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THURSDAY, January 2, 2020
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C
Volume 46, Number 17
Triad Cultural Arts continues
Kwanzaa tradition
Submitted photo provided by Triad Cultural Arts
The seven principles of Kwanzaa are celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 each year.
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
Like
Christmas
mayor’s
the Jaycees
Parade, the
annual holi
day concert series, or
the Christmas tree light
ing ceremony, the an
nual Kwanzaa celebration
hosted by Triad Cultural
Arts has become a holiday
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tradition here in Winston-
Salem.
Celebrated each year
from Dec. 26 - Jan. 1,
Kwanzaa, which means
“first fruits of harvest”
in the African language
Kiswahili, is an African
American celebration that
focuses on the traditional
African values of family,
community responsibil
ity, commerce, and self-
improvement. Each day of
Kwanzaa is represented by
a principle or theme that
serves as the focus for the
celebration that day.
Every year for nearly
a decade, Triad Cultural
Arts, a nonprofit, com
munity-based multi-dis
ciplinary cultural arts or
ganization, has partnered
with various businesses
and organizations to host a
Z
different event each night
of Kwanzaa. This year
the celebration began at
the Winston-Salem Urban
League, where Dr. Shawn
Ricks gave a presenta
tion centered on Umoja or
unity.
On day two, City
Councilmember and rep
resentative for the East
Ward Annette Scippio
talked about Kujichagulia
or self-determination at
the Delta Fine Arts Center.
Day three was headlined
by the theme Ujima (col
lective work and responsi
bility) and Nadiyah Quan-
der, who serves as project
manager for the Thomas
S. Kenan Institute for the
Arts at UNC School of the
Arts.
On Sunday, Dec. 29,
the theme was Ujamaa
or Cooperative Econom
ics. The keynote address
was delivered by Gerry
McCants, state chair
of NAACP Economic
Development. The next
day a Kwanzaa luncheon
was held at Union Bap
tist Church, where school
board member Barbara
Burke discussed Nia or
purpose.
Local youth took
center stage on Tuesday,
Dec. 31, when the theme
was Kuumba or creativ
ity. The event, held at the
Forsyth County Central
Library, featured a Youth
Arts Showcase and guest
speakers Chef J’Avia and
JCB, two sisters who own
and operate their own
businesses.
The Kwanzaa celebra
tion wrapped up at the
annual Emancipation Ser
vice held at New Bethel
Church, where Dr. Ken
dall Jones is the pastor.
The theme of the day was
Imani or faith.
Throughout the week
several individuals were
recognized for their contri
butions to uplift the com
munity. Honorees were;
the late Brother Hashim
Saleh, Malishai Wood
bury, Annette Scippio,
Happy Hill Community
Residents, Gloria Hair
ston, Twin City Chapter-
A&T Alumni Association,
Bishop Sir Walter Mack,
the late Dr. Carlton Evers-
ley, and several others.
Although the Kwan
zaa celebration doesn’t
get the publicity of the
Christmas parade or other
holiday events in the city,
it’s clear that it is a tradi
tion here in the Twin City.
While enjoying the festivi
ties on Saturday, Dec. 28,
Janet Lindsay, a longtime
Winston-Salem resident,
said she looks forward to
the Kwanzaa celebration
every year.
“I can’t remember the
last time I missed it. It re
ally has become a tradition
for me and my family,”
Lindsay said. “It’s a great
opportunity to come to
gether and celebrate what
it means to be black and
it seems to get bigger and
better every year.”
For a complete list of
speakers and those who
were honored during the
week-long Kwanzaa cel
ebration, visit www.traid-
culmralarts.org and click
on the “Kwanzaa” tab.
^LSO^
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