Jaku Konbit celebrates 2015 Kwanzaa at City Hall

Heru Dummers entertain the guests

27 December, 2015

Jaku Konbit hosted its annual Kwanzaa celebrations at City Hall, with President Ken Campbell and family and friends of the organisation in attendance. An alternative to Christmas, Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration held in the United States, Canada and other nations of the Americas. The celebration honors African heritage in African-American culture, and is observed from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a feast and gift-giving. Kwanzaa has seven core principles (Nguzo Saba). It was created by Maulana Karenga, and was first celebrated in 1966–67. Kwanzaa symbols include a decorative mat (Mkeka) on which other symbols are placed, corn (Muhindi) and other crops, a candle holder kinara with seven candles (Mishumaa Saba), a communal cup for pouring libation (Kikombe cha Umoja), gifts (Zawadi), a poster of the seven principles, and a black, red, and green flag. The symbols were designed to convey these seven principles.

Jaku Konbit is a registered non-profit, educational, community-based and family-oriented organization, established in Ottawa since 2000. Its mandate is to support and ameliorate the lives of minority and disadvantaged people, particularly Canadian children, youth and seniors of African and Caribbean descent within the Ottawa region. For more information visit: www.jakukonbit.com.

Photo credit: Pascale Newry