SUNO plans Kwanzaa celebration
The program will feature authentic African-American cuisine, story-telling, poetry, singing, dancing, and drumming, with special performances by Bamboula 2000, Zion Trinity, and the full Kwanzaa candle lighting ceremony.
Kwanzaa is a seven-day cultural celebration during which one of the seven principles, or Nguzo Saba, is honored each day. The principles are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
Although Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday, SUNO's organizers want to bring the important message that it should be celebrated by everyone.
"One great thing about Kwanzaa is that it is a cultural tradition that reflects the best of African thought and practice in reaffirming the dignity of the human person in community and culture," said Romanus Ejiaga, director of the Center for African and African American Studies. "Because of this, we sincerely hope that people from all cultures in our entire community will come and celebrate. This is really a time for all of us to share with each other the values of family, community, culture, and our relationship with the environment. It's a magnificent event and a happy occasion."
The Kwanzaa holiday falls from December 26 through January 1. SUNO will be on its holiday break, so the campus community will have an early celebration. The event is sponsored by SUNO's Lyceum Committee and Title III. For more information, call (504) 286-5006.