Each year Malcolm X College in Chicago holds the nation’s largest Kwanzaa celebration. The event consists of seven days of celebration of each of the Nguzo Saba or the seven principles of Kwanzaa, including entertainment, an authentic African village marketplace, a food court, and a variety of Afrocentric educational and recreational activities.
This year’s theme is a tribute to positive youth leadership. Rolling out has been a past honoree and received the Cultural Excellence Award for cooperative economics, which is one of the celebration’s seven principles.
Each day of the celebration, an opening ceremony and drum call features a processional of elders led by the queen mothers, and elders acquaint the audience with the principles and values of Kwanzaa.
The events and activities are all free and open to the public and runs through Jan. 1, the last day of Kwanzaa.
Unity, Self-determination, Collective Work & Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity and Faith
–bernard williams
For more on the seven principles of Kwanzaa, log on to www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org.
Nguzo Saba – The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa
Umoja – Unity
Kujichagulia – Self-determination
Ujima – Collective Work and Responsibility
Ujamaa – Cooperative Economics
Nia – Purpose
Kuumba – Creativity
Imani – Faith
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