Raleigh virtual Kwanzaa celebration set for New Year's Day

Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts and the African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County have teamed up for Raleigh's First Annual Kwanzaa Celebration. The celebration will be filmed in the Meymandi Concert Hall and will air Jan. 1.

Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African American culture that is held from
Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the following principles; Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), Imani (faith).

"We're proud to co-present Raleigh's First Annual Kwanzaa Celebration alongside the African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County," said Michelle Bradley, Duke Energy Center's interim assistant general manager. "Honoring African American heritage is so important, and we're honored to be apart of this cultural celebration."

The virtual celebration will include a moving Kwanzaa ceremony as well as a special dance tribute to the late Baba Chuck Davis, founder of the African American Dance Ensemble from Durham. The tribute will honor what would have been Davis' 84th birthday on Jan. 1.

The celebration will also feature performances from Jaki Shelton Green, the first African American and third woman to be appointed as the North Carolina poet laureate, and other entertainment.

Pam Thompson Smith, executive director of the African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County, said she believes that, despite everything, the spirit of the season is strong.

"During these unprecedented times, we remain committed to uplifting and bringing our community together by curating opportunities to promote, preserve and celebrate African American culture and heritage, Smith said."

For more information visit, www.dukeenergycenterraleigh.com and www.aacfestival.org.