Pan-African Connection. Photo by Victoria Hernandez.
The Pan-African Connection Bookstore and Resource Center kicks off a Kwanzaa Celebration today.
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1 where families and communities come together to honor African heritage and culture, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. There are seven principles of Kwanzaa, which are represented through the lighting of a candle each day.
Today’s principle is umoja, meaning unity. At 1 p.m., the Kwanzaa Children’s Gift Making Workshop will host arts and crafts with Roots for Youth founder Renee Miche’al Jones. Later this evening, the official Kwanzaa Kick Off starts at 7 p.m. with presentations from St. Luke Community United Methodist Church, storytelling by Oba King Williams and words from speaker Joyce Smith Williams.
On Saturday, Dec. 27 the principle of the day is kujichagulia, meaning self-determination. Celebrations start with another Kwanzza Children’s Gift Marking Workshop at 1 p.m. followed by the Children & Family Celebration Night. The evening includes Kwanzaa celebrations, games, and cultural presentations with speaker Lasana Hotep and hosted by Oba King Williams.
Ujima, meaning collective work and responsibility, is the principle for Sunday, Dec.28. At 1 p.m. the Children’s Drum Circle will be joined by drum teacher Leo Hassan and an Arts & Crafts session will also be led by Katanga. Val, Sharon and Pearlie will lead a Line Dancing Class at 2 p.m. with a Community Drum Circle to follow at 3:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 29 will include another Children’s Drum Circle and Arts & Crafts session from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. To fit in with the day’s principle, ujamaa meaning cooperative economics, a Black Business Mixer will start at 6 p.m. for DFW business owners to mix and mingle.
For nia, the principle meaning purpose, the Dallas Homeschool Theater will perform the production The Birth of Hip Hop at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 30. Later that evening at 7 p.m. the teen panel discussion will dig into the building and development of community for “Purpose in Action: Teen Power, Community and The Future.”
The last day of activity will be Wednesday, Dec. 31 for kuumba, meaning creativity, through the Liberation Paint Party with artist Nommo Diop at 1 p.m. The bookstore and resource center will be closed for Thursday, Jan. 1. The final day of kwannza honors the principle imani which means faith.
The Pan-African Connection Bookstore and Resource Center is located at 4466 S. Marsalis Ave.
