LeShelle A. SmithKwanzaa Celebrations Nationwide
Photo Credit: Pexels
It was an encounter with the police in Los Angeles Police that led to the Watts Rebellion in 1965. For five days, the city raged with anger in the wake of uprisings and protests that had taken place in predominately Black communities across the country as a response to deliberate deplorable living conditions, the general treatment of Black people, and long-standing tension between police and residents.
Seeing these events unfolding, Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University saw that African Americans throughout the United States needed to come together as a community. After his research of African “first fruit” (harvest) celebrations, Karenga combined aspects of several different harvest celebrations, such as those of the Ashanti and those of the Zulu, to form the basis of Kwanzaa, derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahili.
Photo Credit: Dig Mag
The seven-day celebration begins on December 26 and culminates with an African feast, called Karamu, which is held on January 1. Kwanzaa celebrations often include African drums, music, dancing, storytelling, poetry reading, and gift-giving. Each day is a day to reflect on the Nguzo Saba (meaning seven principles in Swahili) and every evening, a child lights one of the candles on the Kinara (candleholder), then one of the seven principles is discussed.
In the years since the creation of Kwanzaa, communities, churches, libraries, universities, and municipalities have been hosting Kwanzaa events to commemorate the values of African culture reinforcing community among African-Americans. Looking for an event being held near you or streaming online? I have one event from each state listed below.
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Barbea Williams Performing Company, Inc. PRE-KWANZAA EVENT
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Raising Readers Storytime: Kwanzaa
Connecticut
Hartford Public Library and CT Humanities Present
Kwanzaa, A Celebration of Community, Family, and Culture
with Guest Storyteller Valerie Tutson
Delaware
A Joyous Kwanzaa 2021 with Kuumba and CCAC
Florida
Central Florida's Kwanzaa Celebration Day 1 Umoja - Unity
Georgia
The 25th Anniversary Kwanzaa Celebration ft. "Women Hold Up Half the Sky"
by Total Dance/Dancical Productions, Inc
Hawaii
African Americans on Maui (AAOMA)
TBA
Idaho
NAACP - Pocatello Branch
TBA
Illinois
College of Lake County's Kwanzaa Virtual Celebration with Dr. Maulana Keranga
"Practicing Kwanzaa & the Seven Principles: Ensuring the Well-Being of the World"
Indiana
Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration Powered By Victor
Iowa
African American Museum of Iowa
TBA
Kansas
Kansas City National Black United Front
Kentucky
The Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center
The Black Candle with MK Asante
Louisiana
New Orleans Kwanzaa Coaltion
TBA
Maine
Town of York Maine Parks and Recreation Department
Sweet Celebrations - Cookie Decorating
Maryland
Substantial Art & Music with Creative Suitland Arts Center
IT’S A KWANZAA CELEBRATION 2021
Massachusetts
OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center
Michigan
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Minnesota
Kwanzaa: The Culminating Celebration of Living the Principles
Mississippi
Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson
Missouri
Columbia Parks and Recreation | Armory Sports Complex
Montana
TBA
Nebraska
2 Year Anniversary and Kwanzaa Celebration!
Nevada
New Hampshire
TBA
New Jersey
The James Brown African American Reading Room at the Newark Public Library
Friends of JBAAR 5th Annual Kwanzaa Celebration
New Mexico
Las Cruces Museums | Branigan Cultural Center
New York
Rhythm N' Dance Kwanzaa Celebration 2021: The Legacy Continues!
North Carolina
Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture
Wednesday Night Live: Kwanzaa Celebration
North Dakota
TBA
Ohio
Oklahoma
Family Kwanzaa Workshop - Umoja/Unity: Collective Work & Responsibility
Oregon
Pennsylvania
African American Cultural Alliance of Lancaster Kwanzaa Village, Black Business Expo
Rhode Island
Kwanzaa Ball: The Enchanted Ball
South Carolina
2021 Vendors Kwanzaa in the Midlands: Umoja
South Dakota
TBA
Tennessee
Bradley Academy Museum and Cultural Center - Murfreesboro
Texas
Paul Laurence Dunbar Lancaster-Kiest Branch Library
3rd Annual Jerry Pinkney Day and Kwanzaa Celebration!
Utah
Discovery Gateway Children's Museum
Storybook Science: "Seven Candles for Kwanzaa"
Vermont
TBA
Virginia
Alexandria Black History Museum
Washington
Northwest African American Museum
West Virginia
TBA
Wisconsin
UWGB Student Engagement Center
Wyoming
TBA
*This list will be updated as events become available.
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