Fifth Annual Kwanzaa Celebration 2010: Uniting to strengthen our families and communities

Kwanzaa celebrations in San Francisco are listed below; for a comprehensive listing of celebrations throughout the Bay Area, including Oakland, East Palo Alto and Berkeley, visit Bay Area Kwanzaa, a listing compiled by Reginald James of The Black Hour Radio Show


kwanzaa_logo, Fifth Annual Kwanzaa Celebration 2010: Uniting to strengthen our families and communities, Culture Currents San Francisco — The Village Project, in collaboration with other community organizations, presents its Fifth Kwanzaa Celebration 2010 for the city of San Francisco. The celebration is seven days of free events throughout the city to celebrate the seven principles (Nguzo Saba) of Kwanzaa. There will be plenty of food and live entertainment, featuring renowned blues and jazz vocalist Lady Mem’fis and blues legend Bobbie Spider Webb.

Created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966, Kwanzaa is celebrated annually by more than 30 million people worldwide over seven days, from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. The values of Kwanzaa, Nguzo Saba, are critical tools for addressing the issues facing the African American community.

Adrian Williams has revived the celebration of Kwanzaa throughout San Francisco by connecting traditionally African American communities for this celebration. She is the founder of The Village Project, a youth service organization focusing on education and cultural enrichment for youth and their families in the Western Addition.

The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa will be hosted at nine different venues throughout the city. Participating communities will present exciting and enriching cultural programs intended to both engage and entertain the entire family.

The community partners for these events include the YMCA, the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Develop.m.ent, Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, Comcast, Renaissance Parents of Success, West Bay Conference Center, Gussie’s Chicken and Waffles, WAFRC, OMI Family Resource Center, Marcus Books, African American Holistic Wellness Program, SF Black Film Festival, Planet Fillmore Communications, Minnie and Lovie Rec Center, Bayview Public Library, African American Arts and Culture Complex, The Jazz Heritage Center, Yoshi’s, Mo’Magic, The Musicians Project, Christine Harris, Malik Senefenu, Brotha Clint, Kwanza Morton, Mel Simmons and S.N.I.G.

Kwanzaa celebrations in San Francisco

Umoja (unity): to strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race. Sunday, Dec. 26, 6 p.m., West Bay Conference Center, 1290 Fillmore

Kujichagulia (self-determination): to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves. Monday, Dec. 27, 12 noon, City Hall, 1 Dr. Goodlett Way; 6 p.m., Gussies Chicken and Waffles, 1521 Eddy

Ujima (collective work and responsibility): to build and maintain our community together and make our sisters’ and brothers’ problems our problems and to solve them together. Tuesday, Dec. 28, 3 p.m., Bayview YMCA/Bayview Library, 1601 Lane St.

Ujamaa (cooperative economics): to build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses together. Wednesday, Dec 29, 1:00 p.m., Buchanan YMCA/WAFRC, 1530 Buchanan; 7 p.m., Minnie and Lovie Rec Center, 650 Capitol St.

Nia (purpose): to make our collective vocation the building of our community to restore our people to their traditional greatness. Thursday, Dec. 30, 6 p.m. program, African American Arts and Culture Complex, 762 Fulton

Kuumba (creativity): to do as much as we can to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. Friday, Dec. 31, 1 p.m., The Jazz Heritage Center’s Koret Lobby/Yoshi’s, 1330 Fillmore

Imani (faith): to believe with our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. Saturday, Jan. 1, 3 p.m., Marcus Books, 1712 Fillmore

All events are free and open to the public.

For more information, call Adrian Williams, executive director of The Village Project, at (415) 424-2980.