For Ruby Lewis, Kwanzaa provides the African American community with an opportunity to reconnect with its cultural heritage and foster a sense of pride in future generations, a connection that has been lost over time.
The Kwanzaa pre-celebration will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Clark County Fairgrounds, 17402 NE Delfel Road, Ridgefield.
Organized by Please Don’t Die Black Men (PDDBM), the event will condense the seven-day holiday into one celebration. Lewis, founder of PDDBM, began the Clark County annual event in 2015. Lewis looks forward to bringing the celebration back after the pandemic and following economic constraints caused the annual event to stagnate for five years.
“It’s a chance for people who are African American who may not have a chance to connect with their heritage, especially in this area, to connect,” Lewis said.
About Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa, founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, is a seven-day celebration centered around African-American culture and heritage. It was created to promote unity, self-determination and pride within the Black community during a time of civil rights struggles. The name “Kwanzaa” is derived from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” meaning “first fruits,” reflecting the tradition of celebrating the harvest and honoring ancestors. Kwanzaa itself takes place from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.
Kwanzaa is rooted in seven values, each represented by a day of the week. These principles are meant to guide individuals in their lives and encourage collective growth. Written in Swahili,
Lewis described the seven principles as:
• Umoja (Unity) — The principle of striving for and maintaining unity within the family, community, nation and among people of the same race.
• Kujichagulia (Self-determination) — The act of defining and naming oneself, as well as speaking for oneself.
• Ujima (Collective work and responsibility) — The importance of building and sustaining the community together, addressing challenges collectively and solving problems as a unified group.
• Ujamaa (Cooperative economics) — The focus on developing and sustaining independent businesses, such as stores and shops, and sharing in the benefits of these enterprises.
• Nia (Purpose) — The aim to build and develop the community in ways that restore people to their traditional greatness and foster a sense of collective vocation.
• Kuumba (Creativity) — The commitment to doing as much as possible, in the best way possible, to leave the community more beautiful and beneficial than it was inherited.
• Imani (Faith) — The belief in the strength and righteousness of people, their parents, teachers, leaders and the ultimate victory over their struggle.
Lewis explained that many people mistakenly label Kwanzaa as a religious holiday, but it is, in fact, a cultural celebration. It focuses on honoring African heritage and bringing the community together. She also shared that Kwanzaa has played a significant role in helping her and her family reclaim aspects of their heritage that were lost due to America’s history of slavery.
“I look at all these people who come here and they celebrate their cultures and they really have pride in celebrating their culture. I look at us as African Americans, and I feel like a lot of us are always trying to conform to other cultures, and we don’t ever embrace our own,” Lewis said. “For me, it’s very, very important because I didn’t choose to come here, and I didn’t choose to be born here. When Africans were brought here on slave ships, they shaved their heads, stripped them of their names and culture ... separated families ... and tried to break us all the way down.”
Lewis shared that she celebrates both Christmas and Kwanzaa each year, honoring her religious beliefs while reconnecting with her ancestors from Cameroon, Togo and Congo in West Africa. She explained that growing up, she did not celebrate her cultural history because her family never observed the holiday. Now, however, she is actively teaching her daughter about Kwanzaa to help her grow up with a deeper understanding and appreciation of their heritage.
“It’s OK to be your ancestral history and have pride in that because I also think a lot of misconception about African Americans is that we originated from slaves,” Lewis said. “We were kings and queens long before we came over to this country, and I think that’s really important for us to instill in our children that we’re not these ignorant bodies that America has made us … out to be. We are so much more than that. We’re built with creativity and all the principles of Kwanzaa,” Lewis said.
Kwanzaa in Clark County
Unlike previous years, this year’s pre-Kwanzaa celebration will condense the traditional seven days of observance into a two-hour program.
The program will begin at 9 a.m. with a market. The event building doors will close at 11:45 a.m. for the official celebration, which will run until 2 p.m. During this time, attendees will enjoy a program of skits, musical performances and presentations of the Kwanzaa symbols and principles.
A key aspect of Kwanzaa is honoring family and community members who have passed. This year, community members Isaias Emmanuel James (E.J.) Holifield and Reginald Steen, who both passed away after the last Kwanzaa celebration, will be remembered and celebrated for their significant contributions to past Kwanzaa events in Clark County. Attendees will also have the opportunity to honor their own loved ones in keeping with the Kwanzaa tradition of remembering and honoring ancestors.
No Kwanzaa celebration is complete without food. This year’s Karamu, which is Swahili for feast or banquet, will feature a variety of dishes, including fried fish, baked chicken, mac and cheese, greens, black-eyed peas, cornbread and other vegan options. There will also be desserts, including banana pudding.
Lewis hopes this year’s pre-Kwanzaa celebration will teach the Clark County community about African heritage and history.
“It’s also a chance for people who are not African American … if they wanna come in fellowship and learn about Black history, that’s also a place for them to come out, too. I feel like in order to conquer implicit bias, you have to learn about different cultures,” Lewis said.
While attendance is free, tickets for the Karamu feast must be purchased. For adults, the Karamu is $20 or $40 with VIP seating, with discounts available for children. Go to pddbm.org/events for tickets and more information.
