This year’s Kwanzaa Celebration promises to be the best yet! The Village Project and our community partners will present their 14th annual Kwanzaa celebrations throughout San Francisco and Oakland, with seven days of community events, starting on Dec. 26th through January 1st. Striving to unite and strengthen our family, community and nation, we will celebrate each of the seven principles of Kwanzaa (the Nguzo Saba). There will be 17 free events in 9 different neighborhoods of San Francisco. On December 30th, our 18th celebration will be held for the first time in the city of Oakland at Geoffrey’s Inner Circle, where Tia Carroll will entertain with her soulful voice. We are also excited to have Bethel AME Church, Fellowship Manor Senior Center and St. Phillip Baptist Church hosting events this year. Each hosting organization will present exciting and enriching cultural programs, intended to both entertain and engage the entire family. A spiritual ceremony - pouring of libations and honoring of ancestors- will start each program and will be followed by a feast, live entertainment and the lighting of one of the seven candles of the Kinara. This year’s celebration will again start at City Hall on Dec. 26th at 12 Noon, with Umoja (Unity) and end at St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church on Jan. 1st at 6 pm with the lighting of the final candle, Imani (faith).
This year’s entertainment line-up includes Briana J’s Dance Troupe and The Village Project Kids performing at City Hall, with Dr. Dorothy Tsuruta as keynote speaker. The other headliners are a myriad of rhythm & blues and jazz performers, featuring Tia Carroll, Lady Bianca, David Hardiman & Band, Funkstar and African Guitarist Jessie Sahbi, just to name a few. There will also be spoken word artists and drumming, all followed by a feast of savory delights. Vendors, along with art, drumming and dance workshops will be available for both adults and children.
ALL EVENTS ARE FREE & OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY
Kwanzaa, 2019-2020 Schedule
UMOJA (unity): To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race Thursday, Dec. 26th: 12 Noon – City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton Goodlett Way, Rotunda; 2 pm Museum Of The African Diaspora, 685 Mission Street @ 3rd; 7 pm, Westbay Conference Center, 1290 Fillmore @ Eddy
*KUJICHAGULIA (self-determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves. Friday, Dec. 27th: 1:00 Western Addition Family Resource Center/Hamilton Rec, 1900 Geary @ Steiner: 4:00 pm, OMI Family Resource Center/Minnie & Lovie Rec, 650 Capitol Ave; 6 pm, Bayview YMCA/Rafiki Wellness Coalition, 1601 Lane
*UJIMA (collective work and responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and solve them together. Saturday, Dec. 28th: 1 pm – Boys & Girls Club, 380 Fulton @ Gough; 3 pm -Booker T Community Center, 800 Presidio @ Sutter; 6:00 pm - African Arts & Culture Complex, 762 Fulton @ Webster
*UJAMAA (cooperative economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.Sunday Dec 29th: 10 am – Bethel AME Church, 916 Laguna St @ Golden Gate; 1 pm - Sf Main Library, 100 Larkins; 4 pm Third Baptist Church, 1399 McAlister @ Pierce; 7 pm: St. Phillip Baptist Church, 745 Velasco Ave
*NIA (purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. Monday, Dec. 30th: 1 pm – Dr. George Davis Senior Center, 1753 Carroll Ave – 3 pm: Fellowship Manor Senior Center, 1208 Golden Gate @ Webster; 6 pm – The Success Center/Geoffrey’s Inner Circle, 410 14th Street, Oakland, CA
*KUUMBA (creativity): 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. Tuesday, Dec. 31st: 1:00 PM: Western Addition Senior Center/MoMagic, 1390 Turk @ Fillmore
*IMANI (faith): To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. Wednesday, Jan. 1st: 6 pm - St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church, 2097 Turk @ Lyons
