Heri za Kwanzaa! Happy Kwanzaa!

Don't miss community Kwanzaa at Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster Street tonight!

The celebration, led by Gilo Kwesi Cornell Logan, begins at 6 p.m. and will include West African drumming by SOUL Creations, spoken word, and dancing.

Experience the lighting of the Kinara, enjoy plenty of hands-on art activities for the entire family, food vendors, and much more.

Learn all about the origins of Kwanzaa, its symbols, and hear Dr. Logan recite the seven principles (Umoja, unity; Kujichagulia, self-determination; Ujima, collective work and responsibility; Ujamaa, cooperative economics; Nia, purpose; Kuumba, creativity; and Imani, faith) it celebrates.

Know before you go:

Kwanzaa is a week-long annual celebration to honor African heritage in African American culture. It's observed from December 26 to January 1, culminating in gift-giving and a feast. Kwanzaa has seven core principles (Nguzo Saba). It was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor and Chair of Africana Studies, California State University-Long Beach, and was first celebrated in 1966.

Greetings during Kwanzaa are in Swahili. Swahili is a Pan-African language and reflects African Americans' commitment to the whole of Africa and African culture rather than to a specific ethnic or national group or culture.

Check out DE's video recap from last year's event below.

Read Dr. Maulana Karenga's 2019 Kwanzaa message here.

Read about last year's event here.

And check out DE's video recap from last year.

Thanks to Tim Rhoze ans Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre for sponsoring this community sharing event!