Kwanzaa Founder Dr. Maulana Karenga will be the guest speaker at the 12^th annual Kwanzaa celebration to be held on Thursday, December 28th from 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM at the Herb Young Community Center, 404 North Academy Street, Cary, NC. Currently a professor and Chair of the Department of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, and Dr. Karenga is the author of several books and scholarly articles including Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture. Dr. Karenga will address the celebrants at 1:00 PM.

The theme of this year’s free, daylong celebration is "NGUZO SABA: THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF BRINGING GOOD INTO THE WORLD". Activities are aimed at the entire family, featuring a children’s village, ethnic foods, and a global marketplace. Kwanzaa is a community cultural celebration that highlights African-American heritage and family through seven values - unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

This year’s celebration features The Healing Force, Djembe Fire and Collage offering African traditional dance, Freddy Green Jazz Ensemble, Fruits of Labor Singing Group, a special tribute to Ms Margaret Rose Murray and her late Husband Kenneth Murray Muhammad and guest speaker Dr. Maulana Karenga, The Creator of Kwanzaa.

Other activities include cultural cuisine and vendors, plus Children's Village with hands-on arts and crafts.

Schedule of Activities

11:00am - 11:45am Healing Force

11:50am - 12:30pm Djembe Fire

12:30pm - 12:55pm Welcome - Karyn Thomas

                  Libation, Candlelighting, and Proclamation – Lester Thomas

1:00pm - 1:55pm Featured Speaker - D. Maulana Karenga

2:00pm - 2:45pm Freddie Green Jazz Ensemble

2:45pm - 3:00pm The Futuristics Poetry Team

3:00pm - 3:45pm Collage Dance Ensemble

3:50pm - 4:00pm Ujima Group Board Introduction Ceremony

4:00pm - 4:45pm Fruits of Labor Singing Group

4:45pm - 5:00pm Harambee Circle and Closing Prayer

For More information contact.  Lester Thomas at 919 380-7020 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it