Kwanzaa begins today as the Black Cultural Initiative prepares for the community celebration

EUGENE, Ore. – Each year, millions of people across the United States ring in the New Year with Kwanzaa, the annual celebration of African American family, community and culture that begins December 26th and ends January 1st.

The Black Cultural Initiative brings its celebration to Eugene on the fourth day of the holiday, focusing on Black-owned businesses with the seven principles of Kwanzaa leading the way.

The Black Cultural Initiative’s Ujamaa African Market will take place on Sunday, December 29, the fourth day of Kwanzaa.

It is a day based on the principle of Ujamaa – collective economy.

“It is widely open to the public. We hope family and friends, as well as the entire community, will come out and support Black-owned businesses. We’re going to have a story time with Dr. Johnny Lake reading stories – his own. “So it’s going to be a really great time to come here, shop, get good food and celebrate community together,” said Talicia Brown, executive director of the Black Cultural Initiative

Kwanzaa was founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga has its roots in the civil rights movement and the courage that emerged from that movement to protect the future of the most vulnerable.

“When Kwanzaa was first established, seven children were the focus of the ceremony. So the real foundation is the institutionalization in the next generation that we are human beings and will be treated – in the United States of America as human beings,” said Kokayi Nosakhere, organic intellectual and Ujamaa African Market ceremony leader.

The holiday celebrates the roots of African Americans while emphasizing the importance of nurturing the next generation and equipping them with community sustaining principles.

Nosakhere says that through these Kwanzaa principles, a generational baton is passed down, with each day of the holiday representing a different principal.

The principle of the first day is umoja, which means unity in Swahili, followed by kujichagulia for self-determination, ujima for collective work, ujamaa, nia for purpose, kuumba for creativity and imani for faith.

“Seven principles that bind individuals, families, businesses and communities together for collective recovery. It’s really nice to celebrate these principles. It’s wonderful to come together and it’s really wonderful to see these kids really being inspired by the magic of Kwanzaa,” Braun said.

Brown welcomes the idea of ​​collective community upliftment through Ujamaa and says Sunday’s event will take place at the Farmer’s Market Pavilion at 85 E 8th Ave. will bring out the best in all things Black-owned.

The market begins with the African Marketplace, where guests can shop from Black-owned vendors, from event planning and real estate to financial management and Kenyan crafts.

Kwanzaa Stories for Children will be held from 4:30 to 5 p.m., along with a book giveaway.

There will also be foods from the African diaspora, including Bold Flavor’s Haitian foods.

The Ujamaa African Market is open until 7 p.m

An estimated three percent of Americans celebrate Kwanzaa each year, decorating it with the African colors of black, red and green.

The symbol of the holiday is the seven-candle candlestick, which represents one of the seven principles of the holiday.

The candles are placed in the order of three red, one black and three green.