Local Kwanzaa celebration set for Dec. 27

PALMDALE – You are invited to a day-long celebration this Sunday to commemorate the African-American cultural holiday Kwanzaa.

Titled “Embrace the Spirit,” the free community event is set for Sunday, Dec. 27, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at United Desert Charities, located at 2101 East Palmdale Blvd. View a flyer for this event here.

“The holiday, Kwanzaa, reflects the best of African thought and practice in its reaffirmation of the dignity of the human person in community and culture, the well-being of family and community, the integrity of the environment and our kinship with it, and the rich resource and meaning of a people’s culture,” stated organizer Waunette Cullors.

The local Kwanzaa celebration will feature African dancers, a drum circle, a fashion show, and reflections on the seven principles Kwanzaa, as told by several of the community’s young leaders and scholars.

Organizers will present The Village Awards, the annual awards for individuals who have displayed one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa in 2015.

The free event will also feature live music, a vendors marketplace, art activities, a children’s village, food and refreshments.

This year’s celebration will be hosted by Miss Black Antelope Valley and her court.

For more information, email AVpageant@gmail.com or call 661-422-6316 or 661-202-4484.

More on Kwanzaa

Established in 1966, Kwanzaa is a secular holiday that honors African heritage in African-American culture and celebrates family, community and traditional values. Kwanzaa is observed from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

During the week-long celebration, each day is dedicated to one of seven core principles – umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith).

Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first fruits of the harvest.”

Read more about the history and meaning of Kwanzaa here.

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