as an African American celebration of their heritage with a focus of family values and our local communities. Kwanzaa means “first fruits of the harvest”.
The Bay Area Discovery Museum hosts its Annual Kwanzaa Celebration today from 10AM to 5PM. The admission is free. There are various art projects inspired by the African continent and a Kwanzaa altar in the Museum’s Entry Pavilion. Renowned jazz drummer E. W. Wainwright and his ensemble, The African Roots of Jazz will trace African-American musical forms, such as jazz, gospel, and spirituals, from their earliest beginnings in African cultures to today. The program features music, songs, theater, and audience participation. You will also enjoy the Black National Anthem and the South African National Anthem throughout the week’s celebrations.
There are seven days of celebrations with each day focused on a specific life principle. The seven principles are collectively referred to as the Nguzo Saba, and serve as guideposts for meditation and daily living. The greeting each day of Kwaanza is Habari Gani, and the reply is Habari Gani followed by the principle of the day.
- December 26th – Umoja – Unity
- December 27th – Kujichagulia – Self-Determination
- December 28th – Ujima – Collective Work & Responsibility
- December 29th – Ujamaa – Cooperative Economics
- December 30th – Nia – Purpose
- December 31 – Kuumba – Creativity
- January 1st – Imani – Faith
The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa will be hosted at seven different venues throughout the Bay Area. Communities will present cultural programs intended for the entire family. The various community partners of for these Kwanzaa events are: the Filllmore Center; the Buchanan YMCA; Mayor’s Office Of Neighborhood Services; Western Addition Family Resource Center; Marcus Bookstore; African American Holistic Wellness Program; Omi YMCA; Bayview YMCA; Kaiser Permanente; Fillmore Benefit District; Minnie and Lovie Recreation Center; Bayview Public Library; African American Art and Culture Complex; Jazz Heritage Center; Yoshi’s; Bayview YMCA; SNIG; Margaret Hayward Rec-Connect; Opportunity Impact; SF Safe; Kwanza Morton; and Malik Seneferu.
No matter where you are in the Bay Area there will be celebrations all week. There will be dinners each evening with family and friends who prepare traditional African dishes to share with all who come. Make sure you find a community of people with whom to celebrate this important traditional experience. The Kwanzaa principles are ones to integrate into all of our lives each day, not just the last week of December. Habari Gani!
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