Bay Area Kwanzaa: December 2009

Laney College Pre-Kwanzaa (2009)

On December 5, the Laney College African American Studies Department and Black Student Union hosted a Kwanzaa celebration. The program, organized by Prof. Tamika Brown, honored retired Professor Dr. Carole Ward Allen.

Laney College Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration

Photos by Aaron Lowe for TheBlackHour.com, courtesy of the Laney Tower.

Umoja celebration in East Oakland (2009)

On December 26, the Wo'se Community of Amen-Ra hosted the first night of Kwanzaa at the East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC).

Photos by Reginald James for TheBlackHour.com.

2009 BAY AREA KWANZAA EVENTS

The purpose of this site is to give the community a single-source of information about Kwanzaa celebrations in the Bay Area.

You can find information about [upcoming Kwanzaa events] throughout the Bay Area, including Oakland, East Palo Alto, San Francisco and Berkeley. Additionally, we've provided basic information about Kwanzaa, its history, principles, symbols and practices. We also have links to other Kwanzaa sites featuring Kwanzaa history, children's activities and resources.

Come back to see Bay Area Kwanzaa photos.

This Bay Area Kwanzaa site was created by The Black Hour Radio Show as a community informational resource. If you have additions to this list, email us.

VIDEOS

About Kwanzaa

KwanzaaVideo outlining the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa, the Nguzo Saba.

Kwanzaa Song

Kwanzaa Song by Kev Choice

UMOJA

Umoja hosted by IleOmede 2008

East Bay: Bay Area Kwanzaa Events

2009 Kwanzaa events taking place in the East Bay.

Saturday, December 26, 2009
UMOJA (Unity)
6-8 p.m.
East Oakland Youth Development Center
8900 International Blvd
Oakland
Sunday, December 27, 2009
KUJICHAGULIA (Self-Determination)
4-6 p.m.
East Bay Church of Religious Science
4130 Telegraph Ave
Monday, December 28, 2009
UJIMA (Collective work and responsibility)Monday Soul
Air Lounge
492 9th Street
Oakland
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
UJAMAA (Cooperative Economics)
TBA
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
NIA (Purpose)
Wo'se Community: House of Amen Ra
8924 Holly St
Oakland
Thursday, December 31, 2009
KUUMBA (Creativity)
8 p.m.
Eastside Arts Alliance
2277 International Blvd
Oakland
Friday, January 1, 2009
FAITH (Imani)
To be celebrated at home with family and loved ones

NGUZO SABA: The Seven Principles

NGUZO SABA
(The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa)
Kwanzaa has seven principles that corresponde with the seven days of the celebration. Each day represents a value that must celebrated year round.

Umoja (Unity)
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.

Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.

Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.

Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.

Nia (Purpose)
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

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.

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.

Source: Official Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa at Bay Area Discovery Museum

Kwanzaa at Bay Area Discovery Museum
Photo: Flickr user Bay Area Discover Museum

Annual Kwanzaa Celebration
Saturday, December 26
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Bay Area Discovery Museum
Free Museum admission and performances!

The African Roots of Jazz
11 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Discovery Theatre

Celebrate Kwanzaa at the Bay Area Discovery Museum on Dec. 26 from 10am-5 p.m. This Bay Area Kwanzaa celebration features with art projects inspired by the African continent and a Kwanzaa altar in the museum’s Entry Pavilion.

Renowned jazz drummer E.W. Wainwright and his ensemble, the African Roots of Jazz, take us on a musical journey that traces African-American musical forms, such as jazz, gospel and spirituals, from their earliest beginnings in African cultures to today. The program features instrumental music, songs, theater and audience participation.

Free museum admission and performances at Fort Baker, 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito, (415) 339-3900, reservations@badm.org. More info at BADM.

Oakland: Umoja at EOYDC

In the spirit of Umoja, Wo'se Community is hosting a Kwanzaa celebration at the East Oakland Youth Development Center on Saturday, December 26, 2009 from 6-8 p.m.

This event kicks off the Bay Area Kwanzaa Committee's 2009 celebration.

Oakland: Ujima at Monday Soul at Air Lounge

This special edition of Monday Soul is an "Ujima" celebration, and an Oscar Grant family fundraiser. The event features singer and song-writer Malika Ubaka -- from Making the Band.

Monday Soul is a weekly networking party held at the Air Lounge in Oakland. Monday Soul is hosted by Mr. JE and Jareem. Free cover all night.

For more information, visit Monday Soul on Myspace. The Air Lounge is located at 492 9th Street in Oakland.

Concord celebrates Kwanzaa

Black Families Association of Contra Costa County’s Family, Community and Culture Kwanzaa 2009 will be celebrated Tuesday, December 29 from 6-9 p.m. at the Concord Senior Center.

Discover the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa and how they apply to oneself and one’s family’s everyday lives. All ages and ethnic groups are welcome.

The evening’s program will include entertainment and refreshments. Come and learn more about what Kwanzaa is all about.

The Concord Senior Center is located at 2727 Parkside Circle, Concord. For more info, call (925) 229-2710 or visit Black Families Association of Contra Costa County.

-- Brief courtesy of Wanda's Picks