16th Annual African-American Festival of 'First Fruits' at City Colleges of Chicago
Malcolm X College hosts 2010 Kwanzaa Observance -- December 26th -- January 1st
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (RELEASE) -- Malcolm X College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago, will host the 16th
Annual Kwanzaa Observance from Sunday, December 26, 2010 to Saturday, January 1, 2011 at 1900 West Van Buren. The week-long event, produced in collaboration with the Bolozi- Wazee/Shule Ya Watoto (Council of Elders), is the largest seven-day celebration of Kwanzaa held at an institution of higher learning in the nation. Free and open to the public, the 2010 Kwanzaa Observance will feature live entertainment, cultural activities and an African Marketplace.
Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, but a cultural one based on various elements of the first harvest celebrations widely celebrated in Africa. Founded by African-American activist Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa is an opportunity for African-American families to incorporate elements of their cultural heritage into holiday observances and celebrations during the Christmas season.
Malcolm X College doors will open at 10:00 am daily for guests to visit the African Marketplace to learn and purchase traditional clothing, food and beauty items. Each day of the week-long observance begins with the drum call performed by a trio of drummers. They parade through the building to lead guests to the auditorium for the dedication of the Kwanzaa principle of the day and the lighting of the kinara, the traditional candle holder, followed by cultural entertainment.
Malcolm X College
One of the City Colleges of Chicago
The 2010 Kwanzaa Observance calendar is the following:
Sunday, December 26th - Umoja (Unity) --program begins at 2pm; followed by cultural lineup:
Najwa Dance Corps; Melvia "Chick" Rodgers; Bill McFarland & the Chicago Horns
Monday, December 27th -- Kujichagulia (Self-determination) -- programs begins at Noon; followed by cultural lineup: Julia Huff; Drea THE Poet; Ayodele Dance and Drum Ensemble
Tuesday, December 28th -- Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) -- program begins at Noon; followed by cultural lineup: Alyo's Children's Dance Theatre; Walter King, Jr "Spellbinder"; Kwame Steve Cobb and Chavunduka
Wednesday, December 29th -- Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) -- program begins at Noon; followed by cultural lineup: Darrell Wilson "Sax Preacher"; Armen Rah; Joan Collaso
Thursday, December 30th -- Nia (Purpose) -- program begins at Noon; followed by cultural lineup: Fred Baker's West Indies Folk Dance Company; Kaotic Drumline; Corey Wilkes Quartet
Friday, December 31st -- Kuumba (Creativity) -- Program begins at Noon; followed by cultural lineup: Kelan Phil Cohran; Prince Ravanna Bey/Kerry Willis and the "Thunder Sky Drummers"; Maggie Brown
Saturday, January 1st -- Imani (Faith) -- Program begins at Noon; followed by cultural lineup: Ugochi Nwaogwugwu; M.A.D.D. Rhythms; Ari Brown Quartet; Minianka African Dance and Drum Ensemble
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (December 15, 2010) -- Malcolm X College, in partnership with the Bolozi Wazee/Shule Ya Watoto (Council of Elders) are hosting the 16th Annual Kwanzaa Observance, December 26, 2010 to January 1, 2011, the largest seven-day celebration of Kwanzaa held at an institution of higher learning in the country. The week-long event is free and open to the public and features live entertainment, cultural activities and an African Market; including the debut of the Karnak Pavilion (a program geared to educate, empower, and enlighten the public through workshops and forums; the Pavilion will afford the public to review past speaker video presentations in a seating area located in the Cultural Center prior to performance time).
Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, but a cultural one based on various elements of the first harvest celebrations widely celebrated in Africa. Founded by Maulana Karenga, an African-American activist, Kwanzaa is an opportunity for African-American families to incorporate elements of their cultural heritage into holiday observances and celebrations during the Christmas season.
Malcolm X College opens its doors at 10:00 am daily for guests to visit the African Marketplace to learn and shop for traditional clothing, food and beauty items. Each day of the week-long observance, the program is opened by the drum call, a trio of drummers that parade through the building to the auditorium for the dedication of the Kwanzaa principle of the day and the lighting of the kinara, the traditional candle holder, followed by cultural entertainment.
First come, first seated.
About Malcolm X College (release)
For 40 years, Malcolm X College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago, empowers students of diverse backgrounds and abilities to achieve academic, career and personal success. Best known as the leading health science institution, Malcolm X College is at the forefront of meeting the post-secondary education needs of the urban community. For more information about Malcolm X College programs, visit our website, www.malcolmx.ccc.edu or call 312-850-7000.
