December 26 marks start of weeklong Kwanzaa celebration

Event coordinator Leon Jackson said the objective of the celebration is to help African Americans reconnect with their African cultural and historical heritage and celebrate in unity their ancestral roots. It was the first day of Kwanzaa, and a dozen children gathered around to light the seven candles of the kinara, a candleholder, hearing what each flame represented.

The Ayida Wedo Drummers Society will host a Kwanzaa celebration December 26 from 3-6 p.m.at St. Anne’s Baptist Church on Arcadia Plantation.

What better way to bring people together than with a community-wide celebration. “That’s really what we dwell on and to try and get the children to realize everything hasn’t always been like it is now”.

The holiday was developed by Dr. Maulana Karenga and first observed in 1966.

In addition to unity, the other values celebrated during Kwanzaa are self determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

The free three-hour celebration is open to the public and will include music, historical presentations, guest speakers, fellowship, words of motherly wisdom, children’s activities and refreshments.

“Kwanzaa is the celebration of life”, said Benson.

“I have self-determination because I taught myself to ride a bike”, he said.

During dinner on the night of imani, she asks everyone at the table to speak about how their faith has played a part in the previous year.

“We try to talk about different things, how family used to be and how they are now”, Mrs. Erwin said.

The 14th annual Kwanzaa Heritage Festival and Block Parade will be held from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.in the street on Degnan Boulevard, near 43rd Street.