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SF’s 2017 Kwanzaa Celebration

Seven days of free community events, concerts and feasts | Dec. 26 to Jan. 1
By - posted 12/25/2017 No Comment

The Village Project presents San Francisco’s 12th Annual Kwanzaa Celebration, with seven days of community events striving to unite and strengthen the family, community, and nation, by highlighting each of the seven principles of Kwanzaa (the Nguzo Saba).

2017 San Francisco Kwanzaa Celebration
December 26, 2017 through January 1, 2018
All Over San Francisco
FREE

There will be 16 free celebrations in 8 different neighborhoods with exciting and enriching cultural programs, intended to both entertain and engage the entire family.

A spiritual ceremony – pouring of libations and honoring of ancestors will start each program and will be followed by a feast, live entertainment and the lighting of one of the seven candles of the Kinara.

2017 Schedule

Tuesday, Dec. 26th: Umoja (unity): To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.

  • 12 Noon: SF City Hall,  1 Dr. Carlton Goodlett Way, Rotunda
    Keynote Speaker:  John Templeton
  • 2 pm: Museum of the African Diaspora (free museum admission), 665 Mission Street at 3rd
    The St. Gabriel’s BAND will perform at MOAD, bringing a New Orleans style processional to a carnival atmosphere, complementing MOAD’s current exhibits, “En Mas’: Carnival and Performance Art of the Caribbean” along with “Otra Mas’, a photography exhibition honoring the long legacy of Carnaval San Francisco and its 40th Anniversary.
  • 7 pm: African American Arts & Culture Complex, 762 Fulton Street at Webster
    Bernard Anderson will kick-off Umoja at the AAACC, 762 Fulton @ Webster. Join us for some west coast blues and enjoy a succulent feast. There will be spoken word, along with Les Bantus Sissa Kongo performing African dance & drumming.

Wednesday, Dec. 27th: Kujichagulia (self-determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.

  • 2 pm: Hamilton Rec Center/MoMagic, 1900 Geary @ Steiner – Les Bantus Sissa Kongo,DNA Dance Tribe, Briana Franklin and The Village Dancers will perform.
  • 6 pm: Bayview Y. 1601 Lane @ Revere – Spoken word, drumming and the lighting of the second candle of the kinara

Thursday, Dec. 28th: Ujima (collective work and responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and solve them together.

  • 1 pm: Western Addition Senior Center/Western Addition Family Resource Center, 1390 Turk @ Fillmore – The Final Touch Band
  • 4 pm: Glide Memorial Church, 330 Ellis – Lighting of the 3rd candle of the kinara
  • 7 pm: RSSE, 1099 Sunnydale Avenue – The Silver Fox & Band will entertain with some r hythm & blues

Friday, Dec 29th: Ujamaa (cooperative economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.

  • 4 pm: OMI Family Resource Center/Minnie & Lovie Rec Center, 650 Capitol @ Montana –  performance by Star Funk Band.
  • 6 pm: Success Center/Citizen Film, at the WestBay Conference Center, 1290 Fillmore @ Eddy – performance by Fillmore SLIM

Saturday, Dec. 30th: Nia (purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

  • 1 pm: Boys & Girls Club, 380 Fulton @ Gough – performance by the Talent All Stars
  • 3 pm:  Mr. “C” will DJ at the Protrero Hill Rec. Center, 801 Arkansas.  This Nia ceremony will be hosted by the Potrero Hill Family Resource Center.
  • 6 pm: Mr. “C” will also spin records at , Booker T. Washington Community Center, 800 Presidio @ Sutter,  with a performance by the Prescott Circus

Sunday, Dec. 31st: Kuumba (creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

  • 1 pm:Bitezo will perform at the San Francisco Main Library, Koret Theater, 100 Larkin Street.
  • 4 pm: Third Baptist Church, 1366 McAllister @ Pierce – Music and spoken word by the youth

Sunday, Jan. 1st: Imani (faith): To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

  • 6 pm: Tia Carroll will close this year’s celebration at St. Cyprian’s Church, 2097 Turk @ Lyon Street. We will light the last candle, Imani, (Faith). Dr. Dorothy Tsuruta, Chair of Africana Studies at San Francisco State, will again serve as MC.