St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, Inc. and African American Dance Ensemble presents Celebrate Kwanzaa 2009 on December 26 – January 1, 2009.
“The Only 7 Day Public Celebration in the Triangle”
Candle lighting nightly at 7:30 pm (*except January 1st);
Doors open at 6:30 with a variety of vendors in the African Market Place.
Jan 1 doors open at 12 noon; program begins at 1pm. All events FREE to the public.
Honoring Our Legacy
Friday, Dec. 26 – UMOJA- Unity
Baba Chuck Davis, Brother Charles Wsir Johnson and Friends
Appreciating the Uniqueness of Our African Heritage
Saturday, Dec. 27 - KUJICHAGULIA- Self Determination
Baba Chuck Davis, The Magic of African Rhythm and Friends
Treasured Reflections
Sunday, Dec. 28 - UJIMA- Collective Work & Responsibility
Baba Chuck Davis, 100 Men in Black Chorus
Our African Heritage Revealed
Monday, Dec. 29 - UJAMAA- Cooperative Economics
Baba Chuck Davis, Bradley Simmons and Elements of Percussion
Cultural Connections: Oldies but Goodies (Jr./Sr. Moments)
Tuesday, Dec. 30 – NIA- Purpose
Baba Chuck Davis, WG Pearson Honors Harp Ensemble and The Dream Team Harp Ensemble, and Queen Esther.
Unto Thee: All Praises!!
Wednesday, Dec. 31 – KUUMBA-Creativity
Poet Mick, Praise Dancers: Scarborough Dance Images, Untouchables- Mt. Zion Christian Fellowship,
Yes We Can!!
Thursday, January 1 – IMANI- Faith
Baba Chuck Davis and EZIBU MUNYU Dance Company
23rd Annual KwanzaaFest 2009
Presented by the African American Dance Ensemble
Special North Carolina premier of ‘The Black Candle” at 1 pm directed by award winning filmmaker MK Asante, Jr.
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 or www.hayti.org.
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.
* Maulana Karenga
“Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture”
