8. Kwanzaa: A Regeneration Celebration hosted by the Apollo Theatre
In honor of Kwanzaa, the Apollo Theater will host Kwanzaa: A Regeneration Celebration, an online celebration of music, percussion, and modern and African dance. Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African American culture that was created by Maulana Karenga in 1966 following the violence of the Watts Riots in Los Angeles. The holiday is based on African harvest festival traditions from across the continent, whose name derives from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first fruits.” In Southern Africa, first fruits festivals are held annually in December and January with the southern solstice. An additional ‘a’ was added to Kwanzaa so that it would have a symbolic seven letters, representing the holiday’s seven principles. These principles include umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity), and imani (faith).
Kwanzaa: A Regeneration Celebration will be hosted by Imhotep Gary Byrd and will feature a performance from the Forces of Nature Dance Theatre under the leadership of Abdel Salaam. The event will take place starting at 7 p.m. on December 26th, the first day of Kwanzaa festivities this year. In addition, the celebration can be viewed on-demand through January 3, 2022. Tickets for the event are pay what you wish, but the suggested donation is $10.
