Makeda “Dread” Cheatom and Starla Lewis explained what Kwanzaa is, how people celebrate and how it brings the community together. WorldBeat Cultural Center will be celebrating its 42nd Annual Celebration with 4 of the 7 days of Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is an African American Holiday celebrated from the 26th of December to the 1st of January. The annual Kwanzaa holiday was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga to celebrate and reaffirm family, community, and culture. Kwanzaa was a celebration that was established as a means to help African Americans reconnect with their African cultural and historical heritage by uniting in meditation and study of African traditions and Nguzu Saba, the "seven principles of African Heritage" which Karenga said "is a communitarian African philosophy". Each night will feature Special guest speakers or performers, ceremonial candle lighting and libation with drumming, Kwanzaa poetry readings by Johnnierenee Nia Nelson, free heirloom seeds for families, and Karamu (the traditional feast and family get down). Day 1: Monday, December 26th: Umoja, Unity Features live performance by Mariea Antoinette, Master of Ceremonies Alyce Cooper and speaker Enoch Hankerson Day 2: Tuesday, December 27th: Kujichagulia- Self-Determination Features African Drum and Dance, Master of Ceremonies and keynote will be professor Starla Lewis and keynote guest, Yusef Miller North Day 3: Wednesday, December 28th: Ujima, Collective Work & Responsibility Features a virtual presentation from Dr. Maulana Karenga and hip hop performance by Junkyard Dance Crew Day 4: Thursday, December 29th: Ujamaa, Cooperative Economics Features youth theater performance of “The Kola Nutcracker” by Diva Works Dance Kwanzaa centers around Seven Principles, Nguzo Saba, which represent the values of family, community and culture for Africans and people of African descent to live by.