Celebrate Kwanzaa in NYC with a live-drawing event, music and dancing, and an artisan market
The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) is hosting its annual Kwanzaa festival on Saturday, celebrating African-American heritage with programs that focus on community, culture, and creativity. Free with admission, the event takes place on Dec. 29 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the museum’s Milstein Hall of Ocean Life.
Kwanzaa, which kicked off on Dec. 26, is a seven-day celebration that has roots in the African diaspora. It officially began during the Civil Rights Movement in the United States and centers around seven core principles. According to the museum, AMNH has hosted the event for over 30 years, which continues to be one of the largest Kwanzaa celebrations in the country.
In addition to a local artisan marketplace taking place between noon and 4 p.m., there are three performances you shouldn’t miss (at 12 p.m. and again at 3 p.m.):
The opening: Dr. Linda Humes, founder of Yaffa Cultural Arts, Inc., discusses the core values of Kwanzaa with drummers from the Sanga of the Valley and Andouchie Loubaki.
Afro-Cuban Kwanzaa: The Afro-Cuban experimental dance ensemble Oyu-Oro, which includes more than a dozen musicians, singers, and dancers, honors the history of the African diaspora in Cuba.
Kwanzaa Con: Seven artists from the Black Comics Collective will live-draw illustrations that reflect the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
Get more details on AMNH’s Kwanzaa festival here.
RELATED:
