DURHAM — Kwanzaa, the African-American holiday that celebrates family, community and culture, begins Saturday and continues through Jan. 1. In Durham, the annual holiday will be observed in two free, public events — at Hayti Heritage Center and at the Holton Career and Resource Center.
Hayti’s celebration begins Saturday at 7:30 p.m., when Chuck Davis, founder of the African American Dance Ensemble, will light the Kinara (or candle holder) and explain the seven principles of Kwanzaa (see attached box for more explanation). The Magic of African Rhythm, a Raleigh-based percussion performance and education group, will perform Saturday. Led by the Shabu family, this group performs and demonstrates African rhythms using drums, stringed instruments, as well as stories and dance. At Hayti, visitors will join the group in participatory chants.
The Collage Dance Company — Hayti’s dance company in residence, made up of dancers ages 9-20 from throughout the Triangle — will perform traditional dances Sunday, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Then on Jan. 1, the African American Dance Ensemble will lead the final day of Kwanzaa with a program from noon to 6 p.m. at the downtown Durham Armory.
Durham Parks and Recreation, Holton Career and Resource Center and W. D. Hill Recreation will present a separate Kwanzaa celebration Sunday from noon until 6 p.m. This celebration will be held at the Holton center at 401 N. Driver St. It will include a panel discussion on healthy eating. Panelists will be Melanie Wilkerson of Greenspace Initiative, Tim Gwyn of the Beloved Community Center in Greensboro, and a representative from the Interfaith Food Shuttle. Yikes!, an organization that encourages reducing waste and recycling, will conduct a workshop as well. (For a schedule, see sidebar.)
Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, who is a professor of African-American Studies at California State University in Long Beach, according to the Official Kwanzaa Web site. The name Kwanzaa is taken from “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first fruits” in Swahili, a Pan-African language which is the most widely spoken African language, according to the site.
The holiday’s traditions are linked to first fruits harvest celebrations of Africa. Several symbols are important to the celebration, among them mazao, or crops, symbolic of productive labor; mkeka or mat, symbolizing tradition and history; and muhindi or corn, symbolic of children and the future.
Mishumaa Saba, or the Seven Candles, represent the seven Kwanzaa principles, which participants are supposed to reflect upon each day during Kwanzaa.
More information: www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org
WHAT: Kwanzaa celebration
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: St. Joseph’s Performance Hall at Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville St.
ADMISSION: Free
ALSO: The Magic of African Rhythm will perform Saturday. Collage Dance Company will perform Sunday. The African American Dance Ensemble will lead the culminating program Jan. 1 at downtown Durham Armory, from noon until 6 p.m. Admission is free.
