Kwanzaa 2024

About Kwanzaa

Observed from December 26 to January 1, Kwanzaa is a vibrant holiday rooted in African traditions and African American culture.

It's a time to reflect on the "Nguzo Saba," or "Seven Principles":

• UMOJA | Unity - To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race
• KUJICHAGULIA | Self-Determination - To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves
• UJIMA | Collective Work & Responsibility - To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together
• UJAMAA | Cooperative Economics - To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together
• NIA | Purpose - To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness
• KUUMBA | Creativity - 
  To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it
• IMANI | Faith - To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle

The Nguzo Saba guide our celebrations throughout the week. Celebrations have included traditional African drumming and dance, storytelling, spoken word performances, educational workshops, and family-friendly activities illuminating the significance of Kwanzaa's cultural heritage.

Visitors can also explore the museum's exhibitions and learn more about the historical and cultural roots that inspire this holiday.

2024 Celebration

This year, celebrate with our in-person and digital events. Daily visit our social page and website for short videos to support your celebrations at home or with others in the community. We also hope you can join us for some of the in-person events downtown and at the museum!

December 26 | UMOJA: Unity

We encourage members and visitors to join us as we join Alkebu-lan Village, Councilman Scott Benson, and the City of Detroit, the Downtown Partnership for the third annual lighting of the Motor City Kinara.  

For more information visit Motor City Kwanzaa Celebration and Kinara Lighting - Downtown Detroit Partnership 

December 27 | KUJICHAGULIA: Self Determination

6:00pm – 8:00pm

For the first program at The Wright Museum, join us as we celebrate Kujichagulia, the second principle, meaning self-determination. We will revisit history and welcome Nanou Djiapo for a spectacular performance.  

About Nanou Djiapo:

“Nanou Djiapo” which literally means Keep Together as a culturally related, and traditionally bonded, artistic family. The group is widely known and admired as one of the premier Youth & Young adult African Drum & Dance groups locally and abroad, and is constantly in demand to perform. 

December 28 | UJIMA: Collective Work & Responsibility

Join us for a day at The Wright Museum as we host a series of family friendly Kwanzaa related activities for all ages. We will also host an intergenerational panel discussion.  

Schedule

• 12:00pm – 4:00 PM Family Activities
• 2:00pm – 4:00 PM Intergenerational Panel Discussion

December 29 | UJAMAA: Cooperative Economics

For our third program at the museum, join us for another special day of celebration with family friendly activities. We’ll host once again the Ujamaa Marketplace, and also feature specials in our museum store that celebrate and honor cooperative economics.  

Finally, we’ll close out our in-person celebrations with a special performance from In The Tradition jazz ensemble.  

Schedule

• 12:00pm – 5:00 PM Ujamaa Marketplace
• 12:00pm –4:00pm Family Activities
• 1:00 PM-3:00 PM In the Tradition in Concert

About In the Tradition

In the Tradition Jazz Ensemble is a Septet based in Detroit, Michigan. For close to 30 years, the band has distinguished itself for its impeccable delivery of jazz music with an African-centered perspective. In the Tradition’s performances throughout the Detroit area and the Midwest, of both original compositions and jazz standards, has earned the band respect among its peers in the music industry and a wide following. The band has recorded six CDs and its music is played over college radio jazz shows across the country, and radio stations around the globe.