Sunday will mark the 10th annual Kwanzaa celebration hosted by Heritage Towers.
But unlike previous years, a different venue will house the event.
The seven-day, African-American holiday begins on Dec. 26, but this year's celebration will be held Dec. 27 at 4 p.m. in the Gallery Room at the West Virginia State University Capitol Center at 123 Summers St.
The holiday is for "people of African descent to remember their values," said Katonya Hart, who's helping coordinate the event. But all are welcome to attend, she said.
"The purpose is to celebrate family and community, and also to get away from the commercialization of Christmas," Hart said.
The holiday was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, as a way to bring African-Americans together as a community.
This year's event was almost canceled when leaking water caused part of the roof at Heritage Towers to cave in a few weeks ago. Charles and Pamela Minimah, who run Heritage Towers museum, were able to find alternative location at the theater.
The turnout varies by year and depends on the weather, Pamela Minimah said.
"For the last few years, we've had upwards of 25 people [attend]," she said.
This year's featured speaker will be Pastor Angela Waters. The Voices of the Holidays Singers will perform, and an open mic will be part of the celebration as well.
"We're asking people to bring their own drums or percussion to have a drum circle," Hart said.
Each day of Kwanzaa is meant to celebrate one of seven core principles that represent values and concepts reflective of African culture. They are: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
"We definitely want to encourage people to celebrate every day these principles, to remember them and take them home," Hart said.
Reach Elaina Sauber at
elaina.sauber@wvgazettemail.com,
304-348-3051 or follow
@ElainaSauber on Twitter.