Join the African American Dance Ensemble on January 1, 2027, as we celebrate the principle of Imani, or Faith, during our 41st AADE Kwanzaa Fest. Doors will open to all at noon, with performances kicking off at 2:00 pm. This year's theme is Imani: Honoring Heritage, Embracing Culture, and Dancing with Unity. We are excited to return to the Historic Durham Armory and hope to see you there. Kwanzaa Fest is not only a vibrant marketplace for vendors but also a performing arts concert featuring dance, music, poetry, and much more.
If you are interested in becoming a vendor, performing, volunteering, or sponsoring the event, please click one of the links below for further details.
As always, in memory of Baba Chuck Davis, your donated canned goods and toiletries will be given to Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church's food ministry.
The African American Dance Ensemble proudly launched its first Kwanzaa Festival in Durham back in 1986. Kwanzaa Fest is celebrated every year on January 1st, honoring the principle of Imani, which translates to Faith. While the main venue has been the Durham Armory, we have also held celebrations at the Hayti Heritage Center and Walltown Par Recreation Center. In 2022, we were thrilled to host our inaugural Kwanzaa event in Raleigh, focusing on the principle of Ujima, which emphasizes collective work and responsibility. This event took place at C3 at the Venue.
Baba Chuck Davis was the emcee for Kwanzaa Fest each year until 2016, after which Pierce Freelon took over in 2017. Since 2018, founding member Venita Allen has been the host. In 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Venita and other AADE members adapted by hosting Kwanzaa Fest online.
Kwanzaa Fest provides a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our communities and the positive results of our collective efforts. It serves as a vibrant marketplace and an exhilarating performing arts concert, featuring dance, music, poetry, and a variety of other performances. Local artists and performance groups join forces with the African American Dance Ensemble for a heartfelt celebration filled with love, sharing, and the encouragement of entrepreneurship as we welcome the New Year.