The Hayti Heritage Center will “Celebrate Kwanzaa” on Saturday and Sunday, December 26 & 27 nightly at 7:30 pm in the historic St. Joseph’s Performance Hall, 804 Old Fayetteville Street, Durham. Doors open at 6:30 pm where a variety of vendors have been invited to display and sell their cultural offerings to the community. At 7:30 renowned chorographer, founder and artistic director of the African American Dance Ensemble, Baba Chuck Davis will light the Kinara, while providing words off wisdom and explanation of the Kwanzaa principals UMOJA- Unity and KUJICHAGULIA- Self Determination. The event is free and open to the public.

The two day celebration is a focus on movement featuring The Magic of African Rhythm, on the 26th and Collage Dance Company, under the director of Sadia Shukar and Toni K. Hall, Hayti’s dance company- in-residence on the 27th.

The Magic of African Rhythm’s (The Shabu Family) unforgettable performances display the vibrancy of Africa’s many rhythms. “Dundun! Sangban!, Kenkeni!” Audiences chant the names of newly learned drums making music on and off the stage. Meaningful stories are told in both authentic song and original dance choreography. In the midst of the drama, skilled dancers appear to fly, leaving onlookers in an awe of swirling raffia skirts and headdresses. Drums, dance, costumes, song and story carry audiences across the colorful spectrum of the entire continent. Acclaimed for our unique ability to communicate and engage multitudes of ages, races, and abilities, audiences join us onstage in jubilant celebration.

Collage Dance Company is a group of young dancers and musicians working together to explore African and African American dance and music traditions. Members ranging in ages from 9 – 20, represent youth from across the Triangle including Cary, Raleigh, Garner, and Durham. Company members serve as role models of self-determination and unity for other African American youth today in our community. Beyond performance, the company is also known for the unique learning environment it provides its members. Former dancers describe it as a cross between a finishing school and a nurturing, extended family–a place where “you see girls transforming before your eyes into vibrant, confident, assertive young people.

On January 1st, 2010 the community will join the African American Dance Ensemble and Chuck Davis for the culminating program at the Durham Armory, downtown for KWANZAAFEST 2010. Doors open at 12 noon until 6pm. This event is free and open to the public.

Kwanzaa is an African American holiday celebrated from December 26 through January 1. It is based on the agricultural celebration of Africa called “the first fruits” celebrations, which celebrate the times of harvest, gathering, reverence, commemoration of the past, recommitment to cultural ideals and celebration of the good.

Kwanzaa was created out of the philosophy of Kawaida, which is a cultural nationalist philosophy that argues that the key challenge in black peoples’ lives is the challenge of culture, and that what Africans must do is to discover and bring forth the best of their culture, both ancient and current, and use it as a foundation to bring into being models of human excellence and possibilities to enrich and expand our lives.

It was created in the midst of our struggles of liberation in the 1960’s and was part of our organization US” efforts to create, recreate and circulate African culture as an aid to building community, enriching black consciousness, and reaffirming the value of culture grounding for life and struggle.

Kwanzaa is celebrated by millions of people of African descent through out the world African community. As a cultural holiday, Africans practice it from all religions, traditions, all classes, all ages and generations, and all political persuasions on the common ground of their African ness in all its historical and cultural diversity and unity.
To find out more about KwanzaaFest contact AADE at (919) 560-2729 or HHC at (919) 683-1709. You can also visit our web site at http://africanamericandance.org.

A musical play by Langston Hughes
Wendell Tabb Productions & Xavier Cason’s Throne Life Media
December 18-20 at Hillside High School
Featuring The Dynamic Gospel Artist, REGINALD BONEY & SUSTAINED
TICKETS $20 ON SALE NOW!

One of the most beloved events for you and your family to attend during the Christmas season is a presentation of Black Nativity by Langston Hughes. Hughes called it a “gospel song play.” You’ll find a production of this musical performed in churches, theaters, on college campuses, and more in almost every major U.S. city and other regions. It is a joyful retelling of St. Luke’s story of the birth of Christ by way of gospel music, dance, poetry, and narrative.

