Community Kwanzaa Celebrations in the Sacramento

2011 marks the 45th Kwanzaa Anniversary. Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated from 26 December thru 1 January, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahili, a Pan-African language which is the most widely spoken African language.  Kwanzaa was established in 1966 in the midst of the Black Freedom Movement and thus reflects its concern for cultural groundedness in thought and practice, and the unity and self-determination associated with this. Finally, it is important to note Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday, not a religious one, thus available to and practiced by Africans of all religious faiths who come together based on the rich, ancient and varied common ground of their Africanness. For more info about Kwanzaa please visit: http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml. It is customary to bring a dish to share at the Kwanzaa celebration of events below. Download the .pdf of the Kwaanza Poster with a complete list of events through January 1, 2012 >>read more.

Mon-Dec 26: Kwanza Free Family Festival at the Crocker Art Museum, 216 O Street, Sacramento, CA from 12:00 pm to 4:00pm. Celebrated worldwide, Kwanza focuses on family, community, creativity, and the cultural traditions of the African Diaspora. At this museum-wide festival, the Crocker celebrates its collection of African art with music and dance performances, a unique studio art workshop, an arts and crafts marketplace, and more. Presented in collaboration with the Kuumba Collective Art Gallery and the Sojourner Truth Multicultural Art Museum. For more info visit: http://www.crockerartmuseum.org/programs-events/holiday-mondays/event/943-holiday-monday-kwanzaa-free-family-festival.

Mon-Dec 26: Kwanzaa Celebration: Umoja – First Day at Carol’s Books, 1913 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento,  CA 95815. Celebrate the first day of Kwanzaa with drumming, dancing, storytelling and a host of other activities. Wonderful gathering time for friends and family and the community. Free books for kids and adults. Please bring a dish to share for the potluck dinner. For more info please call (916) 205-3970.

Tues-Dec 27: 6-9pm: Umoja Productions presents annual Children’s Kwanzaa with Roberts Family Development Center, 770 Darina Ave · Sacramento, California · 95815. For more info. contact: Maia Morton at maiaafrica@comcast.net;

Wed-Dec 28: Wo’se Community will celebrate public Kwanzaa at 6:00 pm at Wo’se Community Church, 4311 Attawa Ave., Sacramento. For more info call (916) 476-6640

Wed Dec 28 Valley Hi Library at 4:00 pm, Kwanzaa Program “Once upon a Kwanzaa” – www.saclibrary.org

Fri-Dec 30: NIA- Join the Black United Fund of Sacramento Valley (BUFSV), the Brick house Art Gallery (BAG) and the Sacramento Area Black Caucus (SABC) from 6-9pm at the at the Brick house Art Gallery,2837 36th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817.  We are asking participants in this year’s Kwanzaa to bring a dish for the Karamu or feast, and bring NEW, UNWORN caps, neck scarves, and gloves for infants, children, women and men. On our MLK Day of service in January, we will assemble them into packets to be distributed to local homeless shelters. For more info call (916) 484-5025.

Sat-Dec 31: Celebrate Kwanza at Sojourner Truth Museum from 4pm to 7pm. For more info contact: 916-706-2838   email: ourworldculturalcenter@yahoo.com

Sat-Dec 31: Celebrate Kwanzaa with a Brunch at Kuumba Collective Black Art Group at 11:00 am.  For more info contact: Marshall Bailey at deanero2002@yahoo.com or call (916) 613-0099.

Sun-Jan 1: The Kwanzaa Celebration at the Center for Spiritual Awareness, 1275 Starboard Drive, West Sacramento, from  4-7pm. For more info contact: Rebecca Davis (916) 317-6042.

Kwanzaa Community Celebrations (below) at Our World Cultural Center
2251 Florin Road, Suite 20, Sacramento, CA  95822
916-706-2838   email: ourworldculturalcenter@yahoo.com
www.ourworldculturalcenter.com

Fenix Drum and Dance Company presents “Kwanzaa Events” – for more info visit: http://www.fenixdrumanddance.com or www.saclibrary.org

Source: Sacramento Area and Black Caucus andTalking Drum e-newsletter presented by Faye Kennedy – http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Talking-Drums-Newsletter/149912881711912

The Seven Principles (Nguzo Saba) of Kwanzaa are (source: http://www.holidays.net/kwanzaa/principles.htm)

1) Umoja (oo-MOH-jah): Unity

Success starts with Unity. Unity of family, community, nation and race.

2) Kujichagulia (koo-jee-chah-goo-LEE-ah): Self-Determination

To be responsible for ourselves. To create your own destiny.

3) Ujima (oo-JEE-mah): Collective work and responsibility

To build and maintain your community together. To work together to help one another within your community.

4) Ujamaa (oo-jah-MAH): Collective economics

To build, maintain, and support our own stores, establishments, and businesses.

5) Nia (NEE-ah): Purpose

To restore African American people to their traditional greatness. To be responsible to Those Who Came Before (our ancestors) and to Those Who Will Follow (our descendants).

6) Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah): Creativity

Using creativity and imagination to make your communities better than what you inherited.

7) Imani (ee-MAH-nee): Faith

Believing in our people, our families, our educators, our leaders, and the righteousness of the African American struggle.