Join us for the 40th Kwanzaa Festival, hosted by the African American Dance Ensemble, as we celebrate the values of family, community, and culture. Save the date for January 1st at the Historic Durham Armory (212 Foster Street, Durham, NC), where the doors will open at 11:00 am and performances will kick off at 2:00 pm.

Kwanzaa Fest is free and welcomes everyone, featuring health screenings, a Children's Village, tasty food, dancing, and a marketplace for vendors. Let’s unite to honor peace, love, and respect for all while upholding the traditions of African and African American dance and music.

In memory of Baba Chuck Davis, your contributions of canned goods and personal care items will be donated to a local non-profit.

We are currently looking for performers for our 40th Kwanzaa Fest, so if you or someone you know is interested in showcasing their talent, please contact us at aade.kwanzaafest@gmail.com

HABARI GANI? (What's the news?)

Kikombe cha Umoja - Unity cup

Kinara - Candleholder which represents the roots of the community and culture

Mazao - Fruits and vegetables representing crops

Mishumaa Saba - Seven Kwanzaa candles which represent the Nguzo Saba as they are lit

Mkeka - Straw mat represents the foundation of the culture and history of the people

Muhindi - Ears of corn to represent each child in the home and an additional ear for future blessings and generations

Zawadi - Gifts traditionally given on Imani, the last day of Kwanzaa

THE 7 KWANZAA SYMBOLS

THE NGUZO SABA (THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES)

Nguzo Saba is a set of ideals created to contribute to building and reinforcing community

UNITY: UMOJA (OO-MO-JAH) - To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
SELF-DETERMINATION: KUJICHAGULIA (KOO-GEE-CHA-GOO-LEE-YAH) - To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBLITY: UJIMA (OO-GEE-MAH) - To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.
COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS: UJAMA (OO-JAH-MAH) - To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
PURPOSE: NIA (NEE-YAH) - To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
CREATIVITY: KUUMBA (KOO-OOM-BAH) - To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
FAITH: IMANI (EE-MAH-NEE) - To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.