Black Nativity was first produced on New York City’s Broadway on December 11, 1961. The original name for this play was Wasn’t It a Mighty Day? You might also find it interesting that original cast members like Alvin Ailey and Carmen de Lavallade quit the production before opening day because they objected to the use of the word “black” in the title. The rationale at the time was that this word might be too divisive for a Broadway production aimed at keeping things harmonious with all audiences.

Ultimately, black in the title did not matter. This liberating and energetic musical opened to rave reviews. When the New York production ended, Black Nativity toured Europe. It was very well received in 1962 at the Spoleto Festival in Italy.

Keep in mind that Langston Hughes—besides being a poet, journalist, memoir writer, novelist, and short story writer—also wrote more than twenty plays and other musicals. Tambourines to Glory, Mulatto, Emperor of Haiti, Simply Heavenly and Jericho-Jim Crow are a few of the stage works by Hughes, a writer very interested in the African-American oral tradition. His political plays included Scottsboro Limited, Harvest, Angelo Herndon Jones, and De Organizer. He also wrote Mule Bone with Zora Neale Hurston.

Many of the contemporary productions of Black Nativity have tweaked the original musical to reflect today’s cultural interests. Attending a presentation of Black Nativity could add to the joy of this season and create an annual holiday tradition for your family.
For tickets call (919) 683-1709 ext. 21, drop by Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville Street, Durham, or visit www.hayti.org.

Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise Universal Access: Human Rights

In September 2000, at the United Nations Millennium Summit, world leaders agreed to a set of measurable goals for combating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental, degradation and discrimination against women. These are the Millennium Development Goals.

One of these goals is to stop the spread of AIDS around the world by 2015.
Our leaders made this promise. It is now up to them and us to keep it.

At this moment-

• 33 million people around the world are living with HIV
• 1.1 million People in the U.S. are living with HIV
• Every 9-½ minutes another American is infected with HIV
• 23,363 people in N.C. are living with HIV/AIDS
• 1,344 people in Durham are living with HIV/AIDS
• 20% of them don’t know their status
• Half of them are under the age of 25
• Early Diagnosis and treatment means people with HIV can live healthy, active lives

On Tuesday, December 1, 2009 WORLD AID DAY DURHAM will be observed at the Hayti Heritage Center at 6:30 PM- 8:30 PM. The theme: Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise Universal Access: Human Rights. The public is invited to attend.

Food, Entertainment, Testimonials and more. Please bring a can food item to donate to the food bank. For more information contact: Randy Rogers 560-7675.

The program is sponsored by the WAD committee with support from the Durham County Health Department and many others. Program Partners include Alliance of AIDS Services-Carolina (AAS-C), Caare Inc., NC Dept. of Public Instruction, Duke Center for Community Research, Duke Center for AIDS Research (Duke CFAR), Duke University AIDS Research and Treatment Center (DART), Durham County Health Department Durham County Plain Talk Program, Project StraighTalk, Project STAND), Durham Faith Community on HIV/AIDS, El Centro Hispano, Jóvenes Lideres en Acción, Lincoln Community Health Center (Early Intervention Clinic), LinCS2 Durham, North Carolina Central University (Project SAFE, Student Health and Counseling Services, Dept of Public Education, Partnership for a Healthy Durham, Piedmont HIV Health Care Consortium, Planned Parenthood of Central NC, Research Triangle Institute (RTI), UNC Center for AIDS Research (UNC CFAR), UNC AIDS Clinical Trial Unit (ISIS Project) .

Youth Acknowledgments
Drucilarettes, The EDGE, Girl Scout Troop 496, Gleaners M.E., JA Carter, Joven A Joven, Teens Against Consuming Tobacco (TACT), Teen Voices.

Special Acknowledgements
City and County Leaders, Cynthia Rogers, Dr. Sharon Elliot-Bynum PhD and Caare Inc., Duke CFAR, Emmanuel AME Church Youth Choir, Galen Rosser, Gary Wein, Hayti Heritage Center, Jamie Patterson, Lady Lyk Dance Team, Lynda Bell NPH, Nay Ung, Rev. Frederick Davis (1st Calvary Baptist Church), Savory Fare, V. Dianne Pledger, UNC CFAR, WAD Committee, Washington Duke Inn, Pharmaceuticals—Abbott Laboratories., Bristol- Myers Squibb Inc, Gilead Inc, GlaxoSmithKline, and Tibotec Therapeutics.

On October 30, 2002 legendary DJ Jam Master Jay is gunned down in his New York studio. Security tapes of the incident mysteriously disappear, witnesses aren’t coming forward, and no one is talking…until now. 2 TURNTABLES AND A MICROPHONE documents the investigation of the still unsolved murder of Jason Mizell, aka Jam Master Jay, RUN DMC’s groundbreaking DJ and producer. Exclusive interviews with rap icons such as Method Man, Jay-Z, Russell Simmons, 50-cent, LL Cool J, and others give insight to Jay’s life off of the stage – including information that could finally help police solve the murder that shook the world of hip-hop to its core.

Directed by Guy Logan and produced by Stephon “Phonz” Watford and Lemel Humes, 2 TURNTABLES AND A MICROPHONE not only exposes the details surrounding the life and subsequent death of Jam Master Jay, but through riveting interviews with some of hip-hop’s greatest, takes a look at the history and evolution of hip-hop as we know it today.

The screening of 2 TURNTABLES AND A MICROPHONE, the Life and Death of Jam Master Jay will take place on Friday, November 20th, at 7:30pm. The screening is part of the new Hayti Heritage Film Festival series “Friday Night at the Movies.” Following the film will be a panel discussion with Christopher “Play” Martin of the rap duo “Kid-N-Play” as well as DJ Special Gee.

Tickets are only $5 and are available at the Hayti Heritage Center box office or call (919) 683-4354. Advance ticket purchase suggested. Log onto www.hayti.org for more information.

North Carolina Jazz Ensemble Performs Annual Holiday Concert
The Joy of Music with Special Guest Vocalist Brandi Q. Hancock
December 13 in St. Joseph’s Performance Hall

Purchase Tickets Now

The North Carolina Jazz Ensemble performs THE JOY OF MUSIC, an annual holiday concert with special guest vocalist Brandi Q. Hancock Sunday, December 13, 2009 at 4:00 pm. A pre-concert reception will begin at 3:00 pm for ticket holders. They will be performance standard jazz arrangements and a selection of holiday classics.

The NCJE was founded in 1980 by Stanley Baird and Oliver Hodge. The seventeen piece group has traveled throughout the state of North Carolina performing at colleges, universities, cultural centers and at private event. Members of the organization are from Durham, Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Asheboro and Charlotte.

Brandi Q. Hancock is the lead vocalist for Mixed Water, a jazz/soul fusion band from Cary, NC where she is also a private vocal and theatre coach. She earned her Bachelors Degree in Music-Vocal Performance and Theatre- Directing from Shaw University in 2003. While attending Shaw University she was an active member of the University Choir, Gospel Choir as well as the lead vocalist for the Shaw University Jazz Ensemble I and Shaw Players. She appeared as the character of Alice in the TNT made for TV movie Freedom Song starring Danny Glover and Loretta Devine. Brandi is delighted to be joining the NC Jazz Ensemble for this evening performance.
The NC Jazz Ensemble is currently in residence at the Hayti Heritage Center. The concert is sponsored by the St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, Inc. The St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, Inc. (SJHF) founded in 1975, is an African American cultural and educational institution deeply rooted in the historic Hayti community of Durham, North Carolina. SJHF is dedicated to advancing cultural understanding through diverse programs that examine the experiences of Americans of African descent – locally, nationally and globally. The Foundation is committed to preserving, restoring and developing the Hayti Heritage Center, the former St. Joseph’s AME Church, a National Historic Landmark, as a cultural and economic anchor to the greater Durham community.

Tickets are on sale now for $10 general admission. They can be purchased on line at www.hayti.org or call (919) 683-1709 ext. 21; or at the Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville Street, Durham